UNM football: Notes and quotes from week two of spring practice

Apr. 5—Through the first five days, spring practice hasn’t been so much about how the offense or defense have performed as much as it’s been about what’s going into those showings.

“Process is what we’re focusing on,” New Mexico head coach Bronco Mendenhall told the Journal on Friday. “There’s certainly outcomes that are happening along the way. But the process is driving, I think, the momentum and the progress, which only happens if the players are willing.

“And they are.”

A few notes, quotes and observations from UNM’s second week of spring practice, plus addressing a few unconfirmed reports:

LEADING THE LINEBACKERS: On paper, Dimitri Johnson and Milhalis Santorineos make the most sense to be leading a linebacker room that remains one of UNM’s most inexperienced defensive positions. Mendenhall confirmed that’s the case on the field, too.

“He’s getting better and better each day in the system, each day with his preparation and his communication and with his knowledge,” Mendenhall said of Johnson. “Milhalis might be the most knowledgeable player in this defense right now in terms of knowing the system, communicating it effectively and being able to articulate, but also be consistent in what he’s doing and how he’s doing it. So, it’s nice to have the leadership and experience there.”

After that?

“It drops pretty quickly in terms of experience,” he added.

Per Mendenhall, Johnson, Santorineos, Jayden Wilson (29 snaps last season) and Ja’Shon Lowery (105 snaps) have received the bulk of the workload this spring with Lucas Lucero (0 snaps) working as the fifth option.

“There’s also multiple packages in the defense,” he said. “And between nickel and dime and others, there can be either more or less linebackers on the field, including heavy sets. It’s a position that we need not only to address the terms of quality of play, but…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/unm-football-notes-quotes-week-035900268.html

Author : Albuquerque Journal, N.M.

Publish date : 2024-04-06 03:59:00

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