SAN DIEGO -- At first glance, San Diego State's improvement in the kick return game appears to be a huge leap: The Aztecs have moved from 110th in the nation last year to 32nd through three games this season.

A cold look at the numbers, though, shows the difference is only 6.9 yards. The Aztecs averaged 17.5 yards in 2006 and have improved to 24.4 through this season.

Is 6.9 yards really that big, especially in 2007 when all teams should have better field position with kickoffs moved back 5 yards from the 35 to the 30?

SDSU coach Chuck Long says the reason it's a significant number is the yardage of a 49-yard return last week by true freshman Vincent Brown is reflected in the team's total of 415 yards on 17 returns.

"You look at 6 or 7 yards, and it doesn't seem like much, but it's big," Long said. "It's field position. That's just the average. The first long one we had put us on the plus side of the field. We didn't do that last year. That's a big play. It changes the momentum of a game."

Brown gave the Aztecs the ball at Portland State's 41-yard line, and SDSU scored six plays later for a 7-0 lead in a 52-17 win.

In the punt return game, the Aztecs rank 108th, but they've only returned two of nine punt attempts. Long is using senior Brett Swain on punt returns until Brown gains experience.

"We've worked hard on our return game, but the returner back there makes all the difference," Long said. "We have a guy with a knack for returns, and we didn't have that last year. We tried different things to trick them, but once you have a good return man, you don't have to trick them as much."

Brown, a 6-foot, 175-pounder from Rancho Cucamonga, has the stride of a gazelle. His return average on 14 of the team's 17 returns is 26.5, and he expects more of himself. He says he should have broken that 49-yarder for a touchdown.

"I thought the kicker had the angle on me, and I tried to put a move on him instead of just going by him," Brown said. "That's something I learned from film study that I can correct next time."

Aztecs notes

Coach Chuck Long said he and offensive line coach Jonathan Himebach may decide today if senior OGBrandyn Dombrowski will start Saturday against Cincinnati (4-0) at Qualcomm Stadium in his first full week of practice since his academic ineligibility was lifted. … Long also said redshirt freshman Andrew Preston will start at the "Will" linebacker spot in place of the injured Brett Martin. He says the Aztecs can use more nickel formation if the linebacker corps suffers more injuries.