Today was one of those days that makes me think
this Red
Menace thing is all worth it. See everyone thinks that I go to these
practices
for the benefit of UNM. Please guys I’m not that giving. I go for
purely
selfish reasons. I’m a football fan, I’m a Lobo football fan and for a
few
hours every day the Lobos are practicing I’m able to see things that
most fans
cannot.
Today
was one of those days as the Lobos were running 2
minute situational drills towards the end of practice and there was
some great
play on both sides of the ball. Coach Locksley explained after practice
that
the Lobos would be running more situational drills until the Cherry
Silver game
next week.
So
there is your set up. 2 minute drills with the Lobo
offense firing away. I must say that I have been very impressed with
Donovan Porterie as of late. I will be honest at the beginning of spring
football I
thought he was finished. His passing was not crisp, his footwork was
rough, and
the QB’s were passing him up and quickly. I spoke briefly to Donovan
about that
today and he told me, “I wasn’t 100% confident in my leg to start
spring, and
it had been awhile since I played any kind of football. So things were
coming
fast.”
“So
I went to work,” said Porterie. “I got with Coach Martin
in the film room, and on the field.” I told Donovan if you haven’t
heard it
enough let me be the first to say that it shows. You really wouldn’t
think 2.5
weeks of spring ball would make the world of difference but it has, as
DP still
throws the best long ball (Thanks Greg Archuleta) and he seems to be
getting
better every day with decision making.
The
coaching staff hasn’t named a starter yet and according
to Coach Locksley they won’t until fall, but at this point I believe it
is DP’s
job to lose. Coach Locks said certain players have really started to
separate
themselves from the pack and at this point, I would say Porterie has
done that.
Holbrook awaits the play!
Another
QB that has really impressed, as of late has been BR
Holbrook. He has a good arm and has been making some plays… I would say
the top
3 QB’s today were Porterie, Holbrook, and Smith…
“We have to get the
offense playing with the same consistency and confidence that our
defense plays
with without taking the swagger away from our defense…”
These
were the words of Coach Locksley after practice today
as the Lobo offense looked okay during red zone play, but 2 minute
drill was a
little choppy. A pair of fumbles, some penalties, and some bad passing
really
hurt the Lobos offense today during 2 minute drills, still there was a
lot of
things going well.
I
always love seeing the underdog walk-on player(s) stepping
it up and today was no different as Nick Wilhelm just makes plays! The
young
man from Los Lunas should have 505 Pride sown up just about everyday. I
have
been really impressed with his work on the field and today was no
different!
Speaking of no different Roland Bruno has become a target
for all the QB’s. Coach Mallory better get a DB to cover #8 as he has
become a
touchdown maker from the slot position!
Lucas Reed played well today. All the talk has been about
Jonathan Mader the converted QB but Lucas really brought his A game
today and
was very impressive.
And
why shouldn’t the Lobo receivers have a hot day. Looks
like they had a special assistant today as Baltimore Raven WR Marcus Smith was out at Lobo practice working with some of his former
teammates!
2007 Red Menace Fan Appreciation Award Winner Marcus Smith
Okay
back to the start of this whole report. As practice was
winding up DP drove the Lobos into field goal range and the wind was
blowing
pretty hard. Coach Locksley screamed fro Frosh All-American PK James
Aho to
come and kick a “game winning” field goal.
As Aho
trotted out on the field, the Lobo defense started
chanting his name Aho… Aho… Aho… Aho… Aho… They were trying to get into
his
skull big time. Timeout for a little freeze Aho and Locksley yells out
his
misses this the offense has to do 50 up and downs, but if he hits the
defense
gets the honors. So of course the defensive players really revved it
up! Aho…
Aho… Aho… Aho…
Ball
is snapped, and true to form Aho splits the uprights in
a howling wind as his offensive mates rush the field like a scene from
a bowl
game...
and then the offense started chanting the name Aho… Aho… Aho… Aho… as
the
defensive players started doing up and downs…
However,
somewhere along the way they only made it to 20 or
21, after practice Coach said I was being soft on them.
Like
I said, it was a stingy moment for me, one that most
Lobo fans won’t ever see or hear about unless they come to
TheRedMenace.com!
Offensive Player of Practice
#12 James Aho
Please, there
is one thing to try and hit a game
winning field goal in a stadium with thirty thousand plus watching. It
is a
whole different story when it is youteammates not wanting to have to do
dreaded up and downs. Either way #12 just steps up and knocks em
through the
pipes.