Mailbag on the Mesa
Editor's note: Every Friday ASR Publisher Edward Lewis will answer some questions from fans about the Aztecs in this weekly mailbag. Send questions to edwardflewis@yahoo.com, @EdwardLewisASR on Twitter, post questions on the message board or put questions on ASR's Facebook page.
Jack: Rocky Long made some comments this week that threw me off when he talked about how TCU and Boise State were the best and SDSU should throw its name in the hat with the rest. What are we supposed to make of that?
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I actually got this question on a radio show earlier this week as well. It seems like that comment ruffled a few of you guys. The thing people have to understand is Long is not Brady Hoke when it comes to the media. His press conferences, quotes and answers are almost the opposite of what Hoke's were. And sometimes, he actually uses us in the media to motivate his players.
This quote, to me, was the perfect example of that. Right now, Boise State and TCU are probably better than SDSU, and I think that bothers Long. So rather than sugarcoating it, I think he says a quote like that almost as if to say, "Prove me wrong, team." I think it works. Players respect him and they understand when he calls them out in the media, there's a reason for it. Players no doubt saw that quote and no doubt want to prove him wrong on Saturday night. We'll see if they can.
Steve: Do you see SDSU going after Dominic Artis now that he has decommitted from UCLA?
I really don't think so. I think Artis is an extremely talented point guard, and from all the reports, I hear he's a great student as well. But SDSU, in my opinion, really isn't in the market for a guard anymore in this 2012 class - unless you consider Winston Shepard, who can play any spot on the floor, a guard.
The Aztecs have James Rahon, Xavier Thames, Chase Tapley and LaBradford Franklin all set to come back for 2012, and I think they're more than happy with the way those four have progressed. I think these last two scholarships come down to Shepard and Matt Willms. But keep your eye on rising star and 7-footer Jean-Jacques Nganga. He could sneak up on the offer list as well.
Solayman: Are you as worried about TCU's defense as much as I am? I feel people are overlooking them.
Count me in as one who is overlooking them. If Ryan Lindley plays like the NFL first-round quarterback we all project him to be, I really don't think this TCU defense should be as problematic as it has been in the past. Baylor QB Robert Griffin and SMU QB J.J. McDermott absolutely shredded those defensive backs on the outside in their two games, and I know those two quarterbacks are good, but I'll take Lindley's arm over those two any day.
Click Here to view this Link.Now, if Lindley continues to have his 50-percent completion games, then we're looking at a different story. Because TCU is still stout against the run, and if Lindley's off and SDSU can only rely on Ronnie HillmanClick Here to view this Link., then they better not overlook that Horned Frog defense.
Ian: Your score predictions have been pretty good so far this year so let's hear your opinion on the outcome.
You ask, and you shall receive. I think this game will be one of the tightest this year at Qualcomm Stadium. TCU's offense really doesn't look like it's missing Andy Dalton at all, and I don't expect that to change this weekend. Meanwhile, TCU's defense is giving up points in bunches to good quarterbacks. So I say Lindley reverts back to his redshirt freshman year, gets a ton of spread offense snaps, bombs away and lights up the scoreboard right with Casey Pachall.
In the end, though, I think SDSU outlasts TCU. I'm calling it SDSU 34, TCU 31 in this one.