Bullet points: thoughts on the New Mexico win

In between fist pumps on Friday night I made notes about the “biggest little win” of the year for the Broncos—and now I’m sharing them with you before they spill out of my brain (they were mental notes).

• Mentioned this last go ‘round, but our linebacker depth continues to be borderline ludicrous. Neither Joe Martarano OR Leighton Vander Esch even made the trip to Albuquerque, true frosh Tyson Maeva got the start and the Broncos still held the Lobos to 7 first half points. Maeva and Vallejo even exited the field with injuries during the course of the game and the defensive beat still went on. 204 of the Lobo rushing yards came after the starters had largely exited the game.
• The #MoaConstrictor has been getting a lot of the headlines, but Sam McCaskill has been having an outstanding season in his own right. He has 5 sacks and 5 pass break-ups in these first 5 games and led the Broncos on Friday night with 2.5 tackles-for-loss.
• Speaking of defensive ends not named David Moa...Jabril Frazier has been having himself a pretty darn good year as well. He’s dropped the QB 4 times in 5 contests—with 16 tackles to his name, that’s one in four tackles that results in a sack. That’s good.
• Brett Rypien picked a heckuva game to break out of his slump. New Mexico is the type of team that isn’t built for comebacks...considering 80% of their offense is predicated on running the ball, therefore it was mighty handy that Rypien led the Broncos on 7 straight scoring drives after a 3 and out on the first drive of the game (and after UNM answered that initial score with a broken-play TD scamper of their own).
• Thomas Sperbeck is just 106 yards from the all-time receiving yardage mark (currently held by Titus Young). Last season, he had 178 receiving yards against Colorado State. It’s a new year and all, but might want to get that crown shined up.
• The O-line sure is keeping Brett Rypien’s jersey clean. The sophomore has been sacked just 4 times in 5 contests and against UNM he showed how dangerous he can be if given an extra second to see the field. Cedrick Wilson and Thomas Sperbeck ran with impunity in the Lobo secondary.
• Speaking of Cedrick Wilson...that stutter-step he kept pulling on Lobo defenders after the catch was a thing of beauty. I think he broke no less than 3 defenders’ ankles.
• I’m not one to look a gift-McNichols in the mouth...but I don’t know if anyone would be terribly upset if Devan Demas or Alexander Mattison started getting a few more touches. Not that The Weapon hasn’t shown he can shoulder the load, but I want him available when the REALLY weighty games come up on the schedule and he’s taking a beating between the tackles week in and week out. Like Ajayi, he is tough enough to take 30+ carries in a game, but we have some quality RB depth I don’t feel like we’re using very much and I can be the superstitious type.

Your turn

Any bullets you’ve got in your chamber? How about them #15 ranked Broncos?