‘WHO’S MY LINE?’ : Injuries Keep Aztec Coaches Guessing

The game is “Who’s My Line?”

The contestant is Ed Schmidt, San Diego State University’s offensive line coach.

The object is to find a compatible group of linemen to lead the Aztec offense.

The big prize might be a Holiday Bowl victory.

So far, Schmidt has played the game well.

When the season began, eight of SDSU’s leading 10 linemen were seniors, including four starters. When the Aztecs play Iowa in the Holiday Bowl on Tuesday, seven of their top 10 linemen will be underclassmen, including four of five starters.

The constants have been senior left guard Doug Aronson and sophomore center Kevin Wells. Aronson was named to the all-Western Athletic Conference first-team for the second straight year, and Wells earned honorable mention.

The other three positions, however, have been as constant as a roller coaster.

The current starters are juniors Mike Knutson (left tackle), Reggie Blaylock (right guard) and Dave DesRochers (right tackle).

Knutson, a transfer from Fullerton College, nearly earned a starting berth at the season’s outset. Blaylock and DesRochers, holdovers from last season, were not close to starting when the season began.

By the end of SDSU’s eighth game, all three were in the lineup. Each started the final three regular-season games.

“Knutson, Blaylock and DesRochers were guys we weren’t counting on to win a championship,” Schmidt said. “Any time you win a championship, guys you weren’t counting on come through in a big way. When we had to win the last four games, they were the ones we counted on.”

When the season began, the Aztecs started Greg Williamson at left tackle, Mark Tegio at right guard and Mike Ariey at right tackle.

All three had a history of injuries. Williamson had postseason knee surgery last year and missed spring practice. Tegio had chronic knee injuries. Ariey had shoulder injuries.

“When they dressed, they were all knee and shoulder braces and harnesses,” Schmidt said. “They looked like old gladiators. I don’t know how they could move around sometimes.”

Williamson suffered a sprained knee in practice the week before the season’s third game against UCLA. He missed three games, then reinjured the knee against Texas El Paso when he returned

Knutson has been the starter since.

Tegio suffered a sprained knee in season’s eighth game against Colorado State. He has since been replaced by Blaylock.

Ariey suffered knee ligament damage against Colorado State, and needed surgery. DesRochers has replaced him.

Despite an inexperienced line, the Aztecs came from behind to defeat Colorado State, 27-26. They drove 86 yards in one minute without any timeouts remaining to score their winning touchdown.

In the next two games, the offensive line played well as SDSU defeated Wyoming, 31-24, and Hawaii, 35-5.

But the regular-season finale against Brigham Young was another story. Though the Aztecs won, 10-3, quarterback Todd Santos was sacked eight times.

BYU featured two all-WAC defensive linemen--Jason Buck and Shawn Knight. Buck also had been named winner of the Outland Trophy the day of the SDSU game.

“I was disappointed in how we played against BYU,” Schmidt said. “But we’re talking about having a non-scholarship player (Blaylock) blocking against the Outland Trophy winner.”

Blaylock perhaps best typifies the transformation among the offensive linemen.

For the past two seasons, he had played on the scout team. After spring practice this year, he was told he would probably be on the scout team again if he returned.

“The only thing that kept me from leaving were players who were my friends,” Blaylock said. “As far as football went, it was really discouraging. At first, I thought about not coming back. Then I decided to give it a try. I don’t think I have necessarily gotten that much better in the past year. These coaches saw something in me or gave me the chance that coaches here last year didn’t.”

According to Schmidt, Blaylock may have developed what coaches term “scout-teamitis.”

“You don’t learn much on the scout team,” Schmidt said. “You can develop bad habits and keep doing them.”

At the season’s outset, DesRochers had developed what coaches term a “second-stringer’s mentality,” meaning he was satisfied with being a backup. DesRochers knew his chances of replacing Ariey were slim.

“Dave was very content to be No. 2,” Schmidt said. “When you’re on the gravy train, get the benefits of being on a winning team and don’t have to take on responsibility, it’s easy to get comfortable.

“From the time Mike got hurt, it was like Dave said, ‘OK, now it’s my turn and responsibility.’ He responded very well to that.”

DesRochers said he didn’t expect to play much when Ariey was healthy.

“All the coaches ever talked about was Doug Aronson and Mike Ariey,” DesRochers said. “Being behind Mike, I knew there was no way I would pass him by. I accepted my role and was content with it. I never knew when I would go in. When I became a starter, I knew I’d be playing and I set my mind to it.”

The Aztecs must now set their minds to playing against an Iowa defensive line that is termed physical. Tommy Bonds, Texas El Paso’s fullback, said earlier this month that Iowa has a better defensive line than BYU.

Will SDSU’s inexperienced offensive line continue to surprise and play well against Iowa?

“I’d have to say I’m surprised they have played as well as they have,” Schmidt said. “Although I’ve been surprised, there has been a lot at stake. I would have been disappointed if they hadn’t played as well as they have.”

It’s made “Who’s My Line?” an enjoyable experience for Schmidt.