Porterie played just fine!

[JBACA]

This is my first post and I hate to make waves but what some of you are saying is just blabber.

The kid did NOT play his best game and definitely could have played better but he did not play bad by any means. He was 64% throwing 190 yards and 0/0 ratio. Thats not too bad at all.

The offense had almost 350 yards for crying out loud!
We simply didnt finish and thats just as much the OL's fault as it is Poreteires or Fergusons...etc

Should there have been a few more shots down feild......absolutely! But still the offesnse had a decent day.

All in all my biggest gripe goes back to the same old thing......recruiting. We should have a capable kicker on hand at all times and there should be no excuse for someone in their 10th year as coach to not have these sort of things worked out. JMO

[loborick]

This is my first post and I hate to make waves but what some of you are saying is just blabber.

The kid did NOT play his best game and definitely could have played better but he did not play bad by any means. He was 64% throwing 190 yards and 0/0 ratio. Thats not too bad at all.

The offense had almost 350 yards for crying out loud!
We simply didnt finish and thats just as much the OL's fault as it is Poreteires or Fergusons...etc

Should there have been a few more shots down feild......absolutely! But still the offesnse had a decent day.

All in all my biggest gripe goes back to the same old thing......recruiting. We should have a capable kicker on hand at all times and there should be no excuse for someone in their 10th year as coach to not have these sort of things worked out. JMO

We didn't lose because of a kicker. And I can't believe you are blaming the offensive line. They, along with Rodney, were the highlights of the offense. We got away from what was working when we got in the red zone, and then didn't execute. You shouldn't have to rely on the kicker when you get in the red zone. You need to punch it in.

[JBACA]

True and who punches the ball in? Like I said....it was everyones fault collectively. Because the offense as a whole didnt finish. So I blame the whole offense for not finishing our our OC for that....still we need to make the gimmies.

[RedPitSea]

JBACA, just so you know. If your opinion is not the same as everyone else's thats ok. This is a message board where you can voice your opinion. The only thing we wont allow is bashing of players and coaches.

Welcome to the board!

[loborick]

JBACA, just so you know. If your opinion is not the same as everyone else's thats ok. This is a message board where you can voice your opinion. The only think we wont allow is bashing of players and coaches.

Welcome to the board!

Or other members of the board...

[JBACA]

basher I am not. Lobo fan and football lover........I am to the bone!

[RedPitSea]

basher I am not. Lobo fan and football lover........I am to the bone!

Then welcome!

[junior2430]

I agree with you JBACA. DP could have played better, but he did not play poorly at all.

In fact, I'd say he did well considering that UTEP's defense knew that we were either running it or throwing a short pass all night. Because of that, they played closer to the line and cut off a lot of the passing lanes that would be there if we had streched them out a bit. Our gameplan made it harder on him, and he still did well.

[LoboMike]

I don't think Donovan should get the blame either. The blame should fall squarely on the shoulders of Dave Baldwin. His offense looks lame so far. If anything, it's not an offense that can take advantage of DP's strengths, from what I have seen to this point. I hope that changes.

[GoLobos]

It seems to me that the kicker should never been in the situation where winning or losing the game was in his hands.

Open up the playbook.....just alittle, please.

Go Lobos!

[Lobo_for_life]

* Given Donovan's lack of accuracy Saturday night, taking too many more shots downfield would have been foolish. He should have been picked about four times. Even several completed balls were because of diving catches. If he hits just a couple of receivers in stride we win by ten.

* They need to roll this kid out of the pocket. This is where he was most dangerous last year. He made plays.

* Rodney is generally not the guy for the delayed handoffs. Paul Baker is that guy.

* More TE.

* Sullivan needs to make kicks like those he missed.

* First game, new "O" run by sophomore QB. What did we all expect?

[junior2430]

* Given Donovan's lack of accuracy Saturday night, taking too many more shots downfield would have been foolish. He should have been picked about four times. Even several completed balls were because of diving catches. If he hits just a couple of receivers in stride we win by ten.

* They need to roll this kid out of the pocket. This is where he was most dangerous last year. He made plays.

* Rodney is generally not the guy for the delayed handoffs. Paul Baker is that guy.

* More TE.

* Sullivan needs to make kicks like those he missed.

* First game, new "O" run by sophomore QB. What did we all expect?

Do you understand why he struggled with his passing? It's because we didn't go deep a few times. Maybe we connect on them, maybe we don't. But it would have stretched the defense and kept them honest. It would have opened up the underneath passing game and kept the UTEP defense from sitting on all those underneath routes. Because of that, Donovan tried to force the ball into tiny windows and passing lanes, causing him to be inaccurate.

Agreed on rolling him out a bit more. Once again, it would force the defense to adjust and open up some underneath routes.

I hate the shotgun HB delay. Run it once or twice a game, but other than that it becomes very innefective, as we learned. But you are right, if you are gonna do it, you need a speed guy back there.

More TE? That's the most we've used a TE since David Sloan. What more did you want?

Sullivan should have made those kicks, but do we all remember Kenny Byrd's first game. Didn't he miss an extra point? Let's see how Sully can comeback. We know he can make those kicks.

What did we expect? A more high powered attack to be honest. At try to throw a TD pass.

[Lobo_for_life]

Junior, my point about the TE was that it was successful Saturday night, so why not more?

[junior2430]

I don't disagree, but I don't see it happening either.

[judas_priest]

The delay from the shotgun can be very effective - provided that you've got a viable downfield passing game. The idea is to get the LBs away from the line. If all you are throwing is short, they will camp out in the box.

But it is not simply stretching the field with a longer throw on occasion - those throws have to be a real threat. My guess is that teams will pack the line of scrimmage against the Lobos until DP actually hits a few passes more than 5 yards downfield.

[junior2430]

Exactly. I'm not saying throw deep a few times. You need to consistently run deep routes and go to them a fairly frequently.

Stretch the d, and create room for the underneath passing game and more room for the running game.

[Lobo_for_life]

Baldwin will do whatever is best, given the circumstances. The guy didn't just fall of a turnip truck.

[PHILLY_1982]

I hate to put blame on one guy, but DP was a big reason why UNM lost.

RF and the OL did everything they could do to win. DP's accuracy was horrible. Their were at least 3 passes that whould have been picked off.

Every drive we put together either stalled, or sputtered when DP threw, especially on 1st downs. Our offense was ONE DIMENSIONAL because we couldn't throw a pass more than 5 yards.

He over throw, he under threw, and threw behind guys in stride.

Those are the facts.

Now hopefully DP improves, but god knows he won't be starting with another performance like that. He's been a Lobo 3 years, and played two years, there's no excuse for his innaccuracy this far into his career. His hangover form LAST YEAR'S NM Bowl performance lingered into last Saturday.

He was the weakest link of UNM, and that's saying something because Special Teams was pretty awful. But they at least put up 6 points. Something DP couldn't do against a young inexperienced UTEP defense.

That game should have been a win.

One thing is for sure, DP better come out on fire against NMSU, and throw for at least 2 TD's and 250 yards. Because I guarantee you UNM won't win on his stat line from Saturday night, 190 yards with no TD's will not cut it! NMSU will pout up points, UNM has to match! They can't rely on their defense and RB's all the time. It's time to nut up and lead the team!

Time to take the Cherry Glasses off, and time for DP to take responibility, make adjustments, and pull out the win. I know he has it in him, he just needs to be more consistent.

GO DP!!!!!!!!!!
GO LOBOS!!!!

[junior2430]

No one was debating that he could have played better and was inaccurate. But he wasn't awful and wasn't the reason we lost.

In my opinion, he was inaccurate because of the plays called. By not establishing a deep threat, UTEP's defense was playing short and sitting on those routes. Because of that, DP was forcing the ball, causing him to be inaccurate.

That is something he needs to improve upon.

[PHILLY_1982]

No one was debating that he could have played better and was inaccurate. But he wasn't awful and wasn't the reason we lost.

In my opinion, he was inaccurate because of the plays called. By not establishing a deep threat, UTEP's defense was playing short and sitting on those routes. Because of that, DP was forcing the ball, causing him to be inaccurate.

That is something he needs to improve upon.

The play calling caused him to be innaccurate?!

Are you kidding me?!

We were one dimensional becuase UTEP had no threat in the air.

DP had no TD's, and could not execute on 3rd down conversions.
Once UNM was in the Red Zone, all UTEP had to do was stack the Box and stuff the run, because UTEP KNEW DP couldn't beat them in the air.

UNM has 3 reliable recievers in SMith, Brown, and Ferguson in the backfield. You can't blame the loss on play calling. If anything the playcalling was geared around the run because DP could not execute.

Those are the facts.
DP had no TD's, and a sub par 190 yards in where they came from passes less than 5 yards. I'm sorry, but i don't wanna except the play from that stat line.

Blaiming the Coaches and playing calling is opinion.

Let's move on, we gotta focus on NMSU.

[junior2430]

Whatever. You obviously don't understand what I'm talking about.

I'm not blaming the loss on playcalling, but it played a big part. The other part is execustion, which lacked as well.

Let me ask you this. If you see a defense playing close to the line all night what would you do as an offense?

[PHILLY_1982]

Whatever. You obviously don't understand what I'm talking about.

I'm not blaming the loss on playcalling, but it played a big part. The other part is execustion, which lacked as well.

Let me ask you this. If you see a defense playing close to the line all night what would you do as an offense?

Yes, you are.

You want me to answer throw,
But what if you're on the 3 yard line?!

Or how about the OC doesn't have confidence in DP's abilities. Because of the several passes underthrown?

Or How about UNM was running at will, so the logical thing to do is run.

You obviously don't understand how bad DP "executed" the offense, or lack there of.

Like I said, let's all move along.

NMSU, remember....???

[junior2430]

Yeah we ran all night, but where did that get us? In actuality, Rodney should have had more yards, but the defense knew all we would run and throw short all night so they packed it in close to the line, making it much harder to do both.

You want to place all the blame on DP solely. Why? What was he supposed to do? The defense knew exactly what kind of passing plays we were running all night. Quick slants, shallow crosses, and bubble screens. Those aren't hard to defend if you know there coming.

I'm offering an explanation why he was inaccurate. Why can't you do the same. You say it was all execution. You say I'm wrong. Maybe I am. Prove it. Tell me exactly how he didn't execute.

I've backed up my opinion. Can you do the same?

I will not move on from this. The only thing I will say about NMSU is that if we don't open up the playbook and stretch the fied a little bit, we will get destroyed.

[Lobodawg92]

OK, guess I'll toss in my 2 cents here. DP was inaccurate all night. His numbers were not bad, and no turnovers, a BIG + imo. However, many of the completions he had was the result of some very good catches. One in particular was to our tight end. He had to slide down to catch a short thrown ball. The thing was, that if the ball had been more where the TE was, he was behind everybody from what I could see. Six points maybe, or a great catch and a 1st down. I would take the six. I saw several very good catches like of the same nature.

That said, I think Baldwin was trying to run an offense to give DP confidence. Didn't work so well yet, but I ain't going to toss Baldwin, DP or Rocky out on their ear over 1 game. Hopefully they will get it turned around. I really agree with LFL about rolling DP out more. Because of his athletism, it forces the defense to defend his running ability and opens up the pass a little more. It does increase the possibility of injury though.

Anyway, sorry to interrupt the arguments here, but DP wasn't horrible, but he was far from great either. My grade for him for this game, C-. Play calling, a tough one, because I really don't know how much it was modified to fit personell weaknesses at this point, but overall I would give it a C or C+. The O line, B. Receivers, including TE's, B+. Running game A-. Hard to grade for one game, as we really don't know the game plan and how well it was executed. :-)

Go Lobos! bring home some aggie in a bag and all is forgiven and wonderful again! ;-)

[LoBo LoCo]

Anyway, sorry to interrupt the arguments here, but DP wasn't horrible, but he was far from great either. My grade for him for this game, C-.

University standards require grades of C or better for application for graduation! :rolleyes:

[Lobodawg92]

Yep, 12 or 13 tests a season. Better bring the grade up! ;-}

[PHILLY_1982]

Yeah we ran all night, but where did that get us? In actuality, Rodney should have had more yards, but the defense knew all we would run and throw short all night so they packed it in close to the line, making it much harder to do both.

You want to place all the blame on DP solely. Why? What was he supposed to do? The defense knew exactly what kind of passing plays we were running all night. Quick slants, shallow crosses, and bubble screens. Those aren't hard to defend if you know there coming.

I'm offering an explanation why he was inaccurate. Why can't you do the same. You say it was all execution. You say I'm wrong. Maybe I am. Prove it. Tell me exactly how he didn't execute.

I've backed up my opinion. Can you do the same?

I will not move on from this. The only thing I will say about NMSU is that if we don't open up the playbook and stretch the fied a little bit, we will get destroyed.


I've provided the facts. Scroll back, IT'S ALL ON THIS THREAD.
I'm not gonna argue with you.

If you really think DP is blameless, than we will be spinning our wheels. He was the reason why we couldn't score, or lead the offense. RF carried the offense. Thus, DP has the blame for the loss.
GO LOBOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
BEAT THE AGGIES!!!!!!!!!!!!

[junior2430]

What facts? All I see are his game stats and your opinion. You seem infactuated with his 190 yards passing. Those 190 yards came on 4.5 yds a completion. He would have had a lot more had we been more aggressive. Part of that is on DP, yes. But the majority of it is on the playcalling. When you run a4 yard plays all night, the defense adjusts and sits on those routes. They played for that passing game. It is extremely hard to be succesful in that type of offense when the defense is playing for that.

Yes, we ran the ball well, but we could have run it better. 4.0 yards a carry is too low for how we were dominating the line of scrimmage. It became even worse when we got in the red zone. They compacted in even more, and because of that, we couldn't punch it in.

Once time we tried to go over the top on them. I'm just saying we need to keep defenses honest.

I never said DP was blameless. He certainly could have played better. No one is doubting that. But Baldwin could have done better as well. I'm sure he will. His offenses at Michigan State were very high powered. Do I think we will see an offense like that this year? No. We are more of a run oriented offense for good reason. But a lot of us would like to see something more.

I guess we are gonna have to agree to disagree. You want to blame the loss on DP. I want to share the load of blame on Baldwin as well. Simpe as that.

With that said...

GO LOBOS and beat the living tar out of the Aggies!!!

[loborick]

OK, OK!!!!! There is plenty of blame to go around for the offense's performance against the Miners. Let's hope that has all been corrected. I think we'll see a different team out there Saturday.