Aztec Stat of the Week: Pass Break-Ups – Leon McFadden

November 13, 2012April 26, 2013 / Hunter O. Hewitt / 2 Comments

Leon McFadden breaks up a pass vs. North Dakota, one of his 10 pass break-ups this season (Ernie Anderson/SDSU Media Relations)

When San Diego State defeated Boise State on Nov. 3, Aztec cornerback Leon McFadden recorded four tackles and a pass break-up in the game. The numbers weren’t eye-popping, likely because teams often shy away from throwing to McFadden’s side, but one statistic inched him closer to leaving his mark in the SDSU record books.

With the pass break-up against Boise State, McFadden improved his season total to 10, good for most on the team. He now has a total of 37 pass break-ups in his career, which ties a school record. He has matched former SDSU defensive back Eric Lewis, who also broke up 37 passes from 1995-1998.

What is most impressive about the statistic is that McFadden has managed to tie the record with a limited number of opportunities. Tabbed as the Preseason Defensive Player of the Year in the Mountain West Conference before the season began, he has developed a reputation as a shutdown cornerback.

Opposing offenses often focus on the side of the field where McFadden isn’t, taking away chances for the senior cornerback to make plays. Despite the reduced opportunities, he has still managed 56 total tackles and three interceptions, two of which he returned for touchdowns, in his final season at SDSU.

With two games remaining and only one pass break-up needed, McFadden has a great chance to break the record and solidify himself as one of the best defensive backs to ever play at SDSU.

*UPDATE (12/21/12)

Leon McFadden recorded two pass break-ups in the final game vs. BYU. He now holds the record for most pass break-ups in San Diego State history with 39.

Did you miss last week’s “Stat of the Week” post about kickoff return yardage? Check it out here!

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by Hunter Hewitt

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Aztecs in the NFL: Week 10

November 12, 2012February 10, 2013 / Hunter O. Hewitt / 2 Comments

Brandyn Dombroski (62), seen here blocking for LaDainian Tomlinson (21) in 2009, returned to practice last week for the Chargers, but his status is still uncertain (Denis Poroy/Associated Press)

LB Russell Allen – Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Indianapolis Colts
In the Thursday night game, the Jaguars fell to the Colts, 27-10. Allen had six tackles in the game, and is now tied for fourth in the NFL with 56 solo tackles this season.

LB Antwan Applewhite – Carolina Panthers vs. Denver Broncos
The Panthers struggled against the surging Broncos on Sunday, and lost 36-14. Applewhite was inactive for the third straight week after suffering a hamstring injury in Week 7. His status for Week 11 is uncertain.

LS Aaron Brewer – Denver Broncos vs. Carolina Panthers
The Broncos handled the Panthers on Sunday, winning their fourth straight game. Brewer did not record any tackles, as he did in his previous two games, but he continued to snap well on punts and field goals.

WR Vincent Brown – San Diego Chargers vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
To add another blunder to their roller coaster of a season, the Chargers fell to the Buccaneers, 34-24. Brown remains out with an ankle injury suffered in the preseason, and is expected to return some time in December.

LB Miles Burris – Oakland Raiders vs. Baltimore Ravens
The Raiders had a tough time stopping the Ravens, and lost 55-20. Burris, who continues to start at weakside linebacker for the Raiders, recorded five total tackles in the game.

OT/OG Brandyn Dombrowski – San Diego Chargers vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Dombrowski returned to practice last week, but it is uncertain if he will see any game action this season. According to a post on ESPN, the Chargers have three weeks to either activate him or place him on injured reserve.

LB Heath Farwell – Seattle Seahawks vs. New York Jets
Behind a strong rushing performance by Marshawn Lynch, the Seahawks defeated the Jets, 28-7. Farwell recorded another tackle on special teams in the game, giving him a total of 11 this season.

RB Ronnie Hillman – Denver Broncos vs. Carolina Panthers
Although he had just seven yards from scrimmage in the game, Hillman scored his first NFL touchdown on Sunday in the Broncos’ big win over the Panthers. He scored on a 5-yard run late in the fourth quarter.

QB Ryan Lindley – Arizona Cardinals, BYE

OG Lance Louis – Chicago Bears vs. Houston Texans
The Bears had their six-game winning snapped on Sunday after they lost to the Texans, 13-6. Louis and his fellow offensive lineman performed well in pass protection, not giving up any sacks in the game. It wasn’t enough for the Bears, however, and their record fell to 8-2.

LB Kirk Morrison – Buffalo Bills vs. New England Patriots
The Bills played the Patriots close all game, but eventually lost, 37-31. Morrison remained inactive for the game, and has yet to see any action this season.

WR Kassim Osgood – Detroit Lions vs. Minnesota Vikings
The Lions had no answer for Adrian Peterson and his 171 yards rushing on Sunday, as they lost to the Vikings, 34-24. Osgood saw action on special teams, but did not record any tackles in the game.

WR Chaz Schilens – New York Jets vs. Seattle Seahawks
Schilens did not have any catches in the Jets’ loss to the Seahawks. Although he was held without a catch in the game, he has 16 receptions for 150 yards and one touchdown this season.

Did you miss the “Aztecs in the NFL: Week 9″ post? Check it out here!

by Hunter Hewitt

GO AZTECS

Aztec Stat of the Week: Kickoff Return Records

November 6, 2012February 13, 2013 / Hunter O. Hewitt / 1 Comment

In San Diego State’s 21-19 win over Boise State, wide receiver Colin Lockett returned the opening kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown (Ernie Anderson/SDSU Media Relations)

In San Diego State’s monumental victory over conference-foe Boise State on Saturday, Aztec wide receiver Colin Lockett set the tone from the start when he returned the opening kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown.

It was Lockett’s second kickoff return touchdown of the season, and third of his career. No other Aztec player has ever returned more than one kickoff for a touchdown.

On top of holding the records for kickoff return touchdowns, Lockett is now chasing two other kickoff return records: career yardage and single-season yardage.

In the game, Lockett had 141 yards on three returns, and moved to third all-time in school history for most career kickoff return yards. He also moved to third all-time for most kickoff return yards in a season.

Most Kickoff Return Yards, Career

Following Saturday’s game, Lockett has 1,385 kickoff return yards in his career, the third-highest total in Aztec history.

He sits behind Darnay Scott and Monty Gilbreath, two former Aztec wide receivers who also served as returners on kickoffs.

In second place is Scott, who played at SDSU from 1991-1993. In just three seasons, he recorded 1,397 return yards on 64 returns. Arguably one of the best wide receivers in school history, he also ranks second in career receiving yards with 3,139 yards and seventh in career receptions with 178.

Following his time at SDSU, Scott was selected in the second round of the 1994 NFL Draft by the Cincinnati Bengals and had an impressive professional career. In eight seasons, he tallied 408 receptions for 6,193 yards and 37 touchdowns.

Gilbreath, who played at SDSU from 1986-1989, holds the school record for most kickoff return yards. In his four seasons with the Aztecs, he had 1,505 yards on 74 returns.

Gilbreath wasn’t just a kickoff return specialist, however, as he also ranks fifth in school history in career receptions (187) and tenth in career receiving yards (2,241). He also returned punts, and ranks second in school history with 835 punt return yards.

Assuming a bowl game is imminent, Lockett needs 121 kickoff return yards in the final three games to surpass Gilbreath. He would need to average just over 40 yards per game to break the record, a very reachable number considering he is averaging over 70 yards per game this season.

Most Kickoff Return Yards, Season

Not only is Lockett nearing the record for most career kickoff return yards, but he is also close to breaking the single-season record. Through 10 games, Lockett now has 707 yards on 27 returns this season, which currently ranks him third all-time at SDSU.

Gilbreath, the career yards leader, also holds the record for most kickoff return yards in a season, as he notched 880 yards on 40 returns in 1987.

Patrick Rowe, a wide receiver at SDSU from 1987-1991, ranks second with his mark of 799 yards in 1988. Like Scott and Gilbreath, Rowe is also amongst the school leaders in career receiving yards and career receptions. He ranks eighth and sixth all-time, respectively, with 155 receptions for 2,678 yards.

Lockett needs 174 kickoff return yards in the final three games to break Gilbreath’s single-season record.

Former Aztec wide receiver Darnay Scott, who played in the NFL with the Cincinnati Bengals, is amongst the school leaders in kickoff return yardage (Associated Press)

Did you miss last week’s “Stat of the Week” post about tight end records? Check it out here!

by Hunter Hewitt

GO AZTECS

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Blog Posts

Aztec Stat of the Week: Pass Break-Ups – Leon McFadden

Aztecs in the NFL: Week 10

Aztec Stat of the Week: Kickoff Return Records