Coach keeps watchful eye on ailing secondary

George Barlow, the UNM football team’s cornerbacks coach, will have to perform some dentistry work on the Lobos’ secondary.
He’ll have to fill some cavities. Most daunting are the holes left at the cornerback position.
The secondary returns only three starters from last year’s roster. Key departures include the Lobos’ best two cornerbacks, DeAndre Wright and Glover Quin, though UNM still enlists the services of safeties Frankie Solomon, Ian Clark and Frankie Baca.
However, Clark, the vociferous commander of the secondary, has missed much of training camp with a shoulder injury. He had off-season surgery to repair a torn labrum and re-injured it on Monday. He’ll miss at least a week of practice, but head coach Mike Locksley told the Albuquerque Journal that he is under the impression that Clark will attempt to play this season.
Baca said the Lobos need Clark.
“Ian is one of those guys who is an emotional leader for us and a big-time player for the entire team,” he said. “But we still are trying to do what we can to not lose any steps on defense without Ian and continue to be a good defense.”
With Clark sidelined, Solomon, who was third on the team in tackles last year, has taken command of mentoring the younger cornerbacks and safeties.
“It’s more of me having to teach rather then getting taught,” Solomon said. “With Glover and DeAndre, they helped mold me and let me know what was happening. Now, I am on the level of helping the young guys out and letting them know what is going on.”
Under the tutelage of Barlow and the veterans, the inexperienced group has been making strides, Barlow said.
“The kids are starting to learn the techniques we are trying to teach them, and it is starting to show up when the bullets are flying on the field,” Barlow said. “I think the unit is finally starting to take a step forward, but they still do have a long ways to go to become a much better defense.”
One of the guys who impressed the coaches is local Jesse Paulsen.
Paulsen, a Manzano High School graduate, has quickly made a name for himself at training camp on special teams defense.
The freshman blocked two field-goal attempts at the first scrimmage of fall and added six tackles. Paulsen leads defensive backs and linebackers in tackles.
At Saturday’s practice, Paulsen once again came up with a big play.
During seven-on-seven drills, Paulsen picked off a tip pass that bounced off of a linebacker’s hand.
“I saw an opportunity to make a play and I just happened to execute it,” Paulsen said. “It was more luck than anything. It has been a lot of fun out here. You know, a new program, a new coach — it’s great. It will be exciting to see how we do as a team.”