UNM 'D' Gets Test From Cats

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Friday, September 12, 2008



It was a two-game span early in the 2007 season that would change the complexion of the University of New Mexico football team's defense in 2008.
The Lobos (0-2) changed from their standard 3-3-5 defensive alignment to a 3-2-6 this season precisely for the type of offense it'll face Saturday when high-powered Arizona (2-0) arrives at University Stadium.
UNM begins a three-game stretch of facing similar spread passing offenses ? with Tulsa and New Mexico State after the Wildcats. Brigham Young also runs a similar-style attack, Utah and UNLV run spread-option passing offenses, and San Diego State also has an offense that so far is passing 71 percent of the time this season.
The defense is using a sixth defensive back ? a second lobo back ? in its base package this season, rather than a third linebacker.
"I think that it's given us a lot more speed on the field," UNM defensive coordinator Troy Reffett says. "There's some plays that the lobo backs make that it might be difficult for a linebacker to make just because of difference in talent level. Sometimes, (the lobo backs) come through inside creases or they come around the edge and get to the quarterback really quick. It also give us a different type of player in pursuit, when the ball breaks containment."
Last year, the Lobos proved what they were doing wasn't all that effective against the Texas Tech-style of four- and five-receiver sets in which the offense extends virtually from sideline to sideline on every play.
The Aggies threw for 473 yards and gained a total of 581 yards on offense last year against UNM in Game 2 of the season. The Lobos went to Arizona the next week and surrendered 446 passing yards and 484 total yards.
This year, the Wildcats are averaging 55.5 points per game.
"We've started out so much better than we did last year, defensively, numbers-wise," senior safety Blake Ligon says. "We haven't forced as many turnovers as we'd like to ? we've gotten the ball on the ground a couple of times that we haven't recovered ? but I'm pretty happy with it."
The Lobos have forced only two turnovers this season ?one fumble that came on a punt return and one interception. The defense has forced four other fumbles that opponents have recovered.
"We pride ourselves on pursuit and running to the ball," senior linebacker Herbert Felder says. "The coaches preach to us that if you run to the ball, good things will happen. That's what we're trying to do."
Felder had a big hand in two Lobo victories last year via the loose ball ? stripping San Diego State quarterback Kevin O'Connell of the ball that allowed UNM to score the game-winning touchdown with 15 seconds left and forcing and recovering a fumble on Air Force's final drive to preserve a victory.
"I'm going to bring one of those back out pretty soon," Felder said, half-joking.
So far this season, UNM is allowing 263.5 yards per game, 56 yards fewer than last season when it finished No. 13 in the nation.
The extra DB, however, also has made UNM a bit less stout up front.
The Lobos are giving up 131.5 rushing yards, which would be the highest since 1999. They never forced TCU to go three-and-out, though they forced three from Texas A&M.
UNM also has surrendered six red-zone touchdown in seven attempts ? although opponents have begun five of those TD drives at or inside the Lobos 30.
"They're getting in the end zone, and that's the bottom line," Reffett says. "We need to hold them to field goals. We're doing some good things, but we haven't been near good enough to win."
INJURY UPDATE: Linebacker Terel Anyaibe will play Saturday after missing the early part of the week with a strained calf muscle. Defensive end Jonathan Rainey (shoulder) and offensive tackle Sylvester Hatten (foot) also will play.
The Arizona Daily Star reports Wildcats tight end Rob Gronkowski should return from strep throat that kept him out of the first two games, but his action may be limited.

 

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Wildcats threaten to leave UNM winless


9/12/08



Arizona's high-octane train comes barreling into University Stadium on Saturday to square off against the UNM football team.

UNM fans won't have much to boast about after losing two consecutive games to TCU and Texas A&M, but fresh in their minds is last year's 29-27 come-from-behind victory over Arizona down in Tucson.

Overall, the Wildcats have the series advantage, holding a 43-19-3 record against the Lobos.

The 'Cats come in ranked third in the nation in scoring offense, averaging 55.5 points per game. The Lobos have averaged a meager 12.5 points per game.

The pressure will be on the Lobo defense to clamp down on Wildcat quarterback Willie Tuitama, who has completed 77.8 percent of his passes and thrown for 471 yards, five touchdowns and no interceptions in two games.

UNM linebacker Zach Arnett said the Lobos want to make Tuitama uncomfortable in the pocket.

"We will need to get pressure on him," he said. "We can't let him just sit back there and have all the time in the world."

But Arizona isn't one-dimensional. In the past two games, the Wildcats have racked up an average of 209 rushing yards per game. Running back Nic Grigsby accounted for 304 yards on 39 carries for an average of 7.8 yards per carry.

Arnett said the fact that the Wildcats are multi-dimensional makes the Lobo back position crucial this week.

"We'll bring in Ian Clark and Clint McPeek," he said. "They're both 220 (pounds) - big guys. So, it's not like we're losing a linebacker, because those guys are good at stopping the run."

Granted, Arizona has played a weaker non-conference schedule, notching a 70-point shut out against an Idaho team that went 1-11 and ranked last out of 118 Division-I programs last season. The Wildcats then creamed Toledo 41-16.

Although the Wildcats have had two "cupcake" games so far, Lobo backer Clark said Arizona's offensive statistics aren't inflated.

"You can't really judge them off who they've played," he said. "Idaho - even though they didn't beat a Division-I team last year, they could have been having an off-day." While it might be unreasonable to expect the Lobos' defense to hold an offensive juggernaut in check all day, head coach Rocky Long said the best way the Lobos can limit Arizona's explosiveness is by executing when the Lobos have the ball.

"We have to be really good on offense and keep the ball away from them," he said.

That's something the Lobos have struggled with - hanging on to the ball. UNM has turned the ball over seven times (four interceptions and three fumbles) while scooping up only two turnovers - giving them a minus-2.5 turnover ratio.

As of late, UNM has been in the giving mood. Off Lobo turnovers, opponents have had touchdown-capping drives of four plays for 30 yards; two plays for nine yards; one play for four yards; three plays for 20 yards; and four plays for 21 yards.

UNM quarterback Donovan Porterie is responsible for four of those turnovers - three interceptions and one fumble.

Long, who played quarterback for UNM in 1969-71, said he can empathize with Porterie.

"I understand what he's going through," he said. "I don't think (Donovan's) lost his confidence. I think he's proved in the past he's a good football player. He just hasn't hit his rhythm yet. When he does, we'll be a really good football team."

If ever there was a week for Porterie to bounce back, this might just be the one. Last year against the 'Cats, Porterie threw for 327 yards, three touchdowns and just one pick.

But Clark may be Porterie's best friend in jumpstarting what has been thus far a sluggish offense. Clark had two key punt returns for 64 yards last game that set the Lobos up with good field position. However, UNM couldn't capitalize on them.

Still, Clark said the fact the Lobos are winless should ratchet up the intensity.

"Just remembering the feeling of beating a big school - if we want it bad enough we should win," he said. "We're going to leave it all out on the field."