April 10, 2008
Albuquerque Journal
Lobo QB Porterie Looks Forward to Challenge
By Greg Archuleta
Journal Staff WriterNow that the keys to the University of New Mexico football team's offense finally are in Donovan Porterie's hands, he doesn't mind the rebuilding job that awaits him.
After all, it's fashionable these days to pimp one's ride.
The Lobos' 9-4 record in 2007 that included their first bowl win in 46 years officially becomes history today as the players report for the first day of spring practice in 2008.
"It's been a long offseason in the weight room," says the junior quarterback, entering his third season as a starter. "This year, I have to try to take more of a leadership role and coach the younger guys up, even though I still have a lot to learn, too."
Rocky Long enters his 11th season as UNM coach with the fewest number of returning starters since his rookie season as head coach in 1998.
The Lobos have five returning starters on offense— using the starts of senior fullback Matt Quillen (five) and junior wide receiver Roland Bruno (six) from 2007 to comprise one starter.
They have five starters returning on defense— injuries last season limited junior lobo back Ian Clark to five starts, precluding him from that list. The Lobos will have new starters at punter and kicker, not to mention deep snapper.
"We have to have some guys step up at a few positions," Long says. "Wide receiver and offensive line are the big positions on offense. On defense, we'll be inexperienced at linebacker, and we need to find a punter and kicker.
"Hopefully, the experience from last year will allow our younger guys to mature quicker."
The Lobos lost quite a bit of production at those spots. Travis Brown and Marcus Smith were first-team All-Mountain West Conference receivers in 2007. The line returns just one starter in junior Erik Cook, who's listed atop the depth chart at center but can play any position.
Senior Sylvester Hatten returns after starting five games last season at tackle before leaving the team for personal reasons.
"We left 176 catches with Travis and Marcus gone," offensive coordinator Dave Baldwin says. "We're going to have to have some wideout step up. That is the biggest question mark, to me. Now, does that mean we're going to involve the tight end and the backs more? It could very well be."
The offseason work the line did has Baldwin believing the unit could be more successful than the 2007 group that graduated All-MWC center Vince Natali and tackle Devin Clark.
"Normally, offensive line would be the number one question, but I've seen them in the weight room," Baldwin says. "There's 16 bodies that are more physical-looking than we had last year. I've got to think that we can be even better and more physical than we were last year."
A large part of the offensive optimism stems from the fact that the Lobos don't have to learn a new scheme for the first time since Porterie arrived on campus in 2005.
"In years past, we were just worried about learning a new offense," Porterie says. "Now that we know it, coaches are going to be harder on us to be crisp, to execute, to pay attention to detail. We're going into spring ball with a lot of confidence.
On defense, that means finding a linebacker corps around seniors Zach Arnett and Herbert Felder.
"That's one of our main focus points this spring," new defensive coordinator Troy Reffett says. "Obviously, we've got to find some depth."
Despite the loss of ends Tyler Donaldson (All-MWC) and Michael Tuohy (UNM's career sack leader), the Lobos have a lot of depth— and size on the defensive line, especially with Phillip Harrison (6-foot-3, 291 pounds) moving to right end.
The Lobos must replace the leadership of underrated safety O.J. Swift in the secondary, but DeAndre Wright and Glover Quin return for their third seasons as starting cornerbacks.
"I think that's huge," Reffett says. "Now, it's imperative that we get them to play at their peak level every day. The better we are at corner, the more it allows us to do on the interior."
Walk-ons Drew Zamora, Adam Miller and Kris Kemper enter spring camp atop the depth chart at kicker, punter and deep snapper, but the competition at those spots is wide open.
The Lobos have several questions entering spring practice, especially considering the brutal schedule in 2008, but Porterie insists he'll enjoy the ride.
"Right now, it's about making each other better." he says. "If we focus on ourselves and do what we have to do now, next season will take care of itself."
UNM football
Spring practice: 3-5 p.m. today, Friday; 10 a.m.-noon Saturday.
Cherry-Silver game: April 26, 1 p.m., Santa Fe High's Ivan Head Stadium Admission: Free Postgame: Autograph session
Today
Albuquerque at Iowa, 11:05 p.m. Radio: KNML-AM (610)
Play Ball!
After today's afternoon game at Iowa, the Isotopes will return to Albuquerque for their Friday home opener. See a preview of what this season has to offer at Isotopes Park in Friday's Journal