Who will stand out in Rocky Lengthy’s protection?

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The subsequent nice UNM defender

One should be very impressed by the New Mexico Lobo protection from final yr. Defensive coordinator and former head coach Rocky Lengthy did quite a bit from his restricted expertise on final yr’s squad. 

Take into account this, the Lobo protection made some huge enhancements in 2021, rating forty fourth in general complete protection and a 57-spot enchancment from the earlier yr, 2020. 

UNM allowed 363.1 yards per recreation, the bottom complete in 13 seasons because the 2008 staff allowed 335.8 yards per recreation.

Additionally they ranked forty fourth general, and the 2008 staff ranked forty fifth.  Final yr’s rating was the very best since 2007 when UNM ranked thirteenth in complete protection at 319.9 yards per recreation.

The New Mexico dashing protection stood at 143.2 yards per recreation, higher than a 20-yard per recreation enchancment from 2020, and it’s the finest dashing protection since 2008 when UNM ranked twenty sixth at 122.3 yards per recreation. 

 Passing-wise, UNM allowed simply 219.8 passing yards per recreation to rank 54th, a big adjustment from 2019 when the passing protection allowed 321.4 yards per recreation and ranked one hundred and thirtieth (final) within the FBS.  It was UNM’s finest passing protection since 2010 when the unit ranked 53rd at 218.8 yards per recreation.

New Mexico’s passing protection goes again additional than final yr.  Should you depend the ultimate 4 video games of the 2020 season, when UNM allowed simply 750 passing yards (a 187.5 common after permitting 1,231 yards, or 410.3 per recreation over the primary three), the Lobos have allowed simply 211.8 yards by the air over the past 16 video games.

The frequent denominators, in fact, are Gonzales and Lengthy, who have been right here in 2008.  Right here is the chart of UNM’s defensive success this yr and UNM’s defensive numbers and rankings going again to 2007.

You may anticipate enchancment annually for Lobo followers as this 3-3-5 playbook is opened up, expertise is added, and gamers perceive the scheme. Danny Gonzales and Rocky Lengthy are reduce from the identical defensive-minded mould. 

Additionally, a big issue is corners Coach Troy Reffett who was on employees with Rocky Lengthy, and he is aware of the defensive philosophy of each Lengthy and now head coach Danny Gonzales. 

One can have a look at Lobo’s historical past and see gamers who performed the cornerback’s positions and his nice job, particularly how they’re normally on an island one-on-one with a number of the high receivers from opposing offenses. Nice cornerback play is a should on this protection. 

Rocky Lengthy’s protection nonetheless managed to complete fourth within the MWC in complete protection and forty second in Defensive Passing Success Allowed. So cross protection was their shiny spot final yr. 

 This Lobo secondary underneath Coach Davie Howes (Safeties Coach) and Troy Reffett (Cornerbacks Coach) did properly, contemplating the expertise they’d, little doubt. 

The Lobo defensive Line was the 79th dashing success charge and gave up 54 factors within the fourth quarter of video games. 

That won’t reduce it for DC Rocky Lengthy; make no mistake about it; he is among the finest Defensive Coordinators in all of school soccer; go ask San Diego State followers from his time there. 

The Aztecs made huge enhancements underneath Rocky Lengthy, which confirmed in video games gained yearly. 

New Mexico is blessed to have him on employees if one considers what he gave up monetarily to educate his alma mater, a big head teaching wage at SDSU, to what his wage is as a Defensive Coordinator is now. 

That is uncommon in at this time’s faculty soccer world of simply huge salaries for head coaches and assistants. That is so refreshing. 

One should respect his love for soccer and the College of New Mexico Soccer program; actions converse louder than phrases. 

Now it’s been this author’s expertise watching this staff that Rocky Lengthy defenses have a tendency to begin hitting a candy spot just some years after it’s been with the groups he has been with. 

It may be attributed to including extra expertise and a deeper understanding of this Rocky Lengthy’s model of the 3-3-5 protection. 

Head Coach Danny Gonzales has said this about not opening this defensive playbook till gamers begin greedy it fully in his pressers. 

So, look ahead to this protection to enhance from final yr, particularly within the linebacker’s spot with Cody Moon, Syaire Riley, and Ray Leutele with a yr underneath their belt. 

All of them mixed for 125 tackles, which ought to go up this yr. Rocky Lengthy’s protection is a number of enjoyable for the linebackers blitzing and stunting on so many performs to create havoc on offensives. 

This Defensive ought to begin hitting extra cylinders this yr because the Lobos have some playmakers, as in Tavian Combs, who on the Lobo place was a tackling machine. 

He was listed as third staff Athlon Sports activities Preseason All-Mountain West Workforce. 

Add Ronald Wilson with a 54-stop season and Lobo Veteran Jerrick Reed. In all, 4 starters are anticipated again within the defensive backfield.

Reed was a former JUCO switch who led the Lobos with 89 stops and is among the hardest hitters within the secondary. He has a knack for being on the proper place on the proper time to make massive performs for the Lobos. 

Reed can be on my First Workforce All-Mountain West Wire staff and was lately named 2nd staff  all Athlon Sports activities Preseason All-Mountain West Workforce

Now the Lobos’ main sacker Joey Noble is gone, however the Lobos return some extra depth for Line of defense coach Jerome Haywood. 

There’s not a ton of bulk, however Bryce Santana has simply sufficient measurement to carry up extra on the nostril. DL Jake Saltonstall began to make some performs final yr and was third Athlon Sports activities Preseason All-Mountain West Workforce. 

Kiehne performed with Bryce Santana on the identical Los Lunas Tiger staff and may have some good chemistry for this Rocky Lengthy protection. 

Kienhe, a 6-foot-3, 250-pound defensive lineman, had some measurement for the Lobos up entrance and may see a lot of motion because the Lobos prefer to rotate their linemen to maintain them recent.

He has 4 years of eligibility remaining after he didn’t see recreation motion with the Bruins this previous season, however that ought to actually change underneath Lengthy, particularly along with his measurement and energy. 

Prime New Mexico Lobo Defensive Gamers for 2022 are: 

Jerrick Reed S (2nd staff Athlong All MWC) (1st Faculty Soccer Information)

Tavian Combs S (3rdnd staff Athlon All MWC) (2nd Faculty Soccer Information) 

Jake Saltonstall DE (third staff Athlon All MWC) (eighth Faculty soccer Information) 

Ray Leutele LB (third staff Athlon All MWC) (fifth Faculty Soccer Information) 

Donte Martin C (4th staff Athlong All MWC) 

Ronald Wilson

Dion Hunter (ought to have a breakout yr for Lobos, 

Syaire Riley, Rico Hanna, Bryce Santana

Honorable mentions Tyler Kienhe (I believe he has the potential to do properly for this protection) and Cody Moon (a lot of upside to this native Albuquerque child who performs with excessive motor) 

Each of those gamers, in my view, are flying underneath the radar however ought to actually assist this Lobo staff. Each excessive motor athletes for this Rocky Lengthy staff. 

So backside line, watch this Lobo protection with extra depth, and a greater understanding of the 3-3-5 as solely Rocky Lengthy can coach it getter again to the previous days of Lobo protection flying to the ball, sacking the Quarterbacks and turnovers to assist this win some video games this yr.