Don’t expect a conservative offense in opener
QB Wilson wants to keep game plan under wraps, but it could be explosive.
At quarterback, the University of New Mexico has a strongarmed, dynamic runner in Terry Wilson, the Kentucky transfer who said back in March he chose to play for the Lobos to showcase his passing skills.
So what will fans see from the UNM offense when the Lobos open the season against Houston Baptist on Thursday at 6 p.m. at University Stadium? Will the Lobos be conservative or pass happy?
“You gotta see on Thursday,” Wilson said after Monday’s practice when he was asked to describe the offensive scheme.
He did say there are some designed running plays for him. But he didn’t want to give away too much.
“You’ll see a lot of things,” Wilson said. “On Thursday, you’ll see it all.”
If practices are any indication, the Lobos won’t be afraid to throw it deep. They also might have some trick plays, or what UNM coach Danny Gonzales termed, “packages” for quarterbacks, including Trae Hall.
“Trae is an incredible athlete,” Gonzales said at his press conference. “Trae can easily be a starting wide receiver or (defensive back). It’s what he did for the first three years of high school. We’ll have packages for Trae that may not be at quarterback. But he still has to practice at quarterback.”
NO FINGER GUNS: There are packages for quarterback Isaiah Chavez, the former Rio Rancho High standout who led the Lobos to their two wins last year. But Chavez, known for his finger guns celebration last season, will be out against Houston Baptist because he remains in protocol after sustaining a concussion during the Lobos’ last scrimmage of preseason camp on Aug. 19.
Chavez will be able to return to practices, “full go on Tuesday next week as long as he continues to be symptom free,” Gonzales said.
Gonzales, Hall and freshman CJ Montes have been in contention to be Wilson’s backup. Hall has usually been the second QB to take reps after Wilson during practices.
“The QB depth chart goes like this: Terry and then there is an ‘OR’ after everybody else’s name,” Gonzales said. “There’ll be packages for Trae. There’ll be packages for Isaiah when he’s healthy. We’ll decide on a backup if we have to. I think those guys bring different things to the table.”
Chavez began last year as the fifth-string quarterback and came to the Lobos as a walk-on. He has a scholarship entering this season, Gonzales confirmed.
Gonzales said he has told the UNM walk-ons if they help the Lobos win they’ll be put on scholarship. Chavez is the “perfect example” of that, Gonzales said.
“He’s a New Mexico kid who believed in his ability and he walked on,” Gonzales said. “I would have been willing to bet my mortgage that he would not have played quarterback for us last year. I would have been broke. The only two games we won, he played. You never know when you’re going to play. He believed in his ability. Now he’s a quarterback on scholarship competing to play.”
VACCINATION RATE: The UNM football team is a little bit over an 80% vaccination rate, Gonzales said.
“We had a couple guys with a little bit more confidence with Pfizer being FDA-approved that have taken their first (shot),” Gonzales said. “Then we have a couple of them that have not been vaccinated with other things their entire life and they’re going through the exemption because of religious beliefs. I don’t think we’ll get to 100%, but I think over the next couple of weeks we’ll be significantly closer to that. I think we’ll have under 10 guys that won’t be vaccinated.”
STARTING PUNTER: Aaron Rodriguez, a sophomore transfer from Missouri, has won the job to be the Lobos’ starting punter, filling the role previously filled by three-year starter Tyson Dyer.
Rodriguez competed against Jared Long, a redshirt freshman out of Del Norte, who was Dyer’s backup last season.
“(Rodriguez) has been more consistent, so he will start on Thursday,” Gonzales said. “Jared is not out of it, if he continues to practice and performs better. As of right now we’re going with Aaron and I think Aaron will do a great job.”
Redshirt senior Andrew Shelley (Eldorado) and senior George Steinkamp remain competing to be UNM’s kicker for field goals and extra points. Steinkamp will be the guy for kickoffs, Gonzales said.
“We’re not ready to name the starter yet,” Gonzales said. “You’ll see who it is when he walks up (for a field goal or extra point on Thursday).”
HALF NOBLE: Senior defensive end Joey Noble won’t be starting against Houston Baptist. That’s because he must sit out for the first half to serve the personalfoul penalty that he was assessed during the Lobos’ season finale last year.
Noble was ejected from the game after he piled on a Fresno State player late and used his forearm to hit the player’s helmet.
“It’s kind of a bummer, but I’ll be coaching Jake (Saltonstall) and Justin (Harris) on the sidelines,” Noble said. “I’m looking forward to Thursday. I think Houston Baptist will be tired from the elevation. One of the advantages is that I’ll come in fresh and ready to go.”
Noble is expected to be a key defensive player after a solid 2020 season and a great offseason. He added 18 pounds, he said, as he is now 250 pounds.
He was challenged to maintain the speed he used last year to finish third on the team in tackles (40). He also had a team-best five tackles for loss and four sacks, to go with a fumble recovery and a forced fumble.
As for gaining weight, Noble said his girlfriend, Ashlyn Roberts, a sophomore pitcher on the UNM softball team, helped.
“Every night it was ‘eat this and eat this,’” Noble said. “Chicken, rice, pasta. Protein shake every morning and dinner later in the night.”
Noble is now ready to eat on defense.