NMSU puts the hurt on UTEP

Harry · September 8, 2005

Labor Day practice canceled as Miner line hobbled

Matthew Aguilar

El Paso Times

Nine UTEP defensive linemen were in the training room Monday -- two of them with serious injuries -- because of the cut-blocking technique used by the New Mexico State offensive line in Saturday's game, Miner head coach Mike Price said Monday.

As a result, Price canceled Monday's scheduled 4 p.m. practice. Also, he will remove the redshirt status from freshman James Olalekan, and will move offensive lineman Jake Belshe back to the defensive line -- to bulk up a devastated unit.

Of the defensive linemen injured, juniors Zach West (knee) and Joe Ward (ankle) -- both starters -- are the most serious. Price said they likely will miss the Sept. 16 home opener against Houston in the Sun Bowl, addding that West, who earned second-team All-WAC honors last year, could be out up to a month.

"Most of the (blocks) are legal," Price said. "(But) it doesn't matter if they're legal or not. Fifteen yards isn't going to help Zach West's knee."

Chris Mineo, an All-WAC first-team selection last year, and Alex Obomese, who enjoyed a standout game Saturday, also had knee and ankle issues Monday.

Price pointed out, however, that it was his players' job to better ward off the cut-block Saturday.

"They (NMSU) just do that on their plays," he said. "That's how they block. What you need is to get your hands down. We didn't get our hands down. We knew it was coming and didn't prepare for it. It's part of the game."

First-year New Mexico State coach Hal Mumme had no comment Monday.

Price said the bye week couldn't have come at a better time. It gives the Miners 13 days to recover before the Houston game. But he said the injuries severely affect the week's schedule.

The initial plan was to focus on hitting and fundamentals this week. He said that probably will not be the case anymore.

"(The defensive line) was a strength for us going into the season, now it's a real question mark," Price said. "Guys (like Padilla) are going to have to step up and play."

greenminer · September 8, 2005

I read that article and immediately thought of UNT. I hope that Dickey and Co see this and have the team prepared.

We (UTEP) are lucky that we have a bye week before our next game against UH; it afforded Price to let the players have the day off and heal from those nasty blocks.

On a side note, it's just as exciting to be a Miner fan right now: the defense completely destroyed NMSU on Saturday. Particularly in the first half. They finished with negative total in the rushing yards department! We've got a beast in our Dave Campbell Defensive POY LB. Thomas Howard is 240 and runs a low 4.3 40. The guy is a monster out there and showed it against the Aggies. His impact is in line with what Booger was doing his jr year.

From the same paper as above:

The 6-3, 240-pound Lubbock native registered 10 tackles (five solo, five assisted), two tackles for losses (minus 12 yards), a sack ( minus 9), an interception (20 yards), two pass breakups and a fumble recovery against the Aggies. He moved into eighth place on the UTEP career list with 29 tackles for losses, as well as a tie for 10th place on the sack list with 11.

Howard article

And he fits the UNT player mold to a boot: the guy was under-recruited and over-looked...coming into the Miner program as a walk-on DB.