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| | Monday, September 6 | |||||
| 1998 Record: 3-9 (1-7) | 1998 statistics | 1999 schedule Head coach: Rocky Long Returning starters: 14 (offense 6, defense 8) Outlook New Mexico fell flat in Rocky Long's first year as head coach. After a WAC Pacific Division championship in 1997, the Lobos didn't come close to meeting expectations. To make matters worse, two-time all-league quarterback Graham Leigh is gone and few roster questions were answered in spring practice. In the football-heavy Mountain West Conference, the Lobos find themselves near the bottom of the pile. The lone bright spot might be the schedule -- New Mexico faces few major obstacles until it gets into conference play. Some cheap wins early could do well to boost this stumbling program. Offense Let's start with the sure things. The receiving corps was already solid; a good recruiting effort has made it better. Martinez Williams (49 catches, 790 yards) and Germany Thompson (43 receptions, 601 yards) give the Lobos two quality targets, and transfers Rob Caston, Joel Baker and Lonnie Neal will add depth. Possession receiver Tyler Fenwick (son of offensive coordinator Jim Fenwick) was limited to non-contact drills in spring because he tore his ACL late last season. Tight end Brian Johnson is a viable weapon and the offensive line returns three starters. Now on to the unknowns -- quarterback and running back. Junior Eric Jaworsky was first in line to get the nod at QB but after he struggled in spring, redshirt freshman Justin Mobley had vaulted up to No. 1 on the depth chart. Transfer Sean Stein could also figure in the mix. Long has said he would not be adverse to shuttling quarterbacks if they can't settle on a clear-cut No. 1. The running game looks to be in a little better shape as the team rolls through two-a-days. Last Friday's scrimmage showcased a wealth of talented backs -- fullback Jarrod Baxter, true freshman tailback Adrian Boyd and redshirt freshman tailback Quincy Wright looked good. It's a good sign if: The experience at wideout and along the line eases the transition for whoever takes over at quarterback.It's a bad sign if: No consistent runner can be found, leaving the bulk of the offense to the new QB. Defense After giving up 33.1 points per game last season, improving this unit is a priority. The Lobos would do well to have the rest of the team model safety Brian Urlacher, the lone star. He collected an astounding 178 tackles last season, but those numbers can be explained away somewhat -- the other team had the ball a lot, and few of his teammates could tackle very well. But there's no denying his motor or his love of contact. The team needs to find some strength up front. End Jason Purvis is the only returning starter, but junior college transfers have been brought in to shore up the group. Danny Hernandez (6-3, 270) and LaMarcus Spillers (6-3, 275), brought in from the New Mexico Military Institute, could make an impact. New Mexico also could use a playmaker or two at linebacker. All three starters are back from last year, but two of them no longer are No. 1 on the depth chart. After Urlacher, the secondary is still solid. Cornerback Marcus McDavid broke up 13 passes in '98 and Walter Bernard is big enough (6-2, 200) to knock a few receivers off the line. It's a good sign if: The defense can stick it to one or two of the Lobos' early opponents and gain some confidence.It's a bad sign if: The linebackers continue to play anonymously. Special Teams Say goodbye to kicker/punter Jason Bloom. True freshman Cort Moffit hasn't looked very good in fall practice, but David McKinney seems to have a firm hold on the place-kicking duties. -- Greg Collins |
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