Ask the coach: Sean Lewis talks T-formation, recruiting and a key injury

Editor’s note: The Union-Tribune this season invites readers to submit questions for San Diego State coach Sean Lewis. Today, the coach answers questions after SDSU’s win over Boise State and heading into Saturday’s home game against San Jose State.

You have used the T-formation in power running situations. Is this a nod to the fight song of your hometown NFL team the Chicago Bears, which references the T-formation? — @sdsportsfiend

A: Not directly, but I guess indirectly. Sure. I spoke about it after the game. We wanted to have a package that we could own, that would give us an identity in those situations and for all the things that we researched, thought the T-formation gave us a chance. It’s been a very effective package for us this year. But bear down. The Bears are 7-3. Let’s go!”

How many scholarships do you have to give for the upcoming class (the early signing period is Dec. 3-5), and how many high school players versus transfers do you think will be in this year’s recruiting class? — Don Koch, San Diego

A: A lot of variables to that question. Don’t really know until we have the answers of who on our team is going to opt to go into the portal. We still have a handful of high school numbers (20 current commitments) that we earmarked from the class that we had, some of the decommitments, some of the (recruits) that we’ve moved off of, some of the guys that we’re still hunting.

Probably three to five more high school kids, the number of transfer portal guys still yet to be determined as we go forward, but there’s going to be quite a bit of activity when it comes to talent acquisition.

It’s a lifeline for our program, and the way that we’ve performed, the way that we’ve been able to level up the prospects of who we’re recruiting, the level of prospects having interest in us and what we’re about, we’re going to look to get the best, you know, 105 players that we can to the roster each every single year.

It was clear that (Boise State defensive back) Jeremiah Earby’s hit on (SDSU wide receiver) Jordan Napier was dirty and done with intent to injure hin on Saturday night. Have you spoken with (Boise State coach) Spencer Danielson about that play? Do coaches discuss things like that after the fact? — Rebar619 (@jlahaye76)

A: It’s a play that happens in the game of football, unfortunately. Very unfortunate that happened to, you know, one of our single-digit guys and one of our best players.

But again, the same way we talked about with Jordan earlier, it’s not so much about why it happened, but, all right, what we need to do going forward to create the solution so that we can go find a good win this week?

I’ve been focused on finding those solutions, not so much thinking about the past and what played out or why it played out.

Several of (SDSU quarterback) Jayden Denegal’s passes against Boise State were to the slot receiver sideways and unproductive. Why not throw the ball downfield? — Rick Hughes, San Diego

A: Because it was raining a lot for the majority of the night, so there were a lot of circumstances, handling of the ball, pushing the ball vertical, the vision when your eyes have to go up into the rain, all the things that go into the factors of that.

So we thought some of the horizontal spacing, some of the lateral passes, gives an opportunity to throw a ball, regardless of the conditions, that were advantageous to us. We attempted to push a few balls down range, and kind of got a little bit wide because of grip and other factors. So again, wanted to lead to the strengths of what that evening was (rushing for 277 yards), and again, find a way to win, given those circumstances.

Readers are invited to submit questions after each weekend’s game through Tuesday to kirk.kenney@sduniontribune.com or on X to @sdutkirKDKenney.

San Diego State (8-2, 5-1) vs San Jose State (3-7, 2-4)

When: 7:30 p.m. Saturday

Where: Snapdragon Stadium

TV: Fox Sports 1

Radio: 760-AM