2009 San Jose State Preview - Offense

CollegeFootballNews.com 2009 Preview - San Jose State Spartan Offense

San Jose State Spartans

Preview 2009 - Offense

- 2009 CFN San Jose State Preview | 2009 SJSU Offense
- 2009 SJSU Defense | 2009 SJSU Depth Chart
- 2008 SJSU Preview | 2007 SJSU Preview | 2006 SJSU Preview    

What you need to know: After a rough year with no consistency and absolutely no running game whatsoever, the offense could make a night-and-day leap in production. Brought on to spice things up is offensive coordinator Terry Malley, an Arena League coach whose offenses set several records. Now there will be more deep passing, more power running, and more production with a veteran team that gets most of the parts back. It all starts up front where the line that was so woeful and banged up throughout last season is now full of experience and potential. Everything else should fall into place with an improved front wall with QB Kyle Reed the likely main triggerman with the arm to start pushing the ball down the field to a receiving corps that could be the best in the WAC. Kevin Jurovich is an all-star who missed most of last year with mono, and now he'll be the No. 1 target while Jalal Beauchman and Marquis Avery are elite athletes who should break out. The running game gets back Patrick Perry, who missed two years with a knee injury, and JUCO transfer Lamon Muldrow for the power, while part-receiver, part-running back Brandon Rutley will provide the quickness.

Returning Leaders
Passing: Kyle Reed
162-253, 1,563 yds, 9 TD, 6 INT
Rushing: Brandon Rutley
79 carries, 356 yards, 3 TD
Receiving: Terrance Williams
22 catches, 288 yards, 2 TD

Star of the offense: Senior WR Kevin Jurovich
Player who has to step up and become a star: Sophomore OT Fred Koloto
Unsung star on the rise: Junior WR Jalal Beauchman
Best pro prospect: Beauchman
Top three all-star candidates: 1) Jurovich, 2) QB Kyle Reed, 3) Beauchman
Strength of the offense: Wide receiver, Experience
Weakness of the offense: Running game, Proven production

Quarterbacks

Projected Starter: California transfer Kyle Reed wasn't always healthy, but he was still the team's best quarterback completing 64% of his passes for 1,563 yards and nine touchdowns with six interceptions. He had problems with a broken foot suffered in spring ball before the season began, and missed all of 2007 hurt, but now he's healthy and he should be the leader of the attack. At 6-3 and 215 pounds, the senior is big, has a strong arm, and is mobile, leading the team with four rushing scores. Three of them came in the win over San Diego State, while three of his passing touchdowns came against Utah State. He has to be healthy and he has to be consistent.

Projected Top Reserves: Junior Jordan La Secla is back in the mix after serving as an emergency backup. He completed just two of three passes for 13 yards with an interception in the opener against UC Davis. A good passer with 6-3, 198-pound size with good upside, but he's likely going to have to do something amazing to beat out Reed.

Senior Myles Eden stepped in at times and wasn't bad, completing 62% of his passes for 452 yards with two touchdowns, both coming against Idaho, but he threw five interceptions with two coming in the loss to Louisiana Tech. The 6-1, 205-pounder has the best rushing skills, even though he didn't net a yard and came up with one score, and he's a decent passer. However, he doesn't have a live arm.

Watch Out For ... Reed to take the job and not give it up. He's the most talented of all the options, and while he'll make his share of mistakes, his upside is too great to not have him on the field.
Strength: Options. There's the old adage that if you have two starting quarterbacks you don't have any, but the Spartans have four players, including the oft-injured Chad Bozzo, who can step in and start.
Weakness: Consistency. The passing game never found a groove with quarterback injuries and poor play both being the problem. The Spartan air attack was never efficient with 13 interceptions and 12 touchdowns.
Outlook: There are four capable quarterback options to play around with, but with all the experience and with all the upside, one needs to stand out from the pack. That'll likely be Reed, but Le Secla will get his chances as the No. 2 option. Eden could see emergency time to try to provide a spark.
Rating: 6

Running Backs

Projected Starters: The running game that was non-existent throughout last year gets a huge piece of the puzzle back as Patrick Perry, who missed the last two years with a knee injury, returns. the 5-10, 205-pound senior led the team with seven rushing scores in 2006 and was second in yards rushing for 444. He's a very strong, quick back who is great between the tackles with a little bit of dash to the outside. Now he needs his knee to stay healthy.

Projected Top Reserves: Star JUCO transfer Lamon Muldrow is expected to challenge for the starting job right away. The 5-9, 210-pound junior ran for 2,915 yards and 44 touchdowns in his time at Sierra College. He's a workhorse with good toughness and a nose for the goal line, and he was brought in to provide an instant jolt to the woeful running game.

Considering Perry's knee problems. 5-9, 205-pound senior Chris Reese has to be at the ready. A top special teamer, he got a little work in his five games of action rushing for 92 yards. The former linebacker is quick, tough, and willing to do whatever is needed.

Watch Out For ... Muldrow. Perry has worked his tail off to make a big return for this season, but Muldrow might be the best option in the bunch. He's the type of revolve-the-game-around-him back the program hasn't had in a long time.
Strength: Instant punch. After doing nothing last year, now the running game gets two ready-made veterans who should do wonders. Perry and Muldrow should form a fantastic tandem. However, Brandon Rutland, who's being moved to a combination receiver/running back, will see plenty of time when a quicker back is needed.
Weakness: Production. It's been two years since the Spartan running game did anything. It averaged just 2.6 yards per carry with 1,005 yards an nine scores two years ago, and despite a commitment to do more, the attack ran for 1,040 yards with 11 scores, averaging 2.7 yards per carry. Quarterbacks accounted for five of the rushing touchdowns. 
Outlook: The nation's 112th ranked running game in 2007 was 115th last year, but that should quickly change thanks to the expected reemergence of Perry and the addition of Muldrow. If nothing else, the offense has backs it can rely on to carry the offense at times. The ground game couldn't do that last year.
Rating: 5

Receivers

Projected Starters: Back after missing almost all of last year with mono, former safety Kevin Jurovich made his presence felt in two games catching 15 passes for 183 yards and a touchdown. He was the breakout star of 2007 catching 85 passes for 1,183 yards and nine scores, highlighted by an amazing late run with back-to-back games of 10 catches for 233 yards and two touchdowns against New Mexico State and 11 catches for 156 yards against Louisiana Tech. While the 6-0, 183-pound senior still working on getting back to normal, he's a great target who should instantly boost the passing game.

Junior Jalal Beauchman is a 6-4, 220-pound deep threat who made 13 catches for 133 yards before having problems with an ankle injury. A matchup nightmare, he was a star high school high jumper making him play even bigger than his impressive size. He's still working on becoming a more complete receiver and a stronger route runner, but he has all the tools to be special.

Working in an H-Back role, which in this offense is an inside receiver, will be Michael Avila, a scooter of a 5-9, 165-pound sophomore who caught 18 passes for 152 yards, and ran four times for five yards. One of the stars in practices over the last few years, he's a great route runner with gamebreaking potential. He hasn't popped any big plays yet, but he has the quickness and talent to break one at any time. He's also a key punt and kick returner.

6-5, 240-pound senior Terrance Williams turned into one of the team's most dangerous targets last year catching 22 passes for 288 yards and two touchdowns, averaging 13.1 yards per grab. The former wide receiver and Miami native took a long road to get to SJSU, starting off at Eastern Illinois before going to City College of San Francisco. Now he'll be one of the WAC's best tight ends, even if he doesn't hit anyone.

Projected Top Reserves: Former JUCO transfer Marquis Avery is a former basketball player who's still learning the ropes. He didn't see any time last year, but the junior is an elite athlete who could be unstoppable on jump balls into the end zone. He's 6-4, 205-pounds, and can jump out of the stadium. While h still needs polish, he has a little experience catching 60 passes for 766 yards and seven touchdowns for Fullerton College.

Out this offseason hurt after a great first year is Brandon Rutley, a top recruit who showed off the speed and and quickness to be an immediate factor rushing for 356 yards and three touchdowns while showing off elite skills as a kick returner. While he's a good runner, he'll be used in the H-Back role as both a receiver and a running back. He has the quickness to do a variety of things, but he lacks the power the offense is looking for.

Somewhere in the mix will be 5-11, 170-pound sophomore Josh Harrison, one of the team's fastest players. The former California high school track star was a tremendous sprinter and long jumper, and now he'll try to bring his athleticism and upside to the outside to become a deep threat in a rotation at the H.

Redshirt freshman Ryan Otten is expected to become a major factor at tight end in a hurry. The 6-5, 235-pounder is polished, has nice hands, and is a good route-runner considering his lack of experience. He'll play more like a big wide receiver than a true tight end.

Watch Out For ... more deep plays. They were supposed to come last year, but the loss of Jurovich and the failure for the new talents to come through kept that from happening. Offensive coordinator Terry Malley will push the ball down the field on a regular basis.
Strength: Talent. As long as everyone's healthy, this should be the WAC's most dangerous receiving corps. However, that's a big if. Jurovich is an All-WAC star, Avery and Beauchman are big, special receivers, and the tight ends can catch. Throw in Rutley, Avila, Harrison, and Jordan Johnson into the mix, and the corps is loaded.
Weakness: Coming together. It didn't quite happen in spring ball, even though things were far more promising than last year. It still might take a little while for everyone to reach their full potential, but the upside is there.
Outlook: A major strength in 2006, the receivers struggled to break out last year thanks to injuries and inconsistent quarterback play. This year's group has the potential to be dominant with superior athletes and plenty of great prospects to work around Jurovich.
Rating: 7

Offensive Line

Projected Starters: Senior Ronnie Castillo is the team's most experienced lineman with 21 starts, including three last year after getting hurt. The former guard isn't all that tall at 6-0 and 292 pounds, but he's a sound veteran and a decent all-around blocker when healthy. He's versatile enough to play anywhere on the line, and with a battle going on for the job in the middle, he could move.

6-2, 320-pound junior Ailao Eliapo started every game last year at right guard after starting out his career as a defensive tackle. Very athletic, he even saw time as a blocking running back in 2007. Now he needs to use his experience and his size to be a more physical presence, and to find one thing he can do well on a regular basis.

A huge addition to the line is sophomore Fred Koloto, the starting left tackle before having problems with a back injury. He was back this spring and appeared to be normal again. The 6-3, 290-pounder is part guard and part tackle with good athleticism and excellent upside as a pass protector. He could be the key to the line as the season goes on.

Also returning to the left side is junior Isaac Leatiota after getting 19 starts out of him over the last two years. A serviceable all-around blocker, he hasn't been able to do much for the ground game even though he's a strong 6-4 and 295 pounds. The Cal transfer was originally brought in to be a defensive lineman, but now he's firmly entrenched on the O line.

6-4, 285-pound senior Jon Moreno will have to battle for the starting job, but he's a good athlete with enough experience to be fine at right tackle. He saw time in every game last season and has seen a little time as a spot starter over the years. He originally went the JUCO route, but he didn't play at Cerritos College. Now he'll once again be a key part of the rotation. 

Projected Top Reserves: While Koloto appears to be the man again at left tackle, 6-4, 290-pound junior John Konye is a veteran who filled in last year starting the final 11 games. Extremely athletic, he should've been better as a pass protector. Now he'll be part of a rotation and will be used in jumbo formations lining up as a tight end in three tackle sets. He'll also see time at left guard.

6-4, 280-pound Andres Vargas is neck-and-neck for the starting right tackle job. He saw a little time as a freshman, serving as a backup in five games, and he should grow into a role over the next three years. He was a California state championship-level wrestler and he should be a mauler once he gets more playing time.

Watch Out For ... Koloto. He was on his way to being the team's top blocker before having problems with his back. If he can stay healthy, he should be the key player the line can build around.
Strength: Experience. The health problems of last year allowed several players to see playing time. Now the line is loaded with veterans and strong backups who can step in at any time. From massive guard Steve Lightsy, to center Robbie Reed, to Konye, there are several options to play around with.
Weakness: Proven production. While the line appears to be far better, it's not hard to do considering how bad this group was last year. There wasn't any pass protection, allowing 31 sacks, and there was next to no push for the ground game.
Outlook: The line has struggled for the last two seasons, but it should all come together this season with several banged up players back and ready to go, and experienced veterans waiting in the wings in case injuries strike again. This is a big group that won't be asked to do anything fancy. Power away for the running game, be better in pass protection ... that's it.
Rating: 5