Lobos have no time to dwell
UNM shifts from Aggies to Thursday night’s game at Boise State
So much uncertainty. So many problems. Such bitter disappointment. This University of New Mexico football team could really use a bye week.
Instead, guess what? The Lobos, coming of a demoralizing loss to arch rival New Mexico State, have a short week of practice before facing Mountain West Conference power Boise State Thursday on the Broncos’ hallowed blue turf.
And, guess what again? That’s fine, apparently, with the Lobos.
“It’s time for re-evaluation right now, and maybe the good thing is we play Boise State Thursday night,” UNM coach
Bob Davie said after Saturday’s 30-28 loss to the Aggies at Dreamstyle Stadium. “Maybe that’s the best thing for us, is to go play and try to figure some things out.” Clearly, there’s a lot to figure out. What has happened to the running game that led the nation last year, and can it be fixed?
Is fifth-year senior Lamar Jordan still the guy at quarterback after being pulled from the NMSU game, or is redshirt freshman Tevaka Tuioti the answer going forward?
Who and what are the Lobos on defense? Are they the unit that gave up 423 yards to the Aggies during the first three quarters? Or the guys that allowed just 77 more in the fourth?
Senior strong safety Jacob Girgle, like Davie, believes the quick turnaround for Boise State is a good thing — not that there’s a choice.
“We’re back in it (Sunday), and we’ve got to figure out what we did wrong and fix it and be ready for Boise on Thursday,” Girgle said.
Certainly, there was no shortage of things the Lobos did wrong against the Aggies: four turnovers, 13 penalties, missed opportunities, lack of a pass rush, poor coverage in the secondary.
All of those things, perhaps to varying degrees, are correctable. What, though, of that running game? The Lobos’ rushing statistics against NMSU — 176 yards, a 4.8-yard average per carry — would be just fine for a lot of teams. Not for New Mexico.
Even the previous week, in a 38-14 victory over Abilene Christian, concerns arose. The Lobos rushed for 259 yards and had a 6.5-yard average per carry, but 125 of those yards came on three plays. The run up the middle, the pilot light that fuels the keep and the pitch in UNM’s triple option, never ignited.
“We certainly started leaking some oil against Abilene Christian offensively,” Davie said. “That just didn’t look like us.”
It’s obvious that three 2016 seniors in the offensive line, left tackle Reno Henderson, right tackle Garrett Adcock and left guard Chris Lewis, are missed. But Davie’s not happy with his running backs, either. Senior Richard McQuarley and junior Tyrone Owens had fumbles that turned into nine New Mexico State points.
How the running game progresses, as well, could have a lot to do with how UNM’s quarterback situation plays out.
Jordan, after throwing the ball extremely well in the preseason, has looked uncomfortable in the pocket. He threw two interceptions against the Aggies, both poor decisions, before being yanked in favor of Tuioti after the first series in the third quarter.
Tuioti made plays in the passing game, leading the Lobos to 23 fourthquarter points that gave them a chance to overcome NMSU’s 25-point lead.
When UNM’s running game is effective, so is Jordan. He has yet to prove he’s the answer when the Lobos are forced to pass.
A Thursday night game against Boise State on ESPN, Davie said, is not the time to have Tuioti make his first career start. And Davie said Jordan deserves a chance to prove he’s still the Lobos’ best option at quarterback.
Yet, there’s that question, based on what Tuioti did against the Aggies and on what Jordan did not: put points on the board. Nothing is certain. Regardless, it’s on to Boise. “I’m not down on Lamar,” Davie said. “It’s just that he wasn’t performing the way he’s capable of performing, and we had to make a change.
“Let’s get through the night, let’s think about it. Let’s look at the tape (Sunday), and we’ll move forward.”