March 24, 2004
DEFENSE
Since Rocky Long’s arrival at New Mexico, hard-nosed, aggressive defense has been the Lobos’ calling card. While many have tried to emulate the scheme, few teams in country can match the intensity and physical style of play exhibited by the players in Long and defensive coordinator Osia Lewis’ trademark blitzing system. UNM is one of just five schools to finish in the top-30 in total defense each of the past four seasons, along with Kansas State, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas. The Lobos have also led the Mountain West in sacks each of the last four years.
In 2003, New Mexico led the MWC and finished fifth in the nation in rushing defense (86.1 yards/game). In conference games only, the Lobos led the league in rushing defense, scoring defense and total defense. UNM also boasted nine all-conference defensive players including a pair of first team selections in safety Brandon Ratcliff and defensive end D.J. Renteria. Fellow defensive ends Daniel Kegler and Zach Rupp led the league in sacks and tackles for loss, respectively, while Ratcliff, cornerback Gabriel Fulbright and safety Sidney Wiley ranked among the MWC top-10 in interceptions. New Mexico also had a pair of 100-tackle linebackers in Daniel Gawronski and Billy Strother.
This year’s defensive unit will feature several new faces as Long and Lewis look to replace seven starters. A strong, deep linebacker crew, along with a solid trio of corners, returns to lead the squad. However, the coaches will need several newcomers in to make an immediate impact in the safety and defensive line rotations.
“We think we have some quality linebackers coming back, as well as some real good depth at the corners,” said Long. “We’ve got a couple experienced, quality guys at safety, but we don’t have much overall experience there. Our depth at the D-line and our depth at safety is a huge concern.”
LINEBACKERS
New Mexico loses a pair of emotional and physical leaders in Gawronski and Strother, but the linebacker rotation should remain strong in 2004. Stalwart senior Nick Speegle returns with a streak of 31-straight starts on the outside over the past three years. A two-time Honorable Mention all-MWC selection, the 6-6, 244-pound Speegle has notched 225 career tackles, including 80 last year. Since joining the starting lineup as a redshirt freshman in 2001, Speegle has quietly established himself as one of the best linebackers in the Mountain West. Tough, smart and a leader by example, Speegle is a force to be reckoned with against the run and in pass coverage.
“He’s not real flashy, so sometimes he doesn’t get the recognition he deserves, but Nick always knows what to do, he does it full speed and he makes a lot of plays for us, which is what I think football players are supposed to do,” said Long. “He’s a total team guy, so I don’t think impressions other people on the outside have really matter to him at all. What matters to him is that he plays well and our team plays well.”
|
“We think we have some quality linebackers coming back, as well as some real good depth at the corners. We’ve got a couple experienced, quality guys at safety, but we don’t have much overall experience there. Our depth at the D-line and our depth at safety is a huge concern.” Head coach Rocky Long |
The Lobo defense should get a tremendous boost with the anticipated return of senior Fola Fashola from a medical redshirt season. Poised for a breakthrough campaign in 2003, Fashola notched 11 tackles and three sacks in just under two games before suffering a season-ending torn ACL on one of the final plays of the night versus Texas Tech. Pending approval from the NCAA, however, UNM could regain the services of one of its vocal and emotional leaders this fall. A sideline-to-sideline sparkplug on the field, the 5-11, 209-pound Fashola could be an all-conference caliber player with a full return to health.
“Obviously, he’d be a huge plus to our team,” said Long. “He’s an awfully good football player, he’s got experience and maturity, and he’s a playmaker.”
UNM also returns three talented, though relatively inexperienced, players in senior Chrishone Harris (6-2, 232) and juniors Mike Mohoric (6-3, 225) and Joe Selander (6-2, 220). All three have been solid special teams players throughout their careers and have shown the potential to be impact players on the defensive side as well. Mohoric earned valuable experience backing up Gawronski last fall and could be poised for a big year as the heir apparent at middle linebacker. Harris and Selander will compete for time at the outside linebacker spots, but according to Long, all three will likely be a significant part of the rotation.
“We use a lot of linebackers and they’ll be in the mix more this year than they ever have before,” he said. “They have to play up to the standards that our linebackers have in the past, but I think they’re capable and ready to do that.”
Several other new players could be in the mix as well this spring, including redshirt freshmen George Carter (6-3, 205) and Jason Turner (6-1, 225), and junior college transfer Yimin Bauman (6-0, 230). Turner will begin the spring as the No. 2 middle linebacker, while Carter and Bauman are penciled in as reserves on the outside.
CORNERBACKS
For the first time in four years, New Mexico returns a pair of starting corners in junior Gabriel Fulbright and senior Brandon Payne, as well as a five-game starter in junior Jerrell Malone. The trio turned in an up-and-down 2003 campaign in what was their first significant Division I experience at the position. However, all three showed outstanding promise, led by Fulbright, who earned second team all-conference honors.
Though a bit undersized at 5-10, 168 pounds, Fulbright brings a tremendous combination of speed, tenacity, instincts and confidence to the corner. After making a late conversion from safety during fall camp, he quickly moved atop the depth chart and became one of the top playmakers in the UNM secondary. Fulbright’s four interceptions were tied for third in the league, while his 10 passes defensed were good for sixth. He was also surprisingly strong in run support, notching 43 tackles.
After splitting starts last year, Payne (6-0, 188) and Malone (6-1, 186) both gained valuable experience that should serve them well in 2004. Both good-sized corners, the duo will look to step up their play-making ability during the offseason. The competition at the position will also be helped by the return of junior Aaron Brack (5-11, 207), along with redshirt freshmen Martelius Epps (5-9, 171) and Juamar Hall (5-11, 170).
“We’ve got some real experience coming back at corner, which is nice because we haven’t had that in the past,” said Long. “Plus we have a couple of young guys coming up who we think can play and give us some solid depth this year.”
SAFETIES
One of the most experienced units on the defense over the past few years, the Lobo safeties will feature all new starters in 2004 after losing veterans Terrell Golden, Brandon Ratcliff and Sidney Wiley to graduation. The trio combined for 91 starts in 115 career games and teamed to record 181 tackles, 14.5 tackles for loss and seven interceptions in 2003. However, New Mexico does return a pair of experienced and capable safeties in seniors Josh Bazinet and Kevin Walton, who could be in line for breakout seasons in their first year as full-time starters.
A self-made player, the 5-11, 207-pound Bazinet has worked tirelessly to become a special teams star and one of the team’s defensive backs since joining the squad as a walk-on in 2000. The Albuquerque product enjoyed a career season in 2003, notching 39 tackles in 13 games, including a pair of starts at the wolf (strong) safety spot. Perhaps the team’s most dependable defensive back, Bazinet will enter the spring atop the depth chart at the wolf safety position.
Walton, meanwhile, will also be looking to make his mark in the secondary at the lobo (free) safety position. The 6-0, 200-pounder has shown tremendous potential during his career, combining good size, great athleticism and a strong knowledge of the defensive system to the mix.
Long said the development of junior safety Art Haynes, as well as junior college transfers Charles Brown and Ken West, will be critical to the success of the safety group. An imposing physical presence at 6-3, 206 pounds, Haynes gradually increased his comfort level within the system last year in what was just his second full football season since 1996. He emerged as a solid special teams contributor and could be an impact player this fall. Brown (6-0, 195), meanwhile, will open the spring backing up Bazinet and should benefit from the extra month of practice. The Lobos should also get a big boost this fall from the arrival of Ken West (5-11, 180), who was ranked the nation’s 12th-best junior college safety by CollegeFootballNews.com.
“We play a lot of safeties and we count on those safeties being playmakers,” said Long. “This is probably the least experience we’ve had at safety in a long time, so it’s a real concern. We’ve got some quality, but not much depth right now.”
DEFENSIVE LINE
Like the safety group, New Mexico’s defensive line will be retooled in 2004 after losing three all-conference players to graduation. Under defensive coordinator Osia Lewis’ tutelage, Daniel Kegler, D.J. Renteria and Zach Rupp helped form one of the top defensive line units in school history. Renteria notched career-highs in tackles (41), tackles for loss (11.5) and sacks (5), while Rupp enjoyed a breakthrough season, finishing with 55 tackles, four sacks and a league-best 17 tackles for loss. Kegler, meanwhile, led the league with 7.5 sacks.
“We’re very, very inexperienced in the defensive line and we don’t have many guys coming back that have really played at all,” said Long. “Spring practice is going to be critical for the development of the defensive line.”
The cupboard is not bare, however, as promising junior defensive end Marcus Parker and senior nose tackle Kyle Coulter return to lead the group. Though a bit undersized, Parker (6-2, 256) and Coulter (6-1, 255) have both proven to be excellent playmakers throughout their careers. The duo combined to start 11 games and recorded 46 tackles last year. Parker once again displayed a tremendous knack for wreaking havok in the backfield, posting eight tackles for loss, while the gutsy Coulter displayed surprising strength in his first year at nose tackle. Unfortunately, a chronic back ailment will limit Coulter’s availability during the spring, but the coaching staff expects both players to continue to disrupt opposing offenses in 2004.
“Our system allows athletes to move within the scheme and be able to make plays if they play hard, use good leverage and know where they’re going,” said Long. “Undersized guys can make plays in our scheme and those two guys have proven that in the past.”
Long said the coaching staff will also look for redshirt junior Bryan Easterly (6-3, 237) as well as junior college transfers Adam Garday (6-2, 250), Freddie McGowen (6-5, 250) and Donald Paul (6-3, 280) to make an immediate impact. Easterly had a good opportunity to learn the UNM system last year, practicing behind the Lobos’ veterans. Garday, meanwhile, will get the first opportunity to win a starting job as the only transfer defensive lineman who will compete in spring practice this year. Junior Evroy Thompson (6-0, 244) could emerge as a solid reserve as well this season if he continues his progression after rejoining the team in 2003 following a two-year Mormon mission.
Several young prospects may work their way into the rotation this year as well with a strong offseason. Sophomore nose tackle Billy Brittain (6-2, 260) appeared in a couple games last fall, while redshirt freshmen Michael Tuohy (6-2, 235) and David Dorcey (6-3, 240) will enter the spring in reserve defensive end roles.
SPECIAL TEAMS
The 2003 season was another strong year for the Lobo special teams units. Kicker Wes Zunker enjoyed a fantastic comeback season, earning first team all-Mountain West honors after missing most of 2002 due to injury. Zunker connected on 15-17 field goals, including a single-season record 15 straight and a game-winner on national television versus Colorado State. The Lobos also blocked a pair of punts, both being recovered for touchdowns versus San Diego State and Utah.
Both Zunker and junior punter Tyler Gaus return to handle the Lobos’ kicking duties this fall. A 2004 Lou Groza Award candidate, Zunker could challenge the UNM record books for field goal accuracy. Gaus, meanwhile, will look to increase his consistency this season after showing flashes of brilliance in his second year out of high school.
|
Sr. Wes Zunker |
“Tyler has a lot of ability and has a chance to be as good a punter as we have in our league,” said head coach Rocky Long. “The sign of a really good kicker though is being consistently good and Wes became consistently good last year. We need Tyler to step up to that point this year.”
According to Long, the primary special teams concern entering spring practice will be finding a replacement for longtime deep snapping specialist Martin Lovato. An underrated pillar of strength in the UNM kicking game, Lovato finished his career without allowing a single blocked punt and was also a surprising playmaker in punt coverage. Long said as many as seven players will audition for the deep snapper position, which has quietly enjoyed a tradition of excellence at UNM over the past five years, beginning with current Baltimore Ravens snapper Joe Maese in 1999. Redshirt freshman Jon O’Brien, a snapping specialist who traveled with the team in 2003, will enter the spring atop the depth chart.
“You don’t realize how important that position is until you don’t have somebody there,” said Long. “That’s a huge concern for our special teams. If you can’t get a ball back there to a punter or a holder, it doesn’t matter how good your kicking game is, you’re going to struggle.”
While the kick return and coverage teams should remain solid, the UNM coaching staff will also have to find a replacement for the solid Dwight Counter, who handled the punt returning duties the past two years. Long said several players will have an opportunity to prove themselves this spring.