New Mexico State defense hopes to regroup vs. familiar opponent

LAS CRUCES - Louisiana exposed weaknesses that New Mexico State defensive coordinator Frank Spaziani has worked all season to conceal.

Louisiana took advantage of poor play from Aggies linebackers for 344 rushing yards in last week’s 66-38 victory over NM State. Louisiana also found openings over the top of the secondary to the tune of 415 passing yards and six touchdowns.

“The problems are minimized when you win and magnified when you lose,” Spaziani said. “We just got exposed a little bit in some of the areas where we couldn’t make the plays that we needed, which is not good.”

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NM State now plays one of the better offenses in the Sun Belt Conference on Saturday when the Aggies host 5-1 Georgia Southern at Aggie Memorial Stadium.

Louisiana’s 759 total yards was a school record, but the Aggies are not deep enough to make wholesale personnel changes.

“We don’t have many choices,” Spaziani said. “There are not guys sitting in the wings. We have to try to coach them better and know where our problems are and try to help them out.”

For a unit that was the strength of the team entering the season and for the first four games, the Aggies defense has surrendered 53.5 points per game and 639 yards per game the past two weeks.

NM State is now No. 126 in FBS in scoring defense, allowing 43.7 points per game.  The Aggies allowed 29 points per game last year.

Even in a 49-41 win the previous week against Liberty, the Aggies gave up 365 yards through the air.

After going 1-1 the past two weeks, have the yards and points the Aggies have surrendered, served as a wake up call or a precursor of things to come?

“You don't want to let the last game lose you the next game," Aggies linebacker Javahn Fergurson said. "That is one of the big things we have to focus on this week is using that bad taste in our mouth propel to where we want to be."

Spaziani cited the linebacker play and secondary for Saturday’s performance.

“Obviously it helps to have more depth and guys who have played,” Spaziani said. “But the problem was in the secondary and the linebackers.”

Louisiana’s first touchdown was a short pass from quarterback Andre Nunez to  Ja'Marcus Bradley, who turned the ball upfield for a 50-yard touchdown.

“That was a defense that we run a lot and we make that play in practice,” Spaziani said. “We gave him too much room in there. We have to be more aggressive in covering it. Not only did we give him too much room, but we missed the tackle. We got beat in one on one situations. There were plays that were poorly executed on our part.”

The Aggies have played without senior strong side linebacker Terrill Hanks for the past three games and outside linebacker Malik Demby has been ruled out for the rest of the season due to a shoulder stinger that has not healed.

Hanks returned to practice this week, but it’s unclear if he will be able to return to the field on Saturday.

“You have that experience and the energy that (Hanks) brings, even if he is just practicing, you have that voice out there that we needed," Fergurson said. "He's going to help put that energy back that we need."

Despite the injuries, the Aggies allowed seven scoring plays of over 20 yards against Louisiana as limiting explosion plays had been a strength for the defense.

NM State has allowed 40 plays this season of 20 yards or more (17 rushing, 23 passing) after allowing 52 all of last season.

“The problems we have  are problems that have been there but (Louisiana) exposed them a little better than most people,” Spaziani said.

If there is a silver lining, Georgia Southern is a familiar opponent with an offense that runs a familiar scheme. Georgia Southern has returned to the triple option and former University of New Mexico offensive coordinator Bob Debesse is calling the plays.

The Aggies have defended both Georgia Southern and New Mexico fairly well since Spaziani took over at NM State.

“We play option teams three or four times a year so we have a lot of options to pick from film to watch," Fergurson said. "It's in our wheelhouse. With me as a middle linebacker, I'm comfortable because it gives me an opportunity to strap up and play football. We watch a lot of UNM film and old Georgia Southern film."

Georgia Southern is ninth in the country in rushing at 256.7 yards per game on 5.2 yards per carry. Unlike Nunez, Georgia Southern sophomore quarterback Shai Werts is not a strong passer as Georgia Southern has attempted just 48 passes this season. Werts is tied with teammate Wesley Fields for fifth in the Sun Belt in rushing with 78.7 yards per game.

But Nunez had wide open receivers all game.

“The kid threw the ball well but we did not execute very well,” Spaziani said. “Once the ball goes over your head, you basically don’t have a defense.”

The Aggies hope to return to form on Saturday and it starts by putting Georgia Southern in third and long situations.

NM State beat Georgia Southern 35-27 on the road last year. Georgia Southern rushed for 192 yards on 3.8 yards per carry and were 3 of 13 on third down.

“They are far superior to where they were last year,” Spaziani said. “They run their offense better than the teams we have seen run it. It is going to be a challenge, especially coming off of (Louisiana).”

Sports Editor Jason Groves can be reached at 575-541-5459 or jgroves@lcsun-news.com. Follow him on Twitter @jpgroves.

IF YOU GO

What: College football

Who: Georgia Southern (5-1) at New Mexico State (2-5)

When: Saturday, 4 p.m.

Where: Aggie Memorial Stadium

Radio: 99.5 KXPZ-FM (TuneIn App)

TV: The CW (Borderland only)