No. Absolutely not. This team needs to score roughly 30 points if they want to have a chance week-in and week-out. This week could be different because La Tech is not good offensively. But the Aggie defense is so bad, I could still see the Bulldogs hanging 20-25 on them. La Tech can run, they just can't pass the ball. But there is no better cure for a poor offense than the NMSU D.
Lets also not forget that a good offense makes a defense better. NMSU's D was on the field far too long the other night because the offense couldn't even get a first down. At least if the offense gets a lead they can make the opposition one dimensional. The offense needs to carry this team. When the defense has to, things come crashing down.
It will be interesting to see the team's philosophy without Chase. J.J. looked lost last week in Boise. And don't underestimate the La Tech defense. I would say run it more, but make no mistake - the running game benefits from the team's ability to pass. With full weaponry on offense, opposing teams need to guard against he air, leaving the ground game wide open. Well, that's not the case anymore.
They should run it more. I don't see any other way around it. But running it more only means so much to Mumme. I bet he still asks J.J. to drop back 30-40 times on Saturday. La Tech will put it up 20-30 times at the most. But that's just not the way NMSU rolls. McDermott will have to make 4-5 big plays in the passing game if the team is to win. Best of luck!
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Teddy,
What is the feel you get from players on the team regarding the coaching? I read Tony Franklin's book on the Kentucky football scandal, and he said that players were often put out by Mumme because he was such a homer for his quarterbacks. Even if a QB made a horrible pass, Mumme would find a way to blame it on the receiver for not "making a play." It looked like some of this was going on after JJ threw his first pick against Boise (which was a poorly thrown ball--and squarely JJ's fault). I can see how this would be immeasurably frustrating for other people on the team--even if Mumme is solely trying to build the confidence of the quarterback.
If the Aggies continue on with lacksluster QB play (and the blaming of it on other players), I see ALOT of issues with morale and team chemistry down the line this season and beyond.
Teddy, I agree with your assessment. NMSU will need to run the ball significantly more to have a chance to win against LA Tech. J.J. McDermott will probably not improve that much after four practices, even taking all the reps. Mumme will need to take the same approach he used last season against Utah State when Chase went down and did not return for the second half: he put the ball into the hands of D. Romaka and J. Williams and both running backs had good rushing numbers in this win. NMSU's strongest depth may be at RB. With three RB's on the depth chart (Glynn, Buries, J. Williams), in my not so humble opinion, Mumme needs to run, run, run--first--and throw short passes to keep the LA Tech D off balance.
This is a great question. Mumme said the O-line played poorly the other night. But from where I was, I thought J.J. held onto the ball for way to long and stared at the oncoming rush, leading to sacks.
I think it effects players and coaches. I'll say this. Mumme's son Matt is the QB coach for the Aggies. And I'll just leave it at that.
How come Dr. Boston like so many other AD's let these coaches come in with their sons. It seems to me that regardless of how bad a team performs the coach isnt going to put the blame on their relatives. That said, I think if the staff needs to have more of a real coaching staff in place whenever Mumme and Co. are let go. No more nepitism, let's cut these ties that way each coach can be held accountable for their performance. If we only have two qb's and the back up isnt ready to perform than that is his coaches fault. If a kicker cant convert a pat than that is his coaches responsibility to coach him up. Etc.
Teddy, no need to insinuate anything about who the QB coach is. Matt Mumme played in this offense and should know it as well as Mumme himself. Chase has recieved his share off ass chewings over balls thrown poorly. Don't try to start tearing the team apart by throwing out team chemistry going south. I am around this team after games and there is no finger pointing, most of the time they are taking blame for mistakes when others failed. The Oline has been pretty big about that this year. I guess Mumme should have ripped JJ a new one after his first interception against Boise, that would do great things for his confidence. Hope your boss doesn't come to your blog and want to rip you about some comments. In fairness, it is probably difficult to cover a team as you do and have to speak your mind about them at the same time, guess I shouldn't judge. Just amazes me that in the paper your go off of fact and information given and on this blog you blast away with opinions. Best of both worlds I guess. Keep at it.
I think I play it fair. The Aggies have done some good things this season. Unfortunately, last week was not good and that's where the topics have been of late. I actually think Matt is a good coach. And coach Mumme is a great offensive mind. But the QB seems to get a lot of credit and never the blame. At least I haven't heard any this year. If I were a player or another coach, that would eat at me a little. That's all I'm saying, nothing more, nothing less.
Teddy, I have never seen you with the team after a game nor at any of the team meetings. So where do you get your information that the qb never gets blamed? If you will read the post game comments by Mumme on Crimson Illustrated I think you will see the qb gets plenty of blame. He's the captain, he needs to keep the game flowing and at times that hasn't happened. I think you need to have something to back your claims regarding specifics ..but this is your blog and it's worth what we pay to read it. And thanks for pointing out to all your readers exactly where Chase was injured...sure helped Boise on that hit didn't it? Do you hand out bullseyes too?
A good coach will improvise in order to win the game.
Mumme has been out coached and has admitted it in his tenure. Most recently, UNM.
Chase is out and winning w/o him is close to impossible.
If Mumme is an "offensive genius," he will have to improvise and find a way to get a win.
Giving excuses is easy. Putting a team in a position to get a win, now that's coaching!
I just want to keep the fans informed.
The blocking by the O line was terrible-it didn't seem to matter whether it was a run or a pass. And the team seemed totally uninspired! I don't think that Boise was so good that it could make us seem like we didn't really care. If the Boise players were telling it like it was--that our defense was doing a lot of talking--I suggest they talk less and play with more inspiration.
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