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The Lobos (4-4, 2-2 Mountain West Conference) make a quick turnaround from their 70-7 blowout victory over San Diego State for a school-night special at Air Force (5-2, 3-1) in a game with postseason implications.
New Mexico is as rested as it has been all season, thanks to a game last weekend that got out of hand in the first half. The lopsided victory allowed the Lobos to rest their starters for the majority of second half. They'll go into a game for only the second time this season in which all the players they're counting on are expected to play.
UNM's path toward respectability unofficially started at the 11-minute mark of the first quarter in week five against New Mexico State, when the Aggies stormed out to a 14-0 lead. Since then, the Lobos have outscored their opponents 132-38 -- and that includes a 21-3 loss at nationally-ranked Brigham Young.
New Mexico will have to rely on its rediscovered swagger to make up for the drastic loss of preparation time for one of the most unique offenses in the country.
"Usually, even a normal week's not enough time to prepare for Air Force's triple-option," Long said. "But at least you can put a game plan together as far as how to defend it. You can try to teach your players how to counter their blocking schemes and get them in better positions to make plays.
"This week, we're just going to play our normal defense and see if we can execute well enough to keep us in the game. We have to limit their big plays and try to make a few big plays on our own."
If UNM can do what it hopes defensively, it might finally have a reliable offense that can take the air out of the football and still put enough points on the board to win. The Lobos have averaged 293 rushing yards over their last four games and have found success with a two-quarterback rotation of Brad Gruner and Tate Smith, behind some innovative play-calling by offensive coordinator Dave Baldwin.
The Lobos' special teams also have improved behind the punt-return ability of Ian Clark, who ranks No. 4 in the nation with a 21.2-yard average. UNM, however, has had a punt and a field-goal attempt blocked in its last two games and cannot afford such a gaffe against the Falcons.
Notes and Quotes
SCOUTING THE OFFENSE: QB Brad Gruner had his best day passing, going 8-for-11 performance for 92 yards and one TD in basically two quarters of work last week. It could have been even better, considering Gruner overthrew a wide-open Michael Scarlett racing toward the end zone. Gruner's struggles led to the two-QB rotation with Tate Smith, but now UNM has a pair of signal-callers capable of making plays downfield if the Falcons bottle the running attack. Offensive coordinator Dave Baldwin, however, will test the Falcons front seven, and primarily DE Jake Paulson -- the team's sack leader with 8.5 this season who will play on a tender shoulder -- to determine whether they can handle the pounding the Lobos intend to administer behind Gruner and RBs Rodney Ferguson, Paul Baker and James Wright.
SCOUTING THE DEFENSE: UNM has faced spread offenses almost exclusively this season; facing a rushing attack presents a new challenge. The lack of preparation time against the triple-option also invites the possibility of giving up more big plays. Coach Rocky Long is banking on his team's speed -- UNM has perhaps its fastest unit in Long's tenure -- to force the Falcons to go east-west more than north-south in the run game.
Freshman QB Tim Jefferson has shown maturity beyond his years in his first two starts, but the Lobos are hoping a little bit of pressure will rush him into poor decision-making.
New Mexico is as rested as it has been all season, thanks to a game last weekend that got out of hand in the first half. The lopsided victory allowed the Lobos to rest their starters for the majority of second half. They'll go into a game for only the second time this season in which all the players they're counting on are expected to play.
UNM's path toward respectability unofficially started at the 11-minute mark of the first quarter in week five against New Mexico State, when the Aggies stormed out to a 14-0 lead. Since then, the Lobos have outscored their opponents 132-38 -- and that includes a 21-3 loss at nationally-ranked Brigham Young.
New Mexico will have to rely on its rediscovered swagger to make up for the drastic loss of preparation time for one of the most unique offenses in the country.
"Usually, even a normal week's not enough time to prepare for Air Force's triple-option," Long said. "But at least you can put a game plan together as far as how to defend it. You can try to teach your players how to counter their blocking schemes and get them in better positions to make plays.
"This week, we're just going to play our normal defense and see if we can execute well enough to keep us in the game. We have to limit their big plays and try to make a few big plays on our own."
If UNM can do what it hopes defensively, it might finally have a reliable offense that can take the air out of the football and still put enough points on the board to win. The Lobos have averaged 293 rushing yards over their last four games and have found success with a two-quarterback rotation of Brad Gruner and Tate Smith, behind some innovative play-calling by offensive coordinator Dave Baldwin.
The Lobos' special teams also have improved behind the punt-return ability of Ian Clark, who ranks No. 4 in the nation with a 21.2-yard average. UNM, however, has had a punt and a field-goal attempt blocked in its last two games and cannot afford such a gaffe against the Falcons.
Notes and Quotes
SCOUTING THE OFFENSE: QB Brad Gruner had his best day passing, going 8-for-11 performance for 92 yards and one TD in basically two quarters of work last week. It could have been even better, considering Gruner overthrew a wide-open Michael Scarlett racing toward the end zone. Gruner's struggles led to the two-QB rotation with Tate Smith, but now UNM has a pair of signal-callers capable of making plays downfield if the Falcons bottle the running attack. Offensive coordinator Dave Baldwin, however, will test the Falcons front seven, and primarily DE Jake Paulson -- the team's sack leader with 8.5 this season who will play on a tender shoulder -- to determine whether they can handle the pounding the Lobos intend to administer behind Gruner and RBs Rodney Ferguson, Paul Baker and James Wright.
SCOUTING THE DEFENSE: UNM has faced spread offenses almost exclusively this season; facing a rushing attack presents a new challenge. The lack of preparation time against the triple-option also invites the possibility of giving up more big plays. Coach Rocky Long is banking on his team's speed -- UNM has perhaps its fastest unit in Long's tenure -- to force the Falcons to go east-west more than north-south in the run game.
Freshman QB Tim Jefferson has shown maturity beyond his years in his first two starts, but the Lobos are hoping a little bit of pressure will rush him into poor decision-making.
