Thoughts on the NMSU loss last weekend

USU dropped what I would definitely call a marquee, program-defining loss Saturday night.

After watching the game and almost ripping my hair out, I have come down to a couple of key items that anyone who watched that game can identify, I'm certain.

First of all, USU committed too many penalties at all the wrong times. Two 40+ yard runs were negated by holding calls. Game changing plays - excellent runs by Turbin and Borel in the second half - were called back because some idiot on the offensive line pulled a man to the ground. The offensive line continues to be a black hole that sucks big plays away. This team, any team, can go nowhere forward when they go backwards like USU did Saturday. Bottom line, winning teams are disciplined enough to not commit 12 penalties for 130 yards.

Secondly, what on earth is wrong with USU special teams and why don't they ever improve? The punting game was absolutely wretched! On the second punt return of that game, USU coughed up the ball and then NMSU drove for the score. On the game-winning drive, USU gave up roughly (I don't have the stats) a 60-yard return to put NMSU in field goal range. Bottom line, winning teams make stops on special teams because they know that special teams are just as crucial as the offense and defense.

Thirdly, this team needs to change it's attitude. It's clear to me now that the loss the team suffered at Utah, A&M and BYU has got them on the same mental track they've been on for the last 15 years - losing is OK. This team will say up and down that they believe they can win, but after losing against NMSU, I'm not sure I believe they can win anymore. It's almost like they feel out the opponent, figure out just what they need to do in order to win, and then purposefully underachieve.

Anyway, having seen the Aggie team through 6 weeks of the season, I'm revising my picks for the remainder of the year. Here they are:

USU-Nevada: Loss
USU-LaTech: Win
USU-Fresno: Loss
USU-Hawai'i: Win
USU-SJSU: Win
USU-BSU: Loss
USU-Idaho: Loss

Idaho is for real, Hawai'i stinks, and unless USU can learn to stuff the run and get pressure on a QB, there's no way they'll beat Nevada. USU may have wanted a bowl berth, but there's no way it'll get it.

Here's the USU athletic department's recap.