University of New Mexico football team

The University of New Mexico football team needs to take steps forward on defense this season. New Mexico is not going to morph into a steel curtain overnight. Changing momentum is going to have to come from creating turnovers and stealing a few drives per game. That's something head coach Bob Davie mentioned prior to fall camp.

"It's can you get off the field on third downs somehow?" Davie said. "Can you hold them to a field goal but most importantly can you cause a turnover?"

Opponents converted 72-of-146 third downs on the Lobos last season. Combined with the lack of turnovers and it didn't matter what the offense was doing it was too much for UNM to overcome. UNLV (56-42 loss at home), San Diego State (35-30 loss on the road) and Air Force (45-37 win at home) are games from last season that one or two plays made could have changed the game. Against Air Force it did.

"Air Force twice we get off the field on third down, one time the first series of the game and the one that won the game for us they had a penalty on first and 10 which made it first and 25 and we got off the field that series and we won that game," Davie said.

New defensive coordinator Kevin Cosgrove can implement as many schemes as he wants. When the ball kicks-off it comes down to players making plays. The front seven is the foundation of the defense that has to set the tone and generate pressure."