A quick, quick turnaround for Aggies
A short week of practice heading into a Thursday night game at Minnesota might seem a daunting prospect for the New Mexico State University football team.
It’s all a matter of perspective, Aggies coach Doug Martin says.
On the glass-half-empty side, NMSU is still licking its wounds after Saturday’s 29-7 home loss to Wyoming. Defensive lineman Jassavia Reese and linebackers Javahn Fergurson and Leon McQuaker range from questionable to doubtful with various leg injuries for Thursday’s contest.
Preparation will also be cut short for the Aggies, while Minnesota figures to be well-rested and locked in for its season opener.
“That’s one of the things that’s negative,” NMSU defensive lineman DeShawnte Lloyd said Tuesday. “There’s not much time for us to get the game plan down and really prepare for (the Golden Gophers’) schemes. Everything is tighter than usual.”
But Martin, Lloyd and the rest of the Aggies can also see the glass as halffull. From a preparation standpoint, much of New Mexico State’s game plan for Minnesota was developed during the summer. Thursday’s matchup also gives NMSU a chance to put its disappointing opener in the rearview mirror.
“I think most of us are glad for the quick turnaround,” Martin said. “We can get that bad taste out of our mouths fairly quickly. The Wyoming
game was an eye-opener and I didn’t like what we looked like on the video. I don’t think our players did either.”
Martin did not think NMSU was physical enough against Wyoming, particularly on the offensive side of the ball. While not entirely satisfied with the play of junior transfer Matt Romero at quarterback, Martin felt much of the blame for his team’s lackluster offensive performance should be directed elsewhere.
“We were too tentative,” Martin said. “Our play-calling was too conservative and we did not protect at all. Our offensive line was horrendous that entire game. Matt can play better, but he completed 60 percent of his passes and didn’t turn the ball over. At the end of the day we have to do more to help him.”
Martin said having a Division I game under his belt should benefit Romero, who finished 16-of-27 passing for 140 yards and a touchdown against Wyoming. Minnesota is expected to start true freshman Zack Annexstad at quarterback, which leads Martin to expect a heavy dose of rushing offense from the Golden Gophers.
“They’ll probably attack us a lot like Wyoming did,” Martin said, “a lot of the run game and play-action passing. Naked bootleg plays hurt us, too, so we’ll probably see more of those. It’s up to us to show we can stop them.”
Thursday’s game, which will be televised on the Big Ten Network, also has a financial bright side for NMSU. The Aggies will receive an $800,000 guarantee for visiting TCF Bank Stadium.
ROSE RE-SIGNS: The Los Angeles Rams re-signed former NMSU running back Larry Rose III on Tuesday. Rose, who rushed for 4,558 yards and 37 touchdowns during his Aggies career, signed with the Tennessee Titans as an undrafted free agent during the offseason. He was waived in May, signed with the Rams and participated in their offseason program before he was waived in June. Rose is likely to see action in Thursday’s preseason finale against New Orleans as the Rams are expected to hold numerous players out.