Earlier this week, The Post exchanged a Q&A with New Mexico State sports website BleedCrimson.net. The following is what editor Sam Wasson had to say about the Aggies' chances Saturday. Assistant sports editor Jim Ryan's answers are posted here.
In order for New Mexico State to upset Ohio, the Aggies absolutely must establish their ground game early to force Ohio's defense to play the run, thus setting up quarterback Andrew Manley for the play-action pass plays.
Being able to establish the run will also help the Aggies' pass protection because Ohio would not be able to just "pin their ears back" and rush Manley on every down.
The Aggies also can't turn the ball over, and they need to force at least two Bobcat turnovers and turn them into points. New Mexico State, though an improved team from last season, still isn't one that can overcome turnovers and still win games.
Defensively, the Aggies need to contain Ohio’s running game. They can’t let Beau Blankenship run for more than 100 yards and have to keep Tyler Tettleton to less than 50 yards rushing to have a chance at a win.
If the Aggies can get to the four quarter either leading, tied or within 10 points, they might be able to pull off the upset. One of the constant themes in each of DeWayne Walker's close wins is that in the fourth quarter, the Aggie offense has been able to put together a major clock-burning drive (think 10-plus plays, 5:00-plus minutes) that usually ends in either a score or burns enough clock that there is simply very little time for the other team to do anything. Keep an eye on that if the game is close in the fourth quarter.
The biggest difference between this year's team and last year's team is in the backfield. When the Aggies played Ohio in the season opener, Andrew Manley was under center for the Aggies. However, he tore an ACL in the third game of the season and did not play for the rest of the year.
Backup quarterback Matt Christian came in and the Aggie offense was transformed into one where the quarterback was a threat to run (much likeTettleton is a threat to hit the ground for the Bobcats).
The Aggies also had a dynamic running back in the backfield in Kenny Turner. Both players have moved on, and while Manley has proven himself to be a standout drop-back passer, there isn't much threat of him running the ball, which puts a bit more pressure on the offensive line to open up holes for the running backs.
At wide receiver, the Aggies lost a big-time playmaker in Taveon Rogers. Not only was he the Aggies' best big-play receiver and a threat to take it to the house every time he caught the ball, he was also the Aggies' primary kickoff returner and again, was a threat to take it to the house every time.
Sophomore Austin Franklin was a star in the Aggies' first game of the season with more than 200 yards receiving and proved to be a big-play threat as well. It appears there isn't going to be a dropoff at the No. one receiver position this season.
On special teams, the Aggies picked up a former junior college punter in the offseason — a move that has paid major dividends thus far. Cayle Chapman-Brown averaged 50.5 yards per punt in the opening week. Last season the Aggie punting unit averaged slightly less than 40 yards per punt.
Defensively the Aggies are much stronger in their front seven. Two players to keep an eye on are defensive end Donte Savage and linebacker Trashaun Nixon. Savage had a sack, recovered a fumble and a blocked extra point in the first game. Nixon finished with a game-high 15 tackles and was just about everywhere on the field.
The secondary, which was the strength of last year's team, is brand new and is still working out kinks in its coverage, but should be better in week two than they were in week one. If Ohio is going to test one area of the defense early it will likely be the Aggies' secondary.
