I just finished watching the BYU game so let me share a few thoughts

• Any road win is a good win and New Mexico is a good enough team to beat you if you aren’t careful.  Therefore, this is a really good win.
• Throughout the game I felt that this team doesn’t have what makes greatness.  Too often they make the mistake that kills their momentum.  Each time they have a chance to put some distance between them and the opponent they make a mistake.
• Those can be penalties or in the first half when they got the ball on three straight drives in Lobo territory and only left with 7 points.
• I thought the offensive play calling by BYU was awful.  The I-formation run was was negating the New Mexico rush and was highly successful.  However, the Cougs insisted on getting out of that formation and running out of the gun which plays into the hands of the New Mexico 3-3-5.   Moreover, only once did they try a play action out of the I Formation and it was on a 2^nd-9.  Not much of a surprise.  If they could establish a legit play action game with the tied ends they have this offense could be great.   I’ll have more details on this coming up.
• The Cougs made a lot of winning plays.  Brian Kehl was outstanding. On the opening play of the 3^rd quarter Reed stepped in front of the New Mexico corner to prevent a pick 6 that would altered the game.
• New Mexico forced BYU to pass to the outside receivers and that was tough
• Great game plan by New Mexico eliminated the backs out of the backfield for Hall and made him uncomfortable without that security blanket throughout the game.
• Also, the Lobos eliminated the middle of the field on seam routes.
• Hall wasn’t outstanding, but he was in control the entire game.  That was a real challenge for a QB that hasn’t won a road game yet.  The scramble to clinch it was fantastic.
• David Nixon had an outstanding game
• CJ Santiago was huge in the first half controlling the field position
• Two kickoffs going out of bounds is brutal.
• New Mexico did a lot of things to lose this game. The flea flicker for an INT, passing on 4^th and 1 when the Cougs were struggling on Ferguson, numerous turnovers and no deep passing game.
• The Cougs were so cautious against the deep passing game they allowed a lot of underneath routes.  New Mexico’s QB was not very good.  He is limited to a quick 3 step passing game otherwise, it is screens and flairs.  He isn’t talented enough to go big.
• The Cougs went with a 3 man rush most of the game.  I wish with 8 players playing the pass the DB’s could play tighter, but maybe not.