Fresno State at New Mexico: What to watch, including gaping hole in Lobos defense

By Robert Kuwada

October 20, 2022 11:53 AM

It will take time to get the athletes and the scheme together and to a good place, but in his third season back at New Mexico defensive coordinator Rocky Long and the Lobos have made strides with a 3-3-5 that for years has given opposing offenses in the Mountain West Conference fits.

When Long was at San Diego State, the Aztecs led the conference in total defense five times from 2012 to ‘19 including four years in a row, and they were ranked second once and third twice.

Fresno State quarterback Logan Fife (10) looks to throw the ball against Boise State during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 8, 2022, in Boise, Idaho. (AP Photo/Steve Conner) Steve Conner AP

New Mexico this season is third in yards allowed per play and fourth in yards allowed per game.

That’s a big step up for the Lobos, who were in the bottom third of the conference in total defense six times including last three times in that stretch before Long returned to his alma mater. That on Saturday puts a spotlight not only on Fresno State quarterback Logan Fife, who will be making only his fourth career start, but also center Bula Schmidt and his communication up front.

But Schmidt might have an advantage in the offensive line meeting room in graduate assistant coach Matt Smith.

Smith started at center against New Mexico in 2020 and ‘21 and the Bulldogs scored 39 and 34 points. That’s difficult to do against a Long defense and, obviously, Smith was able to make a lot of right decisions at the line.

“It’s a big advantage for me,” said Schmidt, who started at left guard last season when Fresno State beat New Mexico at Bulldog Stadium. “To have somebody who has been there before me and done it, to be able to pick his brain, it means a lot. Whenever I have any questions about anything, I just go to him and ask, ‘What did you do on this play?’ Or, ‘How can I do this better?’ It comes with preparation and from watching a lot of film. If you don’t watch a lot of film, guys won’t be on the same page.”

Schmidt made his first career start at center in 2019 when pressed into the lineup against San Diego State, a 17-7 loss in which the Bulldogs averaged just 3.9 yards per play.

What he remembered most from that game is the Aztecs’ movement. He will see more of the same from the Lobos, and will have to make sure the line from tackle to tackle is seeing the same thing.

“It can make sense in your head, but you have four other heads on the line with you and you have to verbalize the movement to everybody else,” he said.

“Overall, it’s a pretty difficult defense to go against, if you’re not prepared. You have to watch a lot of tape, a lot of personnel, a lot of pass stuff that they did last year against us. You just keep looking at tendencies.”

Fresno State in its past three games since quarterback Jake Haener went down with an ankle injury has rushed for just 1.2 yards per play in a loss at UConn, 2.8 in a loss at Boise State and 2.9 in a victory over San Jose State.

THE HOLE IN THE MIDDLE

Fresno State has not had much success throwing the football down field, even before the injury to Haener. But as it tries to make some plays against an improved New Mexico defense it no doubt made note of the area the Lobos have been hit hardest in six games against FBS opponents.

That’s in the middle of the field, between the numbers, in the intermediate to deep passing game.

Jalen Moreno-Cropper hydrates while warming up before the start of the Fresno State-Cal Poly game at Valley Children’s Stadium on Thursday, Sept. 1, 2022. CRAIG KOHLRUSS ckohlruss@fresnobee.com

New Mexico in its past two games has allowed New Mexico State and Wyoming to hit a combined 6 of 8 passes for 160 yards and four touchdowns there, according to Pro Football Focus. That’s 4 of 4 for 84 yards and touchdowns of 22 and 31 yards for the Aggies and 2 of 4 for 76 yards and touchdowns of 47 and 29 yards for the Cowboys, and neither of those teams are all that proficient in the passing game.

New Mexico State is ranked 125th in the nation in passing offense, Wyoming 122nd.

In the six games, New Mexico opponents have hit 46% of their attempts with passes that were thrown 10 or more yards down field, but when targeting the middle of the field with those intermediate to deep throws they are are 18 of 29 (62.1%) for 503 yards and the four touchdowns.

Can Fresno State get there with Fife?

HERE’S THE PITCH

New Mexico has not had much success with its option run game — it is averaging just 3.4 yards per rush, the lowest of any of the 30 teams in the FBS that are averaging 40 or more rushing plays per game.

But the Bulldogs gave it much attention during the week, given an added element that they have not seen yet. It is the key against that offense — in the two games New Mexico has won it has averaged 4.5 yards per rush, and in the five games that it has lost it has averaged 2.8 yards per rush.

“You have to consider the fact that they execute all three phases of the option, unlike teams that run zone read where there’s a dive element and a quarterback element, but there’s no pitch responsibility,” defensive coordinator Kevin Coyle said. “This goes back to the old-school option responsibilities where not only do you have the dive and the quarterback there is a pitch man on a lot of their looks. Not all of them, but a lot of their looks. If you’re not assignment-sound and perfect, you can get yourself in some tough spots.

“I think our guys understand the concepts that we’re going into the ball game with, and we need guys that can run. When you play a team like this you need to have speed on the field and I think that’s one of the things that we do have and hopefully we’ll have not only the responsibilities in check but we’ll have the pursuit that you need to keep this type of team from making a big play.”

THE GAME