College Football News Preview 2020: New Mexico Lobos Keys To The Season
Biggest Key To The New Mexico Lobos Offense
Stop turning the ball over. The running game worked last season and should be solid again. The passing attack has just enough interesting targets to potentially be okay. But for all of the yards and the occasional success, 1) the O has to learn how to score and 2) quit giving the ball to the other team before scoring.
The Lobos couldn’t stop screwing up, giving the ball away a whopping 26 times on the year with two or more in seven games.
They were in the game against Utah State – but four giveaways ruined that.
They were in the game against San Jose State – but six giveaways ruined that.
It’s arguable that New Mexico left at least two wins on the table because of the mistakes.
Biggest Key To The New Mexico Lobos Defense
The pass defense has to do something. The Lobos had the nation’s worst pass D, allowing 321 yards per game. They were hit for 300 yards or more nine times – 294 in another – and over 400 yards in four of those games.
They allowed 34 touchdowns with two or more coming in every game but the loss to Wyoming, and the defense generated a grand total of four interceptions.
The lack of a steady pass rush didn’t help, but defensive backs – a veteran group this year that can tackle – needs to make plays when the ball is in the air.
Key New Mexico Lobos Player To A Successful Season
QB Tevaka Tuioti, Jr.
The Lobos need players to step up in a whole slew of areas and at a whole lot of positions, but it all has to start with getting a steady season out of one of its quarterbacks.
Four quarterbacks there at least 28 passes last year. Three threw 43 or more in 2018, and the last time a New Mexico quarterback threw for over 2,000 yards was when Donovan Porterie did it in 2009.
Key Game To The New Mexico Lobos Season
Wyoming, Nov. 28
It’s going to take a full season to get the pieces in place going forward, but can that be done with a team full of former JUCO transfers? How much patience will the coaching staff have if it wants to go with a youth movement with an eye on 2021 and beyond?
The Lobos have lost three straight to Wyoming, and this year it’s the regular season finale at home. Forget what the rest of the record is, how will the team look at the end? How much improvement will there be over the course of the season? This game will be a key indicator.
– New Mexico Schedule Breakdown & Analysis
2019 New Mexico Fun Stats
– 1st Half Scoring: Opponents 275 – New Mexico 110
– Interceptions Thrown: New Mexico 15 – Opponents 4
– 4th Down Conversions: Opponents 14-of-21 (67%) – New Mexico 6-of-16 (38%)