Aztecs scrimmage shows offense still has plenty of work to do before opener

On Day 1 of preseason camp, San Diego State football coach Brady Hoke said the defense is ahead of the offense.
Eight days later, nothing has changed.
The SDSU defense picked off passes, picked up fumbles and generally made life miserable for their offensive counterparts during a midday scrimmage Saturday at the SDSU practice field.
In fact, it wasn’t until sophomore running back Cam Davis took a toss left and ran 10 yards to the corner of the end zone late in the exercise that the offense had a score to celebrate.
Neither Hoke nor any Aztecs players were available for comment afterward.
Quick takes from the scrimmage:
• Senior quarterback Jalen Mayden was the first of six quarterbacks to take the field. Most notable for Mayden was a 17-yard scramble along the left sideline (called back by a penalty) that illustrated the running aspect of his game the Aztecs intend to take advantage of in those instances where the pocket breaks down or receivers are covered.
QB play was inconsistent throughout the afternoon, with four interceptions and half a dozen balls on the ground due to poor quarterback/center exchanges.
That, in addition to who knows how many mental mistakes that were more evident to SDSU offensive coordinator Ryan Lindley than outside observers.
Lindley’s frustration was evident during a break midway through the workout when he shouted at the QBs: “It’s the little things. Get it right.”
• Redshirt freshman quarterback Kyle Crum, Mayden’s backup, had his good moments — hitting wide receiver Brionne Penny for a 26-yard gain down the right sideline, wide receiver Darius De Los Reyes for a 15-yard gain and tight end Logan Tanner for 18 yards — and bad moments — throwing a sideline pass directly into the arms of redshirt freshman safety Josh Hunter for a pick-six.
• Senior Kenan Christon has a starting spot locked down at running back. Some of the most impressive moments were from those deeper down the depth chart.
Sophomore Cam Davis showed he could take a lick and still move the ball forward on a 10-yard carry, and he later found the edge on a 12-yard gain. Davis also had one of four fumbles by the running backs.
Walk-on RBs Martin Blake and Nick Gardinera showed some presence with hard-nosed running in goal line situations.
Blake also turned a short pass from walk-on quarterback Tobin O’Dell into a 55-yard gain for the offense’s longest play of the day.
• Those eager to see true freshman Baylin Brooks in action will have to wait. Brooks has been limited by a minor leg injury in practice and did not participate..
• True freshman safety Marcus Ratcliffe (Cathedral Catholic High School) ran with the first string and continues to impress. Coaches have been impressed with the 6-foot-3, 210-pound Ratcliffe’s downhill play, speed and physicality.
If he is a starter when the season begins, Ratcliffe will be just the fourth true freshman to start on defense since 2009. The others — cornerback Leon McFadden (2009), safety Tariq Thompson (2017) and cornerback Noah Avinger (2021).
• Starters across the offensive line from tackle to tackle were sophomore Christian Jones, junior Cade Bennett, sophomore Ross Ulugalu-Moseuli, junior Dean Abdullah and redshirt freshman Drew Azzopardi.
The second unit from tackle to tackle included senior Brandon Crenshaw-Dickson, redshirt freshman Tiger Yu, junior Thomas Mirabella, sophomore transfer Myles Murao and junior Joey Wright.
Crenshaw-Dickson joined the first-stringers at right tackle later in the proceedings.
The Aztecs are trying to identify two new starters on the line to go along with returners Bennett, Ulugalu-Moseuli and Crenshaw-Dickson.
Getting an improved performance from the O-line is viewed by many as the most critical issue coming into the season.
At one juncture, offensive line coach Mike Goff implored: “Get off the line of scrimmage. Get vertical push.”
• Senior starting defensive end Garret Fountain was an observer, with his right arm in a sling. Fountain (elbow) was injured in Wednesday’s practice. The extent of his injury has not been publicly revealed, though it is not viewed as serious enough to keep him from the Aug. 26 season opener against Ohio.
Fountain’s absence enabled redshirt freshman Ryan Henderson to start at defensive end opposite senior Wyatt Draeger. Tupu Alualu, a junior transfer from Mt. SAC, started between them at defensive tackle.
• Senior linebacker Kyron White was not present. There was no immediate explanation for his absence.
• The team will scrimmage more formally Saturday at 6 p.m. at Snapdragon Stadium. The event is free for fans, though they must secure a ticket at goaztecs.com/FanFest.