by Steven Fernandez
Daily Lobo
This time, the UNM football defense shouldn't mind seeing the scoreboard light up.
Today's Cherry-Silver spring football game at University Stadium will feature a new scoring system that will give the defense a chance to outscore the offense.
UNM head coach Rocky Long said the team does not have enough healthy offensive linemen to play a regular game, so the contest will be strictly offense versus defense.
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Long said he based the point system on samples from Florida, Ohio State and Oklahoma. He said UNM's system is most similar to Oklahoma's, and although it's new to the Lobos, the players shouldn't have a hard time with it.
"They understand it now because we did it on Saturday," he said. "They didn't know what was going on, either. I don't think anybody in the stands will know, but they'll be able to keep track on the scoreboard."
UNM started spring practice April 21.
It will be a more experienced squad this year, as UNM returns 10 starters on defense and eight on offense to try and improve on last season's 6-6 record. However, preparing the team for the fall will have its challenges.
Many returning players have a considerable amount of playing time, but the offense will have to adjust to new offensive coordinator David Baldwin. Baldwin came to UNM this offseason after former coordinator Bob Toledo left to be the head coach at Tulane.
One player who flourished under last season's offense was wide receiver Travis Brown, who was named to the All-Mountain West Conference team after posting a conference-high 867 receiving yards while adding four
touchdowns.
Brown said the offense has been problematic at times in the spring, but it's starting to run more smoothly with each practice.
"From a team perspective, the offense has had its struggles, but that was expected putting in a new offense," he said. "I think we're finally over that hump, and the defense has been doing really good."
Quarterback Donovan Porterie is also working to learn the new system as he enters his first season as a starter.
Porterie gained playing time last year after starter Kole
McKamey tore ligaments in his knee and backup Chris Nelson struggled early in the season.
Brown said Porterie is learning fast and should be ready to carry the Lobos next year.
"He's really coming into his own," he said. "He's making his reads right. That's just a sign of him maturing, and I think he's come a long way, and he's still not finished growing yet."
If the offense can click under Baldwin, it could be a high-throttle unit. Along with Brown, wide receiver Marcus Smith and tailback Rodney Ferguson had breakout years last season and were named all-conference players.
Long said the team's success next season hinges on it making strides together during the offseason.
"I think the defense understands exactly what we're doing," he said. "We have very few
assignment mistakes. On offense, I think they have the basics down. When we try to expand from the basics, I think the offense is still struggling a little bit."
Scoring system for
Cherry-Silver game
Offense
Touchdown 6 points
Field goal 3 points
Gain of more than
30 yards 2 points
First down 1 point
Extra point 1 point
Defense
Turnover returned
for touchdown 9 points
Turnover forced 3 points
Three-and-out on first
offensive possession of
drive 2 points
Fourth-down stop 2 points
Any defensive stop 1 point
Football
Cherry-Silver game
Today, 6 p.m.
University Stadium
