Lobos’ O-line seeks improvement
Unit is expected to be tougher, more physical in 2018
Virtually every American male of a certain age has seen this slogan on a locker-room wall: “Offensive linemen are starting blocks for great runs.”
Last fall, with the acknowledgement of everyone involved, the New Mexico Lobos’ starting blocks slipped a bit in 2017. After leading the nation in rushing yards per game (350) the year before, UNM slipped to 19th last season at 235 per game. Average yards per carry dropped from 6.6 to 5.2.
Certainly, not all the decline was due to the offensive line.
Lobos coach Bob Davie said he believed defenses were catching up to UNM’s triple-option offense that had been so effective the previous five years. After the season, Davie fired offensive coordinator Bob DeBesse and hired former Arizona co-offensive coordinator Calvin Magee to take his place.
But Thursday, after the Lobos’ 15th and final practice session of the spring, offensive line coach Saga Tuitele and senior offensive guard Aaron Jenkins didn’t hesitate to agree that their unit didn’t perform up to its previous standards last year.
Well, OK. Last year was last year. What’s going to be different in 2018?
Pretty much everything, Tuitele said: talent, depth, and above all, attitude.
This spring, he said, “We were much more physical, much more mentally tough that we’ve been in the past. In a group like this where there’s a mixture of guys — new guys, old guys, young guys — you’ve got to be one thing. You’ve got to be tough.
“They’re a tough unit, and I think from day one through day 15, it’s a big improvement.”
To add depth as well as talent, UNM signed two junior-college O-linemen in December. Both Jarred Sylvester (6-foot-4, 315 pounds) and David Zavala (6-2, 307) enrolled in January and participated in spring practice. Another junior college transfer, Kyle Stapley (6-3, 307), is due this summer.
Meanwhile, redshirt freshmen Radson Jang (6-2, 265) and Cleveland walk-on Hayden Wilson (6-5, 271) have gotten their share of practice repetitions. Despite his relative lack of size, converted tight end Erik Beilman (6-4, 240) gets excellent reviews.
“He’s a perfect example of what we want,” Tuitele said. “He’s feisty. He’s got some fire.”
With all that, Jenkins said, his fellow returnees — among them Charlie Grammel (6-3, 310), Chris Estrella (6-5, 288), Beau Hott (6-3, 275), Teton Saltes (6-5, 270, still rehabbing from a torn ACL) — are conceding nothing to the newcomers and the up-and-comers.
“I feel like they’re responding great,” said Jenkins (6-2, 307), an honorable-mention All-Mountain West Conference selection last fall as a junior. “When new guys come in, it’s always a new challenge, and I feel like the guys are competitors.”
Tuitele is counting on Jenkins, his only full-time returning starter, to be a leader. But, based on the urgent need for improvement this fall while adjusting to a new offense, he’s coaching Jenkins as if he were a newcomer.
“I went to Aaron, and said, ‘I’m gonna coach you just like you’re a freshman,’ because I think he needs that,” Tuitele said. “And Aaron has responded very, very well.”
Jenkins said he feels Magee’s up-tempo scheme has infused the offensive line with more energy than he’s seen in the past.
“I feel like we were giving better effort than we did the past two years, even when we rushed for the most yards in the country,” he said. “I feel like we’re clicking on all cylinders in the O-line.
“I just feel like we have guys that like to compete and guys that love football.”
ABOUT PRACTICE: The Lobos ended spring drills on Thursday with a brief scrimmage period, highlighted by a terrific catch by junior wide receiver Q’ Drennan of a Bryson Carroll pass for a long touchdown.
Tuitele, the offensive line coach, was so enthused he sprinted some 50 yards to congratulate Drennan.
“Anytime any of our guys makes a play, a receiver, the skill guys, I get fired up,” Tuitele said.
“The other day, we were doing good up front and (wide receiver Delane HartJohnson) came up and said ‘good job.” ... We return the favor as a team.”
Earlier, sophomore tight end and former Cleveland Storm Marcus Williams caught a Tevaka Tuioti pass for a gain of some 25 yards.
On the final play of the spring, junior walk-on running back Javohn Jones (La Cueva) broke a run of some 30 yards.