DEFENSIVE NATURE
UNM’s defense has given up big plays, but not always while gambling
The New Mexico Lobos run a blitzing, gambling, high-risk, high-reward defense. Right? Well, yes, most of the time. “They really like the zone blitz element of what they do defensively, bringing (pressure) often and from both sides and every which way,” San Jose State coach Ron Caragher, whose Spartans play the Lobos on Saturday afternoon at University Stadium, said Monday at his weekly news conference.
So far this season, though, where’s the reward? The UNM defense has not forced a turnover in the Lobos’ past two games — both losses — against New Mexico State and Rutgers.
The risk factor, meanwhile, has been there. So far this season, the New Mexico defense has given up scoring plays of 55, 42, 41, 75 and 80 yards. As well, there was the 49-yard pass play given up to New Mexico State at the end of the first half that set up an Aggies touchdown.
Here’s the thing, though. On most of
those plays, the Lobos weren’t blitzing.
Blitz or no blitz, UNM coach Bob Davie said Tuesday, football defense is based on precision of execution. And it’s always a gamble. “It’s a bit of a misnomer to say it’s a high-risk, highreward defense, because a lot of our high risks have come playing base, playing zone (defense in the secondary),” he said.
“There are times (getting burned on the blitz) happens, but not as much as you think . ... It’s preciseness in all things.”
Against Rutgers, UNM — leading 21-0 — gave up a momentum-shifting, 75-yard touchdown pass late in the first quarter. The Lobos rushed only three on the play, but poor communication between a cornerback and a safety allowed Scarlet Knights wide receiver Jawuan Harris to get behind the secondary.
In the second quarter, Rutgers running back Robert Martin broke an 80-yard touchdown run to tie the game at 21. Again, no blitz was involved. “We jump out of our gap and (Martin) takes the long run,” Davie said after the game.
Tuesday, he said, “The exactness and the vulnerability of big plays are no different, sometimes less when you’re pressuring than when you’re just playing zone.
“There’s still communication, and there’s still single gap responsibilities. So our big plays (given up) are not a byproduct (of the defensive scheme).”
What, then, is the answer? The Lobos can’t continue to give up big plays and expect to win, especially if the defense isn’t producing turnovers.
For senior nose guard William Udeh, the key is perfecting the techniques he and his teammates on defense practice on a daily basis.
Big plays by the opposition, he said, might still occur.
“It’s football,” he said. “Anything can happen. You might see some bad things, and you might see some good things. But hopefully it comes down to our technique and seeing if our work pays off.”
Last year, at least in part, the Lobos compensated for big plays given up by taking the ball away. The Lobos intercepted 14 passes, recovered 11 opponents’ fumbles and were plus-four in turnover margin.
This season, UNM has four turnovers through three games. But the UNM defense produced none against New Mexico State and Rutgers.
The answer? Persevere, Davie said.
“I don’t think you do anything more than keep preaching and keep teaching and keep doing what you do,” he said. “Sometimes (turnovers) come in bunches.
“Certainly, though, that’s a piece of it, creating turnovers. If you’re going to give up a big play on defense, you’d better create a big play on defense.”
CHANGE OF HEART: Darrion “D.J.” Green, a senior running back/defensive back at Wilson High School in Dallas, has “de-committed” from UNM.
Green, who excels in football despite being partially deaf, had announced on Twitter in June that he would attend UNM. Last month, however, he reopened his recruitment. He has yet to commit elsewhere.
New Mexico now has one known commitment toward its 2017 recruiting class: Bryson Carroll, a dual-threat quarterback from Roosevelt High School in San Antonio, Texas.
Through five games this season, Carroll has rushed for 661 yards and eight touchdowns with an average of 8.4 yards per carry. He has completed 26 of 57 passes for 424 yards and three touchdowns with six interceptions.
All such commitments are nonbinding until a signed letter of intent is received by the school in question. Signing day for high school seniors and junior college spring graduates is Feb. 1.
ROBERTS: There will be a moment of silence prior to kickoff Saturday in memory of Mike Roberts, the longtime “Voice of the Lobos” radio announcer who passed away earlier this month, Athletic Director Paul Krebs said on his radio show Tuesday night.