LAS CRUCES – New Mexico State is a 37.5 point underdog on Saturday at Wisconsin (1:30 pm, Big Ten Network).
The Aggies will receive $1.4 million for their second buy game in the first four weeks of the season.
NM State (0-3) was shut out, 38-0 at Minnesota in Week 1 and the sledding is sure to be difficult on Saturday against a Wisconsin defense that led the country in a several defensive categories last year, in addition to the fact that the Badgers were upset at home by Washington State, last week.
Finding confidence, continuity has been a challenge for New Mexico State offense
The Aggies return home for a string of four straight home games following Saturday’s game, and there are a number of factors that the Aggies should be able to control, despite the high level of competition they face on Saturday.
Find a way to score in the first half
This might be said easier than done on Saturday, but slow starts have plagued the Aggies this season.
NM State has scored just two first half points in their first three games – a second quarter safety in Week 0 against Nevada. Their opponents have outscored New Mexico State 58-2 in the first half and 48-2 in the second quarter.
“The second quarter has killed us,” Aggie’s coach Jerry Kill said. “Tipped balls have killed us. Turnovers have killed us and then third down. Both offense and defense have to get better, but the second quarter puzzles me.”
NM State has yet to score points on its opening drive, despite two decent drives against Nevada and UTEP. The Aggies missed a field goal to start the game against Nevada, and turned the ball over on a tipped pass against UTEP.
NM State will have to be better offensively as the season progresses. They came back to make both the Nevada game and UTEP game competitive in the second half. A better start will certainly make life easier.
Kicking game
New Mexico State punter Josh Carlson has been one of the Aggies most consistent players. Carlson will likely be called upon on Saturday on numerous occasions.
Carlson averaged 43 yards on his 13 punts this season with one punt inside the 20 and seven fair catches.
Aggie’s kicker Ethan Albertson is off to a slow start. He’s 1 for 3 on field goals this season, but he’s 0 for 1 between 30 and 39 yards and his only make was a 46-yarder. Albertson finished last season 17 for 22 and he was 7 for 8 between 30 and 39 yards.
“Kickers are like everyone else if they lose confidence,” Kill said. “He’s still the best kicker. He missed one field goal the whole camp and that was from 60. He just needs to get one in there and then I think we will be fine. We have to put more pressure on him in practice. We are doing everything we can to get him going and get him feeling good about himself, but that is a lot of kids right now.”
Generate pressure in passing situations
Aggie’s defensive coordinator wanted to get UTEP quarterback Gavin Hardison off his spots on Saturday.
It certainly worked as Hardison was 12 for 27 passing for 153 yards and sacked twice.
New Mexico State film room: Aggies shows signs of complimentary football
Should the Aggies force Wisconsin into passing situations on Saturday, look for the Aggies to bring pressure. Even if they don’t get home, moving Wisconsin quarterback Graham Mertz off his spots would be a good sign for the Aggies moving forward.
“I think UTEP’s offensive line is really really good so if we just lined up normal, we weren’t going to get much pressure,” Aggie’s defensive coordinator Nate Dreiling said. “It was kind of smoke and mirrors mindset of it and trying to manufacture some sacks in certain situations.
“If he was on his spots, and it’s the same with the Mertz kid this week, they are better than anyone in the country. Oklahoma didn’t get (Hardison) off his spot much and he was right no. We knew he throws it on time so we weren’t always going to get home, but if we could get him sliding in a direction, it was going to help tremendously.”
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