Georgia Southern offense is more balanced, but Aggies return focus to run defense

LAS CRUCES – Idaho quarterback Matt Linehan could be the best passing quarterback New Mexico State plays this season.

The Aggies certainly made him look like it in last week's 55-23 loss at Idaho, where Linehan completed 29 for 36 (81 percent) for 476 yards and four touchdowns. Needless to say, the Aggies are eager to get back on the field on Saturday against Georgia Southern at Aggie Memorial Stadium.

"Coming into this week of practice, we know that we underacheived," Aggies senior linebacker Rodney Butler said. "What we showed last Saturday is not what we want to be and not what we think of ourselves. We are hungry for Saturday."

At this stage of the season, the Aggies are not going to drastically improve upon the three sacks this season, of which only 0.5 have been credited by the front seven.

"We had a lot of one-on-one situations and we didn't win those battles," Aggies defensive coordinator Frank Spaziani said. "You try to help them out with stunts and alignments but it still comes down to beating one-on-one blocks and making a play.

"We are fundamentally not as good in the coverages and then it gets exacerbated when you can't make the quarterback move his feet and make him uncomfortable."

Linehan was never pressured against the Aggies, but fortunately, Georgia Southern is a run-based offense.

"We didn't get any pressure and a lot of that falls on the defensive line," Aggies junior defensive end Stody Bradley said. "At this stage of the season, it's just film work and knowing their protections. Idaho ran a lot of jet protections and were sliding the front. They zoned off a lot of blitzes and they did a good job knowing where we were coming from and we didn't win one-on-one situations."

Georgia Southern is the best rushing team in the Sun Belt this seson, although there has been an obvious effort to balance the offense under first year head coach Tyson Summers, whose team is 3-3 on the season and 2-1 in the Sun Belt Conference.

"That is the beauty of college football and every week there is something different," Spaziani said. "You are switching gears this week to be more assignment sound and executing as opposed to technique. Now someone has to be in the position to stop the dive, for the quarterback and the pitch. They (Georgia Southern) do a lot of change ups to change your assignment so you have to be disciplined.

"Idaho was certainly not a performance that you hang your hat on but you go back out there and play with confidence and enthusiasm and move on. It doesn't change the mindset and work ethic. Those are the things you have to improve every week."

Georgia Southern has attempted 114 passes this season. While it's still last in the Sun Belt, the Eagles had 137 attempts in all of last season.

"It's hand in hand, our defensive backs have to hold out as long as they can and the defensive line has to get there with pressure," Butler said.

While Georgia Southern has had varying levels of success throwing the football with 155.3 yards per game, up from 63 yards per game last year, the Eagles still lead the league in rushing offense with 267 yards per game.

"The quarterbacks are skilled, they have good receivers but their first mission is to run the ball," Spaziani said. "Their quarterbacks run the ball, they have a good blocking scheme, a good option scheme and good backs. We will have our hands full."

The Eagles are still led in rushing by senior running back Matt Breida, who has typically had big days against the Aggies. In two games against NMSU, Breida has rushed for 116.5 yards per game on 8.3 yards per carry and a touchdown, but he has yet to top 100 yards on the season.

Breida has rushed for a team best 337 with a touchdown on 4.1 yards per carry this season. Breida is averaging 13.8 carries per game after rushing for 1,608 yards and 17 scores last year on 15.6 carries per game.

"Breida is going to be Breida," Butler said. "Watching film, he has had big time explosion plays. They do rotate three backs so it could be them sharing the ball or teams keying on him, but we are going to respect him."

While rushing the football remains a Georgia Southern strength, quarterbacks Favian Upshaw and Kevin Ellison split time under center. Ellison is the better passing option, completing 36 of 57 passes for 457 yards and three touchdowns. Upshaw completes 52 percent of his passes for 475 yards and four scores. Both players have rushed for over 270 yards on the ground.

"They are going to stay true to who they are and try to run the ball but we are going to pass it and stay disciplined," Butler said. "They are going to utilize both quarterbacks. They are both fast so we have to recognize who is in the game."

While the Eagles have completed just 65 passes on the year, Butler and the Aggies are prepping to stop the run game first this week, something they have done better this year. NMSU is allowing 245.3 yards per game on the ground on 5.31 yards per carry, slightly better than the 242.3 yards per game and 5.58 yards per carry they allowed last year.

"Schematically that (run defense) is where our fits are better, I guess," Bradley said. "But we can't just be a run based team. We have to keep it balanced and make them one dimensional, knowing when they are coming and how they are coming."

Dalton Herrington returns to practice, Caldwell out

Aggies head coach Doug Martin said wide receiver Royce Caldwell will not play on Saturday as he recovers from a knee injury he suffered at Kentucky.

Martin expects junior linebacker Dalton Herrington to play on Saturday. Herrington (knee) did not play at Idaho last week.

Sports Editor Jason Groves can be reached at 575-541-5459. Follow him on Twitter @jpgroves. 

IF YOU GO

Georgia Southern (3-3, 2-1 Sun Belt) at New Mexico State (2-4, 1-2)

When: Saturday, 6 p.m.

Where: Aggie Memorial Stadium

Radio: 99.5 KXPZ-FM

TV: Comcast Ch. 77

Internet: WatchESPN.com