If the union of Bob Elliott and Mike Nelson is to achieve the desired result, the first order of business might be to improve the lines of communication.
One day after San Diego State football coach Chuck Long announced that the two would share the responsibility of making the defensive play calls, neither of the two assistants was willing to discuss the arrangement after yesterday's practice.
Bob Elliott
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While Nelson, who was rehired at SDSU this year as the team's defensive line coach, refused an interview request, Elliott offered only a “no comment” when asked about collaborating with a coach who worked with him for two years at Iowa State in 2000-01.
On Monday, Long said he wanted Nelson to assist Elliott in the play-calling while Elliott, 55, underwent treatment for an undisclosed illness. In 1999, Elliott received a bone marrow transplant while battling polycythemia vera, a form of cancer in which bone marrow becomes hyperactive.
Elliott, who is not answering questions regarding his health, said two years ago that his cancer had been in remission with the exception of a brief setback in 2001.
If there's confusion regarding Long's decision to have Elliott and Nelson share the play-calling duties, it's that Elliott remains the defensive coordinator and, according to Long, is not expected to miss any of the team's remaining nine games. Elliott also is continuing to work with the inside linebackers. In addition, Long has said that when Elliott's health improves, he again will be solely responsible for the defensive play-calling.
While Long maintains that the move he made was intended to lessen Elliott's workload in light of his illness, the shuffling comes at a time when SDSU, off to its second 0-3 start in three years, is ranked 105th in total defense among the nation's 119 Football Bowl Subdivision teams.
A year ago, the Aztecs finished 115th in total defense. They ranked second-to-last (118th) in rushing defense, 116th in tackles for loss, tied for 107th in sacks, 104th in pass efficiency defense and 103rd in scoring defense.
Asked yesterday about Elliott's response when told he would be sharing the play-calling duties, Long said: “He told me, 'You've gotta do what you've gotta do; that's your decision.' The decision I made was based strictly on his health.
“Bob is a very professional guy. His work ethic is superb. Both (Elliott and Nelson) are professional. The decision I made was what I thought was best for Bob. That's it. There's nothing else to read into it.”
Yet the lack of response from either Elliott or Nelson regarding the pairing would seem only to invite additional questions.
As defensive coordinator, Elliott, who was Long's first hire at SDSU, is responsible for hiring defensive staff. Nelson, 60, returned to SDSU in February after coaching the Aztecs' defensive line and inside linebackers under Denny Stolz in 1987-88. Before spending last year as the defensive line coach with the Canadian Football League's Hamilton Tiger-Cats, Nelson spent 10 years at Iowa State, where he worked alongside Elliott and Aztecs defensive backs coach Chris Ash.
In nearly 40 years of coaching, Nelson has been a defensive coordinator once, at Norfolk State in 1971.
Asked yesterday if Nelson had called plays before, Elliott said, “I don't know; I would assume so.”
The Aztecs, who have lost six straight dating to last season, are coming off a 35-10 loss at San Jose State in which they surrendered 476 yards.
In losing 29-27 to Football Championship Division (formerly Division I-AA) Cal Poly for the second time in three years in its season opener, SDSU allowed 483 yards.
SDSU hoops
Forward Tim Shelton, who played in just four games last season before having season-ending knee surgery, has been granted a medical redshirt and will be considered a freshman when the Aztecs begin practice Oct. 15.
The 6-foot-7, 242-pound Shelton, who made three starts last season, averaged 10.0 points and 4.8 rebounds, and shot 55.2 percent from the field and 77.8 percent from the free-throw line.
Mick McGrane: (619) 293-1850; mick.mcgrane@uniontrib.com
