Utah Utes football: Long makes SDSU defense difficult

Rocky Long may be the X factor in Saturday's game between 23rd-ranked Utah and San Diego State at Rice-Eccles Stadium.

The former New Mexico head coach, who led the Lobos past the Utes four times over his past seven meetings at the helm, is now in his first-year as the Aztecs' defensive coordinator.

Long brought his trademark 3-3-5 defense with him when he moved from the Land of Enchantment to the beach.

"The personnel at New Mexico is very similar to San Diego State," said Utah coach Kyle Whittingham. "That scheme that he brings with him is very difficult to prepare for. There's a lot of things that you've got to do differently on offense that you don't do from week-to-week."

Last season, the Utes managed only 13 points against Long's Lobos.

"It's a challenge for our offense. It's much like when our defense prepares for Air Force," Whittingham said. "It's a different animal. It requires some different tactics in your game plan, some different strategies."

The Utes, he explained, will have to be sound with blitz pickups and all that.

SDSU's defense, however, isn't exactly picking up Long's scheme quickly. The Aztecs enter the game ranked 55th in the nation is passing defense (212.2 ypg); 77th in total defense (379.6 ypg); 90th in rushing defense (167..4 ypg); and 94th in scoring defense (30 ppg).

The Aztecs, under new head coach Brady Hoke, have shown flashes of improvement. In their four victories this season, they've held the opposition to an average of 21 points — compared to 36 in setbacks.

"Obviously Rocky is a guy we turn to defensively," Hoke acknowledged. "He's a big part of the plan that we'll have defensively and what we try to do on a day-to-day basis."

San Diego's offense, meanwhile, is also enduring some growing pains. Sophomore quarterback Ryan Lindley directs an attack led by new coordinator Al Borges.

"His offense is very sound and the two-back run game has been his forte over the years," Whittingham said before noting not everything has changed with the Aztecs. "It will be the typical athletic team we expect out of SDSU. They have put a bunch of guys in the NFL and they have got some guys now who are going to go there as well."

Lindley is currently second in the Mountain West with 250.6 yards passing per game. DeMarco Sampson is second in receiving with 72.6 yards per game.

On special teams, SDSU punter Brian Stahovich is among the national leaders.

Utes on the air

San Diego State (4-6, 2-4) at No. 23 Utah (8-2, 5-1)

Saturday, 2 p.m.

TV: Versus

Radio: 700 AM

e-mail: dirk@desnews.com