The former Aggie cornerback being drafted is a great story.
He is a good kid who did things the right way while at New Mexico State — headlines for what he did on the field, not off it. He always worked hard, did what was asked and was rewarded.
And this is the prototypical player the Aggies need to recruit — no scholarship offers coming out of high school, a diamond in the rough who was coached up and found his talent. I think they have a couple more like this on their roster — Robert Clay and Davonte Wallace stand out. I'm sure there's a few others.
It helps NMSU from a recruiting standpoint. Players can come to the Aggies and know they'll be taken seriously by pro teams.
And the Packers are a fine organization — winners of last year's Super Bowl and a team that has built itself through the draft.
A good story all the way around.
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Thoughts from the Aggie spring football game
A few things stood out during the Aggie spring football game.
• Victor Johnson could play a role in this year's Aggie offense.
He's a big running back that can be utilized as a ball carrier and a blocker.
• I'm still concerned about the team's linebackers, who are undersized. They'll need something this year from junior college transfer Alexander LaVoy who will be here in the fall.
In general the defense looked slow off the ball. That's why the perimeter of the defense was hurt on Saturday, because the defense is slow. If the Aggies want to be better this year their defense is going to have to be better and it starts on the front seven.
• I thought the defensive line outplayed the offensive line during the scrimmage but I also think it was an aberration. If the Aggies offensive line stays healthy — a big if — they'll be OK.
• Andrew Manley was up and down at the quarterback position.
He was off on some deep throws and on target on others.
Andrew showed a propensity to run hot and cold last year. He needs to be more hot than cold for the Aggies to be better.
I thought Matt Christian played OK on Saturday.
I still think the Aggies have a nice one-two punch there.
• I think Doug Martin has done a good job implementing his offense considering he's been at NMSU for just over a month. And it's a fun offense.
He has found a home for the certain players as well — i.e. Taveon Rogers and Kenny Turner.
The offensive playbook is basic. Will it expand as the season gets closer?
• Taveon Rogers had a good game and is the team's No. 1 receiver.
He was double teamed last year down the stretch of the season. Manley was looking his way often on Saturday.
• Victor Johnson could play a role in this year's Aggie offense.
He's a big running back that can be utilized as a ball carrier and a blocker.
• I'm still concerned about the team's linebackers, who are undersized. They'll need something this year from junior college transfer Alexander LaVoy who will be here in the fall.
In general the defense looked slow off the ball. That's why the perimeter of the defense was hurt on Saturday, because the defense is slow. If the Aggies want to be better this year their defense is going to have to be better and it starts on the front seven.
• I thought the defensive line outplayed the offensive line during the scrimmage but I also think it was an aberration. If the Aggies offensive line stays healthy — a big if — they'll be OK.
• Andrew Manley was up and down at the quarterback position.
He was off on some deep throws and on target on others.
Andrew showed a propensity to run hot and cold last year. He needs to be more hot than cold for the Aggies to be better.
I thought Matt Christian played OK on Saturday.
I still think the Aggies have a nice one-two punch there.
• I think Doug Martin has done a good job implementing his offense considering he's been at NMSU for just over a month. And it's a fun offense.
He has found a home for the certain players as well — i.e. Taveon Rogers and Kenny Turner.
The offensive playbook is basic. Will it expand as the season gets closer?
• Taveon Rogers had a good game and is the team's No. 1 receiver.
He was double teamed last year down the stretch of the season. Manley was looking his way often on Saturday.
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
District 3-5A high school baseball
After sweeping Alamogordo last night the Las Cruces Bulldawgs are truly in the driver’s seat for a District 3-5A championship in baseball.
LCHS now needs to sweep Oñate in a Friday night doubleheader — something that should be done — and the league title is theirs.
Coming into the year Mayfield was the most talented team in District 3-5A. If Cruces wins district, both the Trojans and Bulldawgs should have home playoff games next weekend in the first round of state.
Gadsden is also a state-tournament team this year and Alamogordo is a bubble team.
Sixteen of the 21 teams from Class 5A make the state tourney.
LCHS now needs to sweep Oñate in a Friday night doubleheader — something that should be done — and the league title is theirs.
Coming into the year Mayfield was the most talented team in District 3-5A. If Cruces wins district, both the Trojans and Bulldawgs should have home playoff games next weekend in the first round of state.
Gadsden is also a state-tournament team this year and Alamogordo is a bubble team.
Sixteen of the 21 teams from Class 5A make the state tourney.
Saturday, April 23, 2011
Davon House, NFL bound
Former Aggie cornerback Davon House will be selected at some point in the NFL Draft.
Davon has the size — 6-foot-1, between 190 and 200 pounds — and speed — a 4.35 40-yard dash time — to run with NFL wide receivers.
He needs to work on his strength and physicality in order to tackle your Andre Johnson, Calvin Johnson and Brandon Marshall’s of the world.
I spoke with Davon today and he said he expects to go somewhere in the third round this weekend. It gives Aggie fans further reason to watch the Draft.
Davon has the size — 6-foot-1, between 190 and 200 pounds — and speed — a 4.35 40-yard dash time — to run with NFL wide receivers.
He needs to work on his strength and physicality in order to tackle your Andre Johnson, Calvin Johnson and Brandon Marshall’s of the world.
I spoke with Davon today and he said he expects to go somewhere in the third round this weekend. It gives Aggie fans further reason to watch the Draft.
Friday, April 22, 2011
Aggie running backs
The Aggies should have some depth at the running back position this season.
Junior Robert Clay is back and he brings a tough style, good strength and adequate speed. Robert should be in for a good 2011 season.
Germi Morrison is coming in and expected to get some snaps in the backfield.
And don’t forget about Kenny Turner, who will still get some carries despite his newfound H-back position.
Will the Aggies focus more on the pass this season than the running game? They will pass to set up the run.
They do have some talent back there.
Junior Robert Clay is back and he brings a tough style, good strength and adequate speed. Robert should be in for a good 2011 season.
Germi Morrison is coming in and expected to get some snaps in the backfield.
And don’t forget about Kenny Turner, who will still get some carries despite his newfound H-back position.
Will the Aggies focus more on the pass this season than the running game? They will pass to set up the run.
They do have some talent back there.
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Two key games for the Aggies
When I look at the Aggies 2011 football schedule two games come screaming off the page.
Hosting Ohio and UTEP are the most critical contests of the year, in my eyes. And neither game will come easy.
The Aggies home opener against Ohio is as close to a must-win as you could have in Week 1 of the season. The Bobcats are a solid MAC program and went to a bowl game last year. They’ll play a tough, gritty style under head coach Frank Solich.
But nothing would be better for the Aggies than a Week 1 win at home. It would create a positive buzz that the team desperately needs and would get the 2011 season off on the right foot — which is also of critical importance.
And NMSU needs to beat UTEP in Week 3, pure and simple. The Miners have beaten NMSU soundly the past two seasons and it’s time the Aggies respond. Getting blown out isn’t the answer.
Both games are tough, but they’re also winnable. I really think the Aggies can win four or five games this year, but they have to win these two above.
Both will give Aggie fans an idea of where the team stands right out of the chutes in 2011.
Hosting Ohio and UTEP are the most critical contests of the year, in my eyes. And neither game will come easy.
The Aggies home opener against Ohio is as close to a must-win as you could have in Week 1 of the season. The Bobcats are a solid MAC program and went to a bowl game last year. They’ll play a tough, gritty style under head coach Frank Solich.
But nothing would be better for the Aggies than a Week 1 win at home. It would create a positive buzz that the team desperately needs and would get the 2011 season off on the right foot — which is also of critical importance.
And NMSU needs to beat UTEP in Week 3, pure and simple. The Miners have beaten NMSU soundly the past two seasons and it’s time the Aggies respond. Getting blown out isn’t the answer.
Both games are tough, but they’re also winnable. I really think the Aggies can win four or five games this year, but they have to win these two above.
Both will give Aggie fans an idea of where the team stands right out of the chutes in 2011.
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Trevor Walls
There is a good story coming out of Aggie football camp this spring.
Trevor Walls, the former quarterback, is getting snaps at tight end, and is showing he can catch the football.
The truth is that Walls could be a tackling dummy at practice and it would be a good story.
We’re talking about a kid who came here from Ohio to play quarterback in Hal Mumme’s offense. We all know what happened there.
He did get snaps under center in Timm Rosenbach’s system, which wasn’t meant for a drop-back passer like Trevor to begin with. The entire offense wasn’t good in 2009, quarterbacks included.
Last year he didn’t play and was moved to tight end.
He’s still at New Mexico State, however, and he’s still trying to help this team get to where it needs to be.
Trevor has also been a factor at spring practices. How many players would have stayed at the school and continued to work hard despite things not going the way they envisioned upon arriving at campus four years prior?
Good things happen to good people, and this will pay off for Walls. There would be nothing better than for him to be a factor this season at a brand new position.
Trevor Walls, the former quarterback, is getting snaps at tight end, and is showing he can catch the football.
The truth is that Walls could be a tackling dummy at practice and it would be a good story.
We’re talking about a kid who came here from Ohio to play quarterback in Hal Mumme’s offense. We all know what happened there.
He did get snaps under center in Timm Rosenbach’s system, which wasn’t meant for a drop-back passer like Trevor to begin with. The entire offense wasn’t good in 2009, quarterbacks included.
Last year he didn’t play and was moved to tight end.
He’s still at New Mexico State, however, and he’s still trying to help this team get to where it needs to be.
Trevor has also been a factor at spring practices. How many players would have stayed at the school and continued to work hard despite things not going the way they envisioned upon arriving at campus four years prior?
Good things happen to good people, and this will pay off for Walls. There would be nothing better than for him to be a factor this season at a brand new position.
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