Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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www.BLUEANDGOLD.com SEPT. 16, 2019 35 BY BRYAN DRISKELL NEW MEXICO RUNNING GAME VS. NOTRE DAME RUN DEFENSE When head coach Bob Davie took over at New Mexico prior to the 2012 season, he inherited an offense that rushed for just 113.2 yards per game the prior campaign. Over the next five years, the Lobos — fueled by a triple-option attack — averaged between 253.2 and 350.0 rushing yards per game. The 350.0 rush- ing average in 2016 led the nation and was a driv- ing force behind a 9-4 record. Davie chose to go away from the triple option, though, and last season the Lobos' rushing av- erage dropped to 153.2 (89th nationally). New Mexico also ranked just 113th in yards per carry (3.6), while its top two backs combined for merely 370 yards. New Mexico returns four starting offensive line- men and redshirt sophomore quarterback Tevaka Tuioti, who rushed for 100 yards in just three games last season before going down with a bro- ken clavicle. Notre Dame ranked sixth nationally in rushing yards allowed per game (139.5) and 39th in yards allowed per carry (3.8) last season. It was a pro- ductive season, but there is certainly room for improvement. Vital to getting better against the run will be the development of junior defensive tackles Myron Tagovailoa-Amosa and Kurt Hinish, and young in- terior players such as sophomore Jayson Ademilola and freshman Jacob Lacey. According to Pro Foot- ball Focus, Ademilola was the most disruptive Irish interior run defender last season. Advantage: Notre Dame NEW MEXICO PASSING GAME VS. NOTRE DAME PASS DEFENSE Davie has taken steps to improve his pass of- fense, which ranked 110th in the land last sea- son. New Mexico quarterbacks combined for only 176.8 passing yards per game and threw 17 interceptions. To make those strides, Davie hired former Liberty offensive coordinator Joe Dailey, a former quarter- back at both Nebraska and North Carolina. Dailey's Liberty offense ranked 33rd nationally in passing yards per game (261.5) in 2018. Tuioti played in three games last season, but he was healthy in only one of them. He passed for 327 yards and four touchdowns in that contest, a 62-30 victory over Incarnate Word. Weapons will have to emerge for the Lobos, who don't return a single wideout with more than 21 catches. Their top threat will likely be senior Elijah Lily, who averaged 17.9 yards on his 21 receptions last fall and tied for the team lead with five touch- down grabs. Marcus Williams — a 6-3, 215-pound junior — led all New Mexico tights ends with 13 catches for 138 yards and three touchdowns in 2018. Getting the pass game going against the Irish will be a challenge, with the Irish ranking in the top 10 nationally a season ago in yards allowed per attempt (5.6), yards allowed per completion (9.8), touchdown passes allowed (10) and pass efficiency defense (105.58 rating). On PaPer Junior Marcus Williams was the top pass-catching tight end for New Mexico last year, hauling in 13 receptions for 138 yards and three scores. PHOTO COURTESY UNM COMMUNICATIONS GAME PREVIEW: NEW MEXICO