CAMP PENDLETON – San Diego State will move forward without Kevin O'Connell's arm. Whether it can move at all without his feet remains to be seen.
After accounting for a staggering 76.8 percent of the Aztecs' total offense last year, O'Connell was summoned by the New England Patriots during April's NFL draft to serve as an understudy to quarterback Tom Brady.
While regarded as an able college passer, it was O'Connell's ability to make things happen outside the pocket that kept defensive coordinators on edge. He ran for a team-high 408 yards last season while scoring 11 rushing touchdowns. To provide perspective, the entire Aztecs running back corps, led by Brandon Bornes' 354 yards, combined for six touchdowns on the ground. O'Connell had 22 rushes of 10 yards or more. Bornes, the leader among running backs in that category, had five.
And while redshirt freshman Ryan Lindley's passing prowess – while perhaps not immediately obvious – should ultimately compensate for O'Connell's production with his arm, SDSU's projected starting quarterback is nowhere near as nimble on his feet.
“People ask how we're going to replace (O'Connell),” said coach Chuck Long, whose team opened fall camp yesterday with the first of two practices at Camp Pendleton. “Well, to stay as productive offensively as you need to be, you go a different direction with your offense. And our direction this year will be (to go) with a young quarterback who has less mobility at the position.
“So, we'll give it to the guys that need to carry the football, and that's our running backs. We have good running backs.”
And one small problem: production.
A year ago, the Aztecs ranked 106th among the country's 119 Bowl Subdivision teams and last in the Mountain West Conference in rushing offense. SDSU averaged 103.9 yards per game. Comparatively, 26 players in the nation averaged more.
Having been without a featured back since Lynell Hamilton's all-too-brief fling with glory in 2003, the Aztecs are expected to again utilize a running-back-by-committee approach this year. Among the returnees are sophomore Brandon Sullivan, junior Atiyyah Henderson and senior Tyler Campbell. Last season, the trio combined to produce 409 yards and three touchdowns, with Sullivan, this year's projected starter, carrying 58 times for 220 yards. None of the three averaged more than 20 yards a game.
“I think we've got a great group of running backs,” said Sullivan, who started three games in 2007. “I think we're all capable of getting the job done.”
A job that could become considerably more demanding considering the lack of experience across the team's offensive front. The Aztecs opened camp with a pair of redshirt freshmen – Mike Matamua and Kurtis Gunther – as projected starters at the tackle spots. Tommie Draheim, another redshirt freshman, was projected to start at center but will be out until at least October with a shoulder injury.
“Obviously, we're going to have to be able to run the ball, and it's going to put more pressure on us to get that push up front,” said senior guard Mike Schmidt.
Extra points
The Aztecs are still awaiting word from the NCAA Clearinghouse on the academic status of incoming freshman running back
Ramon Judkins. As a senior at Beverly Hills High, Judkins rushed for 1,248 yards and 15 TDs.
Senior tight end Eric Miclot, who missed the past two seasons after suffering multiple ligament tears in his knee two years ago, was held out of the opening practice because of strep throat.
Mick McGrane: (619) 293-1850; mick.mcgrane@uniontrib.com
