Spartans without
a starter
opponents for the 2004 season. Tomorrow, Boise State.
The first coin toss of San Jose State's football season might not be at midfield before next Saturday's opener at Stanford.
It could occur in Spartans coach Fitz Hill's office late Friday night.
"There's no decision on the starting quarterback," San Jose State sports information director Lawrence Fan said yesterday. "Coach Hill said both will play, and it might come down to a flip of a coin."
Hill had no such dilemma the past two seasons, with the ultra-competent Scott Rislov accurately slinging the short passes that defined the Spartans offense.
Now it has come to this. Heads, senior Dale Rogers. Tails, freshman Adam Tafralis.
And whoever wins the job will be handing off more than passing, or so Dr. Hill says.
With a slew of giants on the offensive line and five running backs, San Jose State intends to pound the ground this fall.
Hill said his old buddy from their days together on the Arkansas staff, former Tulsa head coach Keith Burns, helped convince him to be more patient on the offensive side of the ball. Burns, in return, promises to stop opposing offenses at least once in a while in his new role as San Jose State defensive coordinator. And last year's miserable season will be forgotten.
Or so the theory goes.
It might have a chance of working if the Spartans run their streak of a positive turnover ratio to three years, play over their heads on both sides of the ball and go injury-free. Oh, and improve drastically on special teams.
That big offensive line is anchored by tackles William Obeng, a 6-foot-6, 307-pound senior, and junior Osmar Staples, 6-5, 328. Guard Marcel Burrough should be able to open some holes at 6-6 and 352.
Hill also can't decide which of five running backs will carry the biggest load, and might have to cut a deck of cards. He has senior Lance Martin, juniors Lamar Ferguson and Tyson Thompson, sophomore Yonus Davis and freshman Derrell Hutsona.
"Making a commitment to the running game should help our defense. That's what we're most excited about," Hill said. "We have five legitimate running backs to choose from. In the past, I often considered going empty (backfield) because we had no running backs."
When the Spartans do go to the air, junior Rufus Skillern will be a key target. He caught only eight passes last year, but they went for a 20.9-yard average.
Defensively, much is expected from safeties Josh Powell and Eric Wilson. Powell was one of the best freshmen in the WAC in 2002, with 86 tackles and four interceptions, but an ankle injury knocked him out of 2003 after it had barely started. Wilson, a junior, is one of five returning starters on defense, and was in on 97 tackles last fall.
Junior Trestin George made 40 stops and two picks as a sophomore. He leads a group of at least eight cornerbacks who might play.
Senior defensive end Sean McNamara is slight for his post at 6-5 and 214 pounds, but the senior is expected to free up teammates by getting double-teamed. He managed five sacks last year.
Tackle Eddie Brown was a big-time recruit coming out of high school, but he's a senior now and San Jose State needs this injury-prone 6-3, 319-pound behemoth to live up to his potential.
Hill said moving Ezakiel Staples from fullback to linebacker last spring has already paid off, and he'll bolster an inexperienced group.
Senior Jeff Carr is the kicker. Rogers, the quarterback, is currently the first-string punter; he asked for the job. It's indicative of his gritty, old-school attitude that Hill loves.
"He has a chip on his shoulder, I've always had one on mine, and we don't care what anyone thinks," Hill said. "Dale Rogers fits the image of San Jose State."
But is it enough for Hill to toss a two-headed coin?
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