Five keys to New Mexico State

[HuskerfaninOkieland]

NE Statepaper

 

So it’s first official game week of New Mexico State football. And, in some ways, it feels like the first game week for Nebraska football, too.

 

Yes, we know NU has already played and won two games over Western Michigan and San Jose State. They weren’t exactly beauts, but we’ll put em in the scrapbook. Terrific learning experience. A chance for head coach Bo Pelini and crew to work out the kinks.

 

But the topsy-turvy storyline of the Spartan game – defense and special teams saving the offense’s hide – and the extreme nature of NMSU’s offense and defense, seemed to reboot and refresh the Huskers this week. Coaches and players sounded better. Pelini pointed to better practices. And a key part of Nebraska’s offensive line, Lydon Murtha, returned to the starting lineup.

 

In truth, the Aggies are arguably the weakest of the three opponents before the bye week. Hal Mumme’s gang couldn’t run the ball in 2007 (3.2 yards per carry) and couldn’t stop it either. Schematically, yes, they’re interesting and complex – and the aim of Mumme and his defensive coordinator Joe Lee Dunn is that the interest and complexity is enough to throw Nebraska off its game.

 

But don’t fool yourself: New Mexico State comes into this chess match a rook and a couple bishops short of NU’s fleet of football pieces.

 

Patience, Watson: Nebraska's offensive coordinator Shawn Watson held court on Wednesday, expounding on a number of topics: The running back rotation, his young tight ends and especially New Mexico State's 3-3-5 defense. Because Watson is in the booth during games, and typically speaks only once during the week to reporters, he keeps a lower profile than some of the assistants, and certainly Pelini.

 

But Tuesday was a 10-minute education in strategy and the emerging trends in college football, two topics that Pelini, just as an example, will play fairly close to the vest.

 

Watson's first two games as lead play caller haven't been perfect. He perfectly identified Western Michigan's run-heavy defense and burned it accordingly with the deep pass, but never got the Huskers to shift their mentality in the second half. Against San Jose State, his offensive line and tight ends didn't execute like they should have, but Watson might have waited too long to start stretching the field horizontally and getting receivers and running backs more in space.

 

Saturday offers another intriguing challenge, as the Aggies will throw a lot of junk at NU, and see what sticks. Some formations will feature what looks like five linebackers, two of them safeties scheduled to play the flat. Other looks might include five defensive backs that drop into deep zone coverage. NMSU will try to stunt and blitz and confuse Nebraska, especially in early drives.

 

That's why the Huskers - and their fans - need to be patient through that first quarter, if they indeed begin slowly. Watson can prevent some of that by attacking Dunn’s scheme right away, by, as he said, “anticipating what they’ll do based on personnel,” but if he doesn’t, it’s OK. The 3-3-5 New Mexico State will run can only have so many tricks to it, given it is NMSU’s first game.

 

Ring The Alarm: Mumme calls his offense the “Air Raid,” which should give you some indication of what he thinks of the ground. The former Kentucky coach and colleague of Texas Tech guru Mike Leach is a run-optional kind of guy. He’s got a big (and lumbering) quarterback in Chase Holbrook who threw for 3,866 yards, 26 touchdowns and 18 interceptions in 2007. Ran for five yards, too, which gives you some insight into his mobility.

 

Holbrook isn’t the team’s best pro prospect – that might be receiver Chris Williams – but he’s their leader, and he even, yes, has a video on the NMSU Web site. Yet another kid who enjoys the Boston Red Sox, apparently, from (very, very) afar.

 

“He’s a good player,” Pelini said. “He gets the ball out fast - good arm and can make all the throws. He poses a good challenge.”

 

Sounds a little like another small-school quarterback with a big arm who rolled in here and took Memorial Stadium by horns – Ball State’s Nate Davis.

 

The rest of the offense isn’t shabby, either. A lot of noise was made by Aggies’ defensive back Davon House about how NMSU’s receivers were “10 times better” than Nebraska’s. Stupid, sure – but don’t underestimate them because of a dumb comment. Williams and A.J. Harris – who fills the “Wes Welker” role, if you will, of catching short passes, getting first downs, and being a real nuisance, if not home run hitter – are the kind of quick guys that Nebraska’s safeties will need track and cover.

 

Game Speed: No need falling into analysis paralysis over this, because we know the story. But New Mexico State hasn’t taken a down with, as Pelini likes to call them “live bullets.” The Aggies might be breaking the rusty pieces off of themselves for a whole half.

 

Here’s the other thing: Mumme’s crew, should it suffer a bad quarter or half, might just chalk the game up to a lost cause and pull down the tents. NMSU already has a built-in excuse. It might not take much for it to fall on its sword.

 

Running Back, Part Three: Yeah, yeah, it’s a repeat. It’s also one of the preeminent stories of the early year. How Watson and running backs coach Tim Beck will handle this rotation of Roy Helu, Jr., Marlon Lucky and Quentin Castille. Both coaches made persuasive arguments earlier this week, but if two out of three lay an egg while the third plays well, the argument starts all over again. And this isn’t the 2006 Nebraska team, or the 2001 Colorado team, where there were enough carries to go around for a number of guys. So far, NU’s staked itself out as a team perfectly willing to turn to quarterback Joe Ganz as many times as needed.

 

Sprint to the bye week: Nebraska’s break is coming at the right time, just before Virginia Tech blows into town with a much more physical talented bunch, and Missouri’s high-flying circus rides in right after that. You get the sense that Pelini and Watson have held some players and strategies back in this opening chapter, so to speak, and will have two weeks to refine and rebuild. It’s true that Nebraska hasn’t used much depth on defense, especially at linebacker. That’s a good thing, if guys like Cody Glenn and Phillip Dillard can get through Saturday, roll into the off week healthy, and gear up for a crucial run against three talented teams.

 

Check out our official game prediction at Husker Locker! Also: Have times changed for Nebraska's defense?

 

Email Samuel McKewon at sam@ne.statepaper.com

[HuskerTrucker]

I can't see Pelini holding anyone back, not after the way last weeks game was going.

[HuskerJosh82]

Nebraska will come together and play very well tomorrow. Pelini has said that they have been practicing very good and he wouldn't say that if it wasn't true.

[HuskerTrucker]

Nebraska will come together and play very well tomorrow. Pelini has said that they have been practicing very good and he wouldn't say that if it wasn't true.

even if that is true, that they are practicing well...I would love to see him come out and say that they are running around looking lost...just to throw NMSU off a little, make them over-confident.

[BIGREDIOWAN]

I want us to bring the pain tomorrow to build up some confidence for VT and the schedule that lies ahead.

[holvy83]

I want us to bring the pain tomorrow to build up some confidence for VT and the schedule that lies ahead.

 

great point, we need a strong showing to gain that confidence because with the stretch coming after this it does not get any easier! Come in weak and VT and Mizzou will be ready to trounce

[admo]

Thanks HuskerfaninOkieland. You always bring these articles to the table. Good stuff bro!

[clone]

Nebraska will come together and play very well tomorrow. Pelini has said that they have been practicing very good and he wouldn't say that if it wasn't true.

 

 

True dat!!

 

The worst team on the schedule and in their first game of the season!!

 

Should see everything work like clockwork for the huskers!!

 

It'll be like taking candy away from a creampuff!!!

 

 

 

GO BO!!

BEAT NMS!!

[Huskerballz]

Nebraska will come together and play very well tomorrow. Pelini has said that they have been practicing very good and he wouldn't say that if it wasn't true.

 

 

True dat!!

 

The worst team on the schedule and in their first game of the season!!

 

Should see everything work like clockwork for the huskers!!

 

It'll be like taking candy away from a creampuff!!!

 

 

 

GO BO!!

BEAT NMS!!

 

These are exactly the same words that people were saying before San Jose State. And we know how well that turned out for the first 3 quarters.

[HuskerfaninOkieland]

Thanks HuskerfaninOkieland. You always bring these articles to the table. Good stuff bro!

[zE bOp]

Thanks HuskerfaninOkieland. You always bring these articles to the table. Good stuff bro!

I 2nd that! Saves me time. Plus u have the funniest tag about the rock @ paper--hilarious!