2013 New Mexico Spring Football Analysis

2013 New Mexico Lobos ... Head Coach: Bob Davie

New Mexico Lobos

2013 Schedule
Not Yet Released

Why To Be Excited Does Bob Davie have the right team in place to do what he wants? The running game started to work last year averaging over 300 yards per game, but it came at the expense of the passing attack. The offensive line that was so terrific at times welcomes back four starters to pave the way for Kasey Carrier, who might not be all that big but held up well. The passing attack can’t be any less efficient and it can’t be any worse, and it won’t be with Cole Gautsche ready to push for more work after taking over late in his true freshman season.

Why To Be Grouchy The defense that was so bad against the pass isn’t likely to be appreciably better right away with three starters gone including the team’s leading tackler, safety Matt Raymer, along with fellow safety Freddy Young and corner Destry Berry. Linebacker Dallas Bollema is back along with top pass rushing end Jacori Greer, but the rest of the starting front seven has to be replaced. It’s going to be an interesting spring in a fight for jobs.

What Needs Working On Out of all the things New Mexico has to work on, improving the passing game has to be at the top of the list. Davie’s offense did a great job of pounding away at times cranking out 300 yards per more in every game but the loses to Texas, Texas Tech and, oddly enough, Colorado State, but the passing attack wasn’t even a part of the plan in the ground-only style. On the year the Lobos threw five touchdown passes – with just one in the first eight games – and only hit the 100-yard mark three times.

Team Concerns For 2013: The passing game has to at least be functional. The ground game was terrific, but defenses quickly figured out that there wasn't any hope of the Lobos throwing the ball with one of the nation's most inefficient passing games that finished second-to-last in America in passing yards. The defense needs to be stronger against the pass, finishing last in the Mountain West in both pass defense and pass efficiency defense.

The 2013 Class Is Heavy On ... Defensive linemen. The Lobos are bringing in a few running backs to grind away like Bob Davie wants with Teriyon Gipson and Romell Jordan each able to potentially carry the workload. JUCO transfer Clayton Mitchem will, at the very least, add immediate depth at quarterback and receivers Dameon Gamblin and Lamar Jordan should help out the passing game. Corner Isaiah Brown could quickly become the team's best defensive back, while Dakota Cox is an interesting linebacker prospect out of Utah.

2012 CFN Recruiting Ranking: 109. That Class Was Heavy On ... Former head man Mike Locksley was supposed to be a big-time recruiter, and while he came up with a nice player here and there, he didn’t get the job done and the shelves are hardly stocked. Bob Davie believes in tough defense, but he also wants to come up with the building blocks up front to give an even bigger boost to a line that got plenty of prospects last year. 

2011 CFN Recruiting Ranking: 114. That Class Was Heavy On ... Offensive linemen. Mike Locksley was supposed to be a great recruiter after rocking at Illinois, and while he has maintained his pipeline to Maryland/Washington D.C., he hasn’t gotten a slew of difference makers. This year, his class is trying to do more up front on offense with Korian Chambers, a 6-6, 350-pound JUCO transfer, needing to shine right away at tackle. 6-7, 345-pound Jamal Price will blot out the sun at one tackle spot.

2010 CFN Recruiting Ranking: 85. That Class Was Heavy On ... Wide receivers. After bringing aboard a slew of quarterbacks last year, the Lobos needed an upgrade in receiving talent for the near future. Head coach Mike Locksley, even after a bizarre and disastrous 2009, was able to use his talents as a recruiter, which was considered his strength when hired, to sign on four receivers led by Joshua Ford from Washington D.C., Locksley's pipeline that brought in so much talent to Illinois, and Detchauz Wray. Even with all the quarterbacks in last year's class, Locksley was still able to get Tarean Austin out of Florida.

2009 CFN Recruiting Ranking: 88. That Class Was Heavy On ... Quarterbacks. They might not be needed right away, and there are a few young options in Brad Gruner and Tate Smith already in place to push Donovan Porterie, who’s returning from injury, but the two new quarterbacks will be in the hunt for time by 2010. Darren Jones and Emmanuel Yeager are tall, athletic players who can do a little of everything.