Ask the Coach: Sean Lewis discusses running back workload, O-line play and filling Snapdragon

by Kirk Kenney

Editor’s note: The Union-Tribune this season invites readers to submit questions for San Diego State coach Sean Lewis to answer. Today, the coach answers questions after SDSU’s win at Northern Illinois and heading into Friday’s game against Colorado State.

Why is Lucky Sutton not getting more carries? — DJ, Los Angeles

I would love to know why Lucky Sutton is not getting a constant 20-plus carries per game when he is averaging over 5 yards per carry. Seems like a no-brainer to me to keep the offense on schedule. — Jeremy LaHaye, La Mesa

A: So last year, when (Marquez Cooper) got all the work, I didn’t manage it properly. Now, we’re managing the workload and we’re not doing that properly. …

Lucky’s been very productive with the workload that he’s gotten. As we continue to move deeper into the season, we’re going to continue to play the hot hand. Obviously, he finished in a very productive way (against NIU).

I think his style leads to, as the game goes on, he’s more of a body puncher than he is a haymaker, knockout artist right now. As he becomes more productive, we will continue to manage his load with the other loads of the other guys so that we can move through the whole season. I trust all the guys that are in that room. We’re going to play the hot hand.

They all have different skillsets. It’s the beauty of the guys that we have in that room, especially between Christian (Washington) and Lucky. They’re two different styles. Lucky is a good, one-cut, downhill, bruising runner. That shows up late in games and early in games. (Defenders) start making business decisions as he’s coming down the tracks, like, ‘Do I really want this?’ He embraces that.

Christian is a completely different pace. Not that he’s not a physical runner, but he’s more of work-on-edges, one-cut (runner).

They both have explosive ability to take it the distance. Me saying that is one thing. Them doing it and not letting shoestring tackles bring them down and generate more explosive runs, (that) needs to start producing on tape as well.

The offensive line is pretty big. Are they nimble enough to where they can move the pocket to get the defense moving sideline to sideline? So quick outs on these third-and-2s and fourth-and-1s. — Brooks Beckman, San Diego

A: They’re big, fast, they’re strong. We can move and extend the pocket. That was the one fourth-down call we did in order to extend the pocket. We kind of got pulled off an edge pressure. They have the ability to do all the things we need to do.

What can the administration do to help you make sure that Snapdragon is packed every home game? — Aaron G.

A: They’re doing a tremendous job of promoting the events. They’ve done a tremendous job of evolving themselves this year and supporting our athletics by getting free tickets out to the community, to various groups. If we continue those engagements and continue to give an elite experience, like I heard about the last time with all the people that were there against Cal, I think more and more people will continue to come. People will continue to be educated and know that there is a price point and there’s an access point for everyone in the community to be there and show up and create a great environment on Friday night.

Submit questions after each weekend’s game through Monday to kirk.kenney@sduniontribune.com or on X to @sdutkirKDKenney.