Aug. 9, 2006
DEFENSE
After an impressive streak of five straight years ranked among the nation’s top-30, the vaunted Lobo defense performed below its own standards in 2005. Head coach Rocky Long and defensive coordinator Osia Lewis went right to work in the offseason, adjusting formations and coaching assignments. Lewis moved from defensive line coach to linebackers, switching with longtime assistant coach Lenny Rodriguez. Danny Gonzales came out of the video room to oversee the safeties, while Troy Reffett remained with the cornerbacks.
The coaching staff also took a page from the history of the defense by bringing back the safety/linebacker hybrid lobo position made famous at UNM by All-American, and later NFL Pro Bowler, Brian Urlacher in 1998 and ’99. Instead of one roving player in the middle of the field, however, the defensive minds designed a two-lobo system that they hope will give the unit maximum flexibility and unpredictability.
Just four starters return from last year, but New Mexico boasts as much raw talent as it’s ever had during Long’s tenure. Senior lobo Quincy Black and junior linebacker Cody Kase lead the up-and-coming unit, which also features three former freshman All-Americans in junior defensive end Michael Tuohy and sophomore safeties Blake Ligon and DeAndre Wright. It will be an unproven group, however, to start the season and preseason practice promises intense battles for starting jobs at several positions, including nose tackle, right end, right linebacker and both corner spots.
One certainty is that players and coaches alike are committed to making defensive dominance the trademark of the program once again. If the coaching staff can keep opposing offenses on their heels with a deceptive, unpredictable scheme and players are able stay assignment sound without losing their attack mentality, 2006 could see a return to excellence for one of the Mountain West Conference’s most storied defensive units.
Lobos
While the lobo position has appeared on the depth chart every season since Rocky Long took over the program in 1998, the duties over the past five years have been nearly identical to that of a traditional free safety. This year, however, the role of the two lobo players on the field will be a true blend of linebacker and safety. The lobos can line up at virtually any depth and have the flexibility to blitz or help in pass coverage depending on the call. In order to properly fill the position, Long and defensive coordinator Osia Lewis put together a special unit consisting of athletes who had the power to take on offensive linemen and speed required to help cover receivers in the secondary.
At 6-3, 227 and possessing NFL-caliber strength and athletic ability, senior Quincy Black (Chicago, Ill.) is built for the position. After establishing himself as one of team’s top defensive playmakers in 2005, his first year starting at outside linebacker, Black showed star potential after moving to lobo during spring practice. He appears poised for a breakthrough campaign this fall, playing alongside another physical specimen in 6-3, 220-pound junior Major Mosley (Houston, Texas).
Mosley began his career at wide receiver, before moving to tight end and eventually to linebacker last fall. While he has consistently been one of the team’s top performers in the weight room, various injuries slowed his early development and limited his production on the field. During the spring, however, a healthy Mosley embraced his new role patrolling the secondary and attacking line of scrimmage. Fast and physical, Mosley could be one of the most improved players on the team and a true impact player this fall as his familiarity with the system improves.
Sophomore Jake Bowe (Albuquerque, N.M.), meanwhile, will likely be the first lobo off the bench this season after playing a full-time special teams role last year. The 6-1, 200-pound Bowe, who has played both safety and linebacker at UNM, could have a bright future in the position as he develops into a more physical presence on defense.
Safeties
Despite no seniors in the group, New Mexico’s wolf safeties are the most experienced unit on defense with four players returning with starting experience. Sophomores Blake Ligon (San Angelo, Texas) and DeAndre Wright (Clinton, Md.) finished the spring atop the depth chart on the left and ride sides, respectively, after enduring a bit of a roller coaster season in 2005. Both men earned Freshman All-America honors last year and have shown outstanding potential, but need to display improved consistency and attention to detail in order to secure starting jobs this season.
The presence of experienced juniors Tyson Ditmore (Las Cruces, N.M.) and OJ Swift (Apopka, Fla.) should make for an intriguing competition during fall camp. Ditmore has been a regular in the secondary since breaking in as a true freshman, appearing in 10 games with three starts over the past two years. Swift, meanwhile, was a key contributor in his first Division I season, recording three tackles for loss and two pass break-ups in 10 games, including four starts, last year.
Corners
The cornerback position is easily the biggest question mark on the team entering the season with three redshirt freshmen (Ian Clark, Mike Vandenberg, D.J. Terrell) and a sophomore transfer (Glover Quin) making up the two-deep on both sides. Barring a preseason position change, both starting corners in the Lobos’ season opener, will be playing in their first Division I football game – a first in the Rocky Long era. The good news is that the group is as athletically gifted as any that has played at UNM under Long and could be among the best in the Mountain West Conference in the years to come.
Clark (Albuquerque, N.M.) and Quin (Summit, Miss.) finished their first spring season atop the depth chart, but predictably had their ups and downs during practice. Clark came close to taking the field last year as a true freshman and brings excellent size (6-0, 198) and speed to the position. Quin, meanwhile, showed good playmaking ability in coverage, working against the Lobos’ veteran quarterbacks and receivers.
Vandenberg (Moraga, Calif.) also displayed real potential as a cover corner during the spring after shining as a scout team wide receiver while he redshirted last fall. At 6-1, he has the height to match-up with tall wide receivers and possesses excellent speed. With a strong fall camp performance, Vandenberg could push for a starting job at either corner position. Terrell (Allen, Texas), meanwhile, has shown flashes of ability early in his career and should continue to improve his confidence and knowledge through hard work in practice.
Linebackers
Junior captain Cody Kase (Valencia, Calif.) leads a talented, but largely untested group of linebackers that will need to fill the void left by graduated Mike Mohoric, a first team all-MWC selection last year. As a first-year starter in 2005, Kase was one of the most productive defensive players in the MWC during the second half of the season and is poised to build off his strong finish this fall. Though a bit undersized at 6-2, 212, his relentless effort and ability to put himself at the right place at the right time make Kase one of the league’s best.
Sophomore Herbert Felder (Apopka, Fla.) moved atop the depth chart during the spring, playing opposite Kase on the right side, and appears to have a solid future ahead of him. A powerful 6-1, 230, Felder gives the Lobos a physical, technically-sound player in the middle of the field, who will only get better as he improves his comfort level within the system. He will have to hold off a host of challengers during preseason practice, however, all of whom should still see ample time off the bench if they do not win a starting job.
Hard-working senior Justin Clayton (Los Angeles, Calf.) lacks ideal size (5-10, 218) at the position, but will continue to push for time in the linebacker rotation because of the energy and desire he brings to the field. Sophomore Zach Arnett (Albuquerque, N.M.) is another undersized player (5-11, 200), but was the only true freshman to work his way onto the field last year because he put himself in a position to make plays and made very few assignment errors.
Unlike Clayton and Arnett, 6-3, 228-pound junior George Carter (Albuquerque, N.M.) has prototypical size, but has yet to establish himself as a consistent playmaker on defense. Junior transfer Brett Madsen (Mt. Pleasant, Utah) showed some toughness during the spring, but also needs to become a more active and aggressive player in the middle in order to push for time on game day.
Defensive Line
The Lobos lost all three starters from 2005, including a pair of first team all-MWC selections in defensive end Evroy Thompson (’05) and nose tackle Marcus Parker (`04). The cupboard is not bare, however, as explosive junior defensive end Michael Tuohy (Moreno Valley, Calif.) returns to lead a deep, versatile group this fall.
Since bursting onto the scene with his 2004 Freshman All-America campaign, Tuohy has established himself one of the team’s premier pass rushers. The 6-2, 249-pounder has notched 15 tackles for loss and 10 sacks over the past two seasons, but was slowed for a month last year with an ankle injury. When healthy though, Tuohy is one of the MWC’s top sack artists whose presence up front also opens up blitzing lanes for his teammates.
The competition for the starting jobs at nose tackle and right end shouldbe fierce during the preseason with as many as six players in the mix. Junior Tyler Donaldson (Lawrenceville, Ga.) enjoyed a strong spring after redshirting the 2005 season, claiming the top spot at nose tackle. While the 6-4, 237-pounder has displayed solid ability at end as well, the UNM coaching staff said he proved to be an outstanding pass rusher when lined up over the ball.
Powerful senior Billy Brittain (Albuquerque, N.M.) and redshirt junior Ryan Boyd (Sacramento, Calif.) will also push for time in the middle of the line. Brittain has four years of experience in the system, while the 6-3, 254-pound Boyd provides solid size and strength between the tackles.
Junior Stephen Hutchison (Elgin, Texas) finished the spring as the top candidate to start at right end, but will be pushed by redshirt freshman Phillip Harrison (Albuquerque, N.M.) during fall camp. The 6-3, 245-pound Hutchison gained valuable game day experience coming off the bench last year and is a tough, tenacious presence rushing off the edge. Harrison, meanwhile, is one of the most athletic linemen on the team, despite checking in at 6-4, 260, and could emerge as an impact player this fall once he embraces a more physical, attacking personality in the trenches. Also 6-4, 260, sophomore Kevin Balogun (Odessa, Texas) is imposing figure up front who could develop into a contributor this fall.