Will Bronco Mendenhall successfully rebuild football in New Mexico? -Deseret News

During his introductory press conference last December after being named the new head football coach at the University of New Mexico, Bronco Mendenhall wasn't shy about announcing his plans for the Lobos football program.

But above all, his plans were not lacking in ambition.

Mendenhall wants to lead the Lobos to heights they haven't seen in years. Make New Mexico a winning football program again. For the first time since the early 2000s, when Rocky Long led the program.

“I know this program is capable of sustained success, sustained success and excellence,” Mendenhall said. “I was part of it. I saw it. And I look forward to regaining that right, not just occasionally, but consistently.”

Mendenhall knew it wouldn't be a quick fix in Albuquerque. Few, if any, would have expected this.

How are things going in the middle of his first season back on the sidelines? How is the “reimagining” of New Mexico football going under Mendenhall?

What New Mexico does well

In Saturday's Mountain West Conference clash against Utah State, New Mexico proved to be an interesting team at worst. Perhaps convincing at best.

The Lobos started the year poorly, with a surprising home loss to FCS power Montana State.

This was followed by a loss at Arizona, a loss at Auburn and finally a loss against Fresno State in UNM's first conference game of the season.

However, the Lobos followed those setbacks in remarkable fashion – with back-to-back high-profile victories over rivals New Mexico State and Air Force.

The key to New Mexico's success this season has been its offense.

Led by quarterback Devon Dampier, whose dual-threat ability is remarkable, New Mexico boasts one of the best offenses in the MW.

New Mexico is currently performing as follows in the league:

• No. 3 in scoring offense thanks to an average of over 35 points scored per game
• With 27 total touchdowns (24 of which were scored by the Lobos offense), they are tied with San Jose State for fourth place in the MW. Only Boise State (37) and UNLV (33) have found the end zone more often this season.
• No. 3 in total offensive plays. New Mexico relies on a fast-paced offense and has already played 420 games this season, trailing only Nevada (447) and Utah State (432).
• No. 3 in total offensive yards produced, averaging 457 per contest
• No. 2 in rushing touchdowns this season, with 17
• No. 4 in rushing offense, thanks to averaging 209 yards on the ground per game

The one thing the Lobos haven't done particularly well offensively this season is throwing the ball. While Dampier rushed for 1,488 yards and seven touchdowns, New Mexico ranks in the bottom third of the MW in pass efficiency. The Lobos throw the ball, but they aren't always effective at it.

No, New Mexico's strength on offense this year is on the ground, as evidenced even more by the fact that the Lobos are in the bottom third of the MW in rush attempts per game, but still have one of the best rushing teams. League attacks.

Four Lobos have already rushed for 200 yards or more (or close to it) this season, including Dampier and running backs Eli Sanders, Javen Jacobs and NaQuari Rogers.

Dampier has thrown for eight touchdowns and his legs are the team's most notable weapon; Something Utah State isn't too thrilled about when it comes to containing Saturday.

“This guy was their wildcat guy last year and is now their all-down guy,” Utah State interim coach Nate Dreiling said. “He's incredible. He runs the ball perhaps better than anyone we've seen, and he has a laser arm.

“He can make all those tight window throws. Their running game was open and he was ready to play the passing game. They're so dangerous because teams get him, but they've only given up one sack this season, in large part because no one can beat him.”

In their wins over NMSU and Air Force, New Mexico scored 50 and 52 points, respectively. It appears, at least for now, that the Lobos have figured out how to both move the ball on offense and complete drives.

The Lobos' success on offense this year isn't actually a huge contrast to what they achieved last season in the final year of the Danny Gonzales era.

New Mexico finished the campaign 4-8, ranked in the top 45 in the country in total offense.

The difference this year is that the Lobos have moved into the elite category — for now — and now rank 25th in the country in total offense.

A jump of 20 spots is notable, if for no other reason than the feeling that New Mexico has a chance to surpass last year's four wins, which were the most for the program since 2016.

Where New Mexico needs to improve

As good as the Lobos have been offensively this season, especially recently, they have also been poor on defense. Something that Utah State fans have become very familiar with again this year.

In fact, it's hard to imagine how bad the Lobos were on the defensive side of the ball.

Currently, NM ranks last in the MW in total defense as it gives opponents nearly 500 yards of offense each game.

New Mexico ranks second to last in scoring defense — just ahead of USU — after giving up an average of 43 points per game.

The Lobos are the conference's worst team in run defense – teams average 256 yards on the ground against NM – and also the worst team in pass efficiency defense.

The list of areas where New Mexico struggles defensively goes on and on.

Perhaps the biggest problem for New Mexico is that it doesn't yet have the defensive personnel it needs to be competitive, especially when it comes to quality depth.

“We’re getting thinner at linebacker. “There are some positions on our team that are thinner than others,” Mendenhall said this week. “That's what happens sometimes when you take over a program and there's more turnover in certain areas than others. We do our best to achieve appropriate depth at each point.”

Against teams like New Mexico State and Air Force — who are a combined 3-10 this season with a single FBS win between them — the Lobos' defensive woes weren't enough for the offense to overcome them.

However, in the team's four losses, a good offense wasn't enough to overcome the weak defense.

Given Mendenhall's background as a coach, one would expect there to be defensive improvement in New Mexico, but real improvement this season doesn't seem all that realistic.

Especially not this weekend, as Utah State boasts an offense that is almost on the same level as New Mexico's. More balanced, although less effective at reaching the end zone.

What is the time frame for a rebuilding New Mexico football program?

In the current era of college football, there is little patience for long periods of rebuilding.

Part of this is due to NIL and the transfer portal. It's difficult to keep good players at programs like New Mexico when larger programs with more money are in demand. Therefore, programs at the Group of Five level need to make quick leaps before losing key players.

That's one of the reasons Mendenhall voted to close the spring transfer window.

“After going through this, it will be much better for them if the players arrive in the middle of the year,” he said. “Their adjustment, their ability to embed themselves in the culture and their preparation for the season. And get to know their teammates. We had 17 scholarship players come in after spring training this year and we’re still getting them acclimated.”

However, given the program's lack of success, Mendenhall should have a longer leash in his rebuild in New Mexico. However, the athletic director who hired him – Eddie Nunez – is now in Houston, and the coach who preceded him at New Mexico – Gonzales – was only given four years.

Time and patience are hard to find in modern college football.

However much time Mendenhall ends up spending with the Lobos, the reality is that things are still new right now. Rebuilding is new and there is still much work to be done for New Mexico to achieve “sustainable success.”

“We are in the early stages of transforming our program,” Mendenhall said. “So we have a lot to do in every area of ​​football. Any position. Every facet. Utah State is the next opponent…but the focus will and must be on us. There is a relentless pursuit of improvement and that is what is needed.”