There is no nice way to put this; the Lobo offense was a stinker
today. Not your average mellow
stinker, but a real P-U. For the Lobo offense to click it all starts up front
and that is where we start tonight up front with The Hitmen.
Now it would be really easy for a fan or the media to jump all over these
guys, and rightfully so; they didn’t play to their potential and a very fast
Oregon St. defense was all over the ball carriers and quarterbacks before they
could even get started. Final numbers for the O-line… 27 carries 75 yards, 7
completions on 31 attempts, gave up 4 sacks, and watched as starting QB Kole Mc
Kamey was getting blasted on every play in the 1st half until he
eventually had to sit the rest of the game out with a concussion.
Quarterback: Kole started the day and spent most of it on his back, or getting busted up. Unfortunately, Kole had to leave the game towards the end of the 1st half with a concussion. Not that he was on fire by any means finishing the day 4 of 12 for a grand total of 10 yards. He also finished the day with 3 yards rushing, but it was the constant beating he took on option and passing plays that finished his day.
Tali stepped in the final possession of the 1st half and spent the 2nd half taking a beating as well. Tali the least mobile of the Lobo quarterbacks moved around in the pocket some but under his guidance the Lobos were never able to mount any kind of sustained drive. When given time (which wasn’t often) Tali seemed to zero in on the deep receivers even throwing into double and triple coverage rather then look to the short and intermediate passing routes to keep drives alive. Tali finished the day 3-18 for 29 yards 1 interception, and a fumble deep in Oregon St. territory where the referees blew the call and the Lobos kept possession. It really looked after Tali took the hit to dislodge the ball that 3rd string QB Tye Butler was going to have to warm up…
Running backs: It all starts up front with blocking for UNM and there weren’t many holes to be found today as Oregon St. swarmed each and every ball carrier. DonTrell (7 carries 22 yards) dropped a punt, dropped a couple of passes where he could still be running, and was somewhat ineffective. Part of that is DonTrell, part of that is not getting enough touches. My opinion, the Lobos need to get DonTrell the ball more. I know they are keying on guy, but the great ones step up when that happens, and I have a feeling DonTrell is one of the great ones. D.D. Cox came in and while he finished the game with more yards (8 carries 34 yards) then DonTrell he didn’t have the same DD pizzazz that he usually display.
Wide Receivers: To many dropped passes, too much getting hit, and not enough separating themselves or getting open. The OSU defense put the clamps on Hank Baskett, and the other WR’s just haven’t come through consistently. Marcus Smith had a couple of opportunities but just didn’t end up with the football.
Offense as a whole:
I can’t figure out why we didn’t run the ball more this game. Granted not much was working, but as close as this game was perhaps trying to grind out a drive would be better. We can second-guess forever, but the facts are the OSU defense had the Lobo’s number all day long, and when they never gave the Lobos breathing room.
I do have one complaint though, what the hell happened to our tight ends? I understand that Logan Hall is battling a broken finger, if he can’t go let’s see what The Passion (Curtis Pino) or Mike Augustyniak have coming off the line? OSU torched us with great TE play once again. For once I would love to see our Tight Ends get some of those plays, especially if the wide outs can’t get open. I would also like to see if Kole or Tali could throw a slant pattern.
Defense
Somewhat of a bright spot, once again they bent, they bent, they bent, they bent, they bent, they broke a little. They bent, they bent, they bent, they bent, and then they broke one more time. UNM’s defense gave up plenty of yards 398 to be exact, but they held OSU to 17 points. Granted OSU missed a field goal and at time played somewhat conservatively due to the weather, but the Lobos held time and time again.
Defensive line For the most part they couldn’t get any kind of pressure on the OSU QB, but there were a few times they did break into the backfield. As the game wore on they were extremely tired allowing OSU RB Dwight Wright to eclipse the century mark, but when the offense was living la vida 3 and out even the stoutest defense will wilt some.
Linebackers: Great play from Nick Speegle and Fola Fashola once again, but boy did Mike Mohoric step up tonight finishing the game with 14 tackles and two passes broken up. On the final scoring drive for OSU, how close was Mike to picking off that screen pass and taking it to the house? Oh I wanted to cry seeing that.
Defensive backs: Jerel Malone missed the game due to disciplinary reasons but his replacement Mike Powdrell had one really nice play and one very lucky play when OSU WR Mike Haas dropped a sure TD. Fulbright played okay and Brandon Payne once again looked like an all-conference DB. Josh Bazinet had a nice game and made the play of the game when he stripped the ball from OSU QB Derek Anderson and took it 70 yards for the touchdown.
Special Teams: Not very special this week as Tyler Gaus had another punt tipped, while averaging 32 yard a punt YECH! And on return teams right now aren’t looking so hot. Especially on kick off returns there really seems to be a lot of indecision whether or not to bring the ball out of the end zone and that indecision is costing the Lobos yardage. Both times this happened today neither kick off return man made it to the 20.
Coaching: Obviously on offense the question will be asked all week why DonTrell and DD didn’t see the ball more. The passing game wasn’t working and having an inexperience Tali Ena back there didn’t help.
Defensively, I think after halftime the Lobos made a nice adjustment to put the clamps on the OSU Tight Ends that just killed the Lobos in the 1st half.
Defensive Player of the Game
#56 LB Mike Mohoric (on right)
The Highland HS graduate was all over the field making tackles, stuffing the run, and was a fingertip away in the 4th quarter from tying the game up with an interception.
Offensive Player of the Game
I just can’t do it fellas. Next week I know you will come out fired up, but this week was just not one of the better efforts.
Summary
The OSU Beavers needed this game, they were desperate and UNM ran into a serious buzz saw up in Corvallis. There is no doubt that the OSU defense deserves a lot of credit for flying to the ball like they did knocking out Kole Mc Kamey, and shutting down our offense. Yet, I can’t help but think through all the adversity that the Lobos faced, they were still an eyelash from winning this game, no, not a moral victory by any means. Just another opportunity that quite possibly has slipped away.
Rocky
said after the Texas Tech game that no one victory is that great or one bad loss
that devastating. The players need
to forget this one, get Kole healthy and prepare for next weekend as they travel
down south to play the Aggies!
