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Non Conference Snapshots: New Mexico State

In the final game before the start of conference play, the Kansas Jayhawks will play host to the New Mexico State Aggies in a game that should present some opportunity to make any last minute adjustments and do a little fine tuning. 

A year ago the Aggies down in Las Cruces finished the season 3-10 overall with a 1-7 conference record in the WAC.  The three wins were actually a bit of a surprise as the Aggies were able to sneak up on the Aggies of Utah State and get a win where they weren't expected to.

As for 2010, they look to be improved but probably not enough to get out of Lawrence with a win.

Star-divide

On the offensive side of the ball the Aggies return 9 of 11 starters including leading rusher Seth Smith, their top two recievers in Todd Lee and Marcus Allen and for better or worse leading passer Jeff Fleming and his counterpart Trevor Walls.

If there is one position on the field that will hold the Aggies back it would have to be the quarterback position.  A season ago Aggie quarterbacks totaled just 6 touchdown passed compared to 18 interceptions.  The bad news for NMSU is that they return both quarterbacks with any meaningful minutes. 

Jeff Fleming would appear to be the front runner, but expect Walls, Tanner Rust, Matt Christian, and Andrew Manley to all compete for the starting job.  Either way the Aggie offense that was in the bottom tier of college football a season ago doesn't appear to be ready to make any major strides in 2010.

Defensively the Aggies return seven starters including the entire secondary which was statistically their best unit last year.  Part of that is due to the lack of a need for opposing teams to throw the ball, but the group also has some talent including cornerback Davon House

The biggest hole in the Aggie defense exists with the linebacking corps which might take a step back after the loss of all three starters including the teams two leading tacklers from a year ago.  At the same time, do you really care if you lose three players from a 3-10 team?  In the case of the Aggies, returning 16 starters to a team that was bad might mean that you're still bad.

At the end of the day Kansas should win this one comfortabley.  Game four will present an opportunity to fine tune, work out any last minute kinks, and hopefully heal up and get the last few reps for those backups before the conference grind begins.

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It’ll be really frickin disconcerting if we lose this game…

by 608jayhawk on Jul 20, 2010 8:58 AM CDT reply actions  

My brother's Alma Mater...

I guess so is Georgia Tech…for my other brother…

The Kansas City Royals; Successfully failing since 1986

by labbadabba on Jul 20, 2010 9:10 AM CDT reply actions  

Dang

Your family sure went to different schools, geography wise

Shit happens when you win championships

by KU Grad 08 on Jul 20, 2010 12:20 PM CDT up reply actions  

Older brother said 'how the heck far can i get away from kansas?'

Younger brother said ‘how the heck far can i get away from kansas AND labbadabba the elder?’

Would you like to follow me on Twitter, Facebook, or my blog...well you can't.

by SagehenMacGyver47 on Jul 20, 2010 3:10 PM CDT up reply actions  

Nah - both older bros

The middle brother went to NMSU because at the time it was one of the few schools in the country to have a PGM (Professional Golf Management) program. The oldest brother got his Masters in Economics at Georgia Tech because he lived in Atlanta at the time. But yes we are very spread out.

The Kansas City Royals; Successfully failing since 1986

by labbadabba on Jul 20, 2010 3:25 PM CDT up reply actions  

I had a cousin who went through that...

NMSU program. He worked for a CC up in Long Island that got hit pretty hard by the Bernie Madhoff(sp?) deal from what I understand.

In case you missed it...I used to go by Denverjhawk : )

Questions, Comments? email me at denverjhawk@hotmail.com
Follow me on Twitter, Owen_Kemp

by Owen Kemp on Jul 20, 2010 3:38 PM CDT up reply actions  

when you graduate

you have your PGA card and you are a golf pro…

The Kansas City Royals; Successfully failing since 1986

by labbadabba on Jul 20, 2010 6:36 PM CDT up reply actions  

Sick.

I miss golf. I only can play like once a week and thats a max (more often its like twice a month) and I miss it, and I can feel myself plateauing…which given where I’m at is definitely not a good thing haha

Shit happens when you win championships

by KU Grad 08 on Jul 20, 2010 6:57 PM CDT up reply actions  

there are perks having a brother who's a pro golfer...

The Kansas City Royals; Successfully failing since 1986

by labbadabba on Jul 20, 2010 11:47 PM CDT up reply actions  

Ironically enough

My brother in-law is a PGA card-carrying golf-pro at Shadow Glen in Olathe.

My father in-law is also a semi-pro on some seniors tour.

Sounds good right?

Too bad I hate golf.

build a damn football program, beat some ass, and get on tv more.

by Rivethead on Jul 21, 2010 8:33 AM CDT up reply actions  

We get an extra day to prepare for the Aggies

and after (likely) two straight losses I think we’ll be raring to go and this game will be an ass-kicking (only we’re the one giving it this time).

build a damn football program, beat some ass, and get on tv more.

by Rivethead on Jul 20, 2010 10:11 AM CDT reply actions  

28-6 KU

Shit happens when you win championships

by KU Grad 08 on Jul 20, 2010 12:19 PM CDT reply actions  

If we lose this game, there's no point in following the team the rest of the season.

It’s that simple. I won’t give up on Coach Gill or anything, but this season will be a wash.

"Got a bill that's big enough to twist the Tiger's tail. Husked some corn and made those SORRY HUSKERS BAIL!"

by KennyGregoryRockThaCradle on Jul 20, 2010 9:17 PM CDT reply actions  

Its how the team looks on the field as to how I will grade Coach Gill

We could be 2-2 and I could love the Coach or have lost confidence in him. Good and bad breaks happen, but I want a team that plays hard the whole game without tons of mental errors.

by ocjhawk on Jul 20, 2010 10:27 PM CDT up reply actions  

That's what I want too

All I ever asked from Coach Mangino is that his teams played hard for the entire game. With the exception of a handful of games (especially at Texas 2006) I got that.

build a damn football program, beat some ass, and get on tv more.

by Rivethead on Jul 21, 2010 8:35 AM CDT up reply actions  

I feel like next year

We will lose a couple games we really shouldn’t and steal a couple we shouldn’t. I hope though this isn’t a lose one we shouldn’t

Shit happens when you win championships

by KU Grad 08 on Jul 21, 2010 6:57 AM CDT reply actions  


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