While nobody is about ready to anoint the San Diego State Aztecs favorites to win the Mountain West Football Conference they seem to be making slow, but steady progress in a number of areas under new coach Brady Hoke. Coming off a much needed 34-17 win over New Mexico State last weekend, the Aztecs (2-3) have a bye week in which they can recover physically and prepare for what could be their toughest opponent of the season, BYU.

 The 4-1 Cougars will bring the conference’s leading rusher (Harvey Unga) and passer (Max Hall) to Qualcomm Stadium when they take on the Aztecs on October 17 at 3:00 p.m. The Cougars also have a stifling defense and a talented roster from top to bottom and unlike the Aztecs, plenty of depth. Last year the Cougars buried the Aztecs in Provo 41-12 so the red and black will be hoping to close that gap and continue their progress toward respectability.

 In the last two games the Aztec defense under defensive coordinator Rocky Long has   outshined the offense. Players like Dey Juan Hemmings, Ernie Lawson, Luke Laolagi, Jose Perez and Miles Burris have led the defensive charge.

 Burris, a 6’2” 235 outside linebacker out of Granite Bay, California was recruited by BYU, next week’s opponent, in addition to SDSU, so he will no doubt want to show the Cougars a player that they let slide through their fingers. Burris talked about his demanding role within the new Aztec defense scheme.

 “My position is kind of unique in that I do a little bit of everything. I line up on the edge a lot and sometimes I will rush off the edge. Other times I am lined up over the tight end or in the box or blitzing from the middle. I also drop back into coverage (sometimes). So my position does a little bit of everything, but that makes it fun from a player’s point of view.”

 It is not always obvious to fans and observers, but Burris can see some real progress being made this season on the defensive side of the ball.

 “I think we are getting better every day. Every practice we are out there competing. We are competing not to just get through practice, but to get better as a team. We have a new coaching staff in and everybody has responded very well to them. We can see in each other that we are making strides and gaining confidence. A lot of it is in the belief that we can win and in the belief in each other and that everyone is going to get their job done. I also see progress in our aggressiveness and our execution. I can only speak defensively. We still have mental errors that hurt us from time to time. Everybody though, is giving their all and playing really hard and aggressively.”

 Burris attributes a lot of the progress that has been made to defensive coordinator, Rocky Long.

 “We have a defense that is extremely complex and complicated for opposing offenses. It is also very complicated for those of us that are defensive players, but (Long) presents in a way were we don’t have to think much. He makes our assignments easy for us to comprehend, but at the same time it is super complex and difficult for offenses to go against.”

 Most of the players have individual as well as team goals. Burris came into the season hoping to secure a starting role (which he has done) and to help the team win the Mountain West (which will be extremely difficulty with three Top-25 teams in the conference). Perhaps, if the progress continues by the time Burris is a senior the Aztecs may find themselves competing for a bowl game.