3 things to watch

1

Stay at home: The Aztecs want to confuse the opponent’s defense and they will try many things to do that. Watch for quick snaps in short yardage. Expect long counts in long yardage, with hard counts trying to draw offside penalties. Keep an eye on the running backs in passing situations because a draw might be coming. See if the SDSU quarterback is hit after an option toss. The Cougars’ defense will be focusing on all of the above in an attempt to contain San Diego State.

2

Running free: San Diego State’s secondary is even more untested than WSU’s, with three new starters and Ray Bass moving to strong safety from corner. The Cougars’ passing attack isn’t an easy one to stop, especially if the defensive backs are thinking instead of reacting. If Alex Brink has the time, there is a good chance he’ll find Michael Bumpus, Jed Collins, Brandon Gibson and Charles Dillon open.

3

Cover size: Washington State’s top three corners – Chima Nwachukwu, Devin Giles and Ryan Kensok – average 5-foot-11 in height. The SDSU wide receivers all are taller than that, with four regulars 6-4 or taller. This could be a real problem in the red zone especially, as Washington State’s defensive backs may just get posted up. Look for a few jump balls around the goal line.