Monday, March 6, 2017

Farewell to 2016: New Mexico State Aggies

New Mexico State Aggies
3-9 (2-6)

2016 Schedule
Lost to UTEP 38-22
Beat New Mexico 32-31
Lost to Kentucky 62-42
Lost to Troy 52-6
Beat UL Lafayette 37-31
Lost to Idaho 55-23
Lost to Georgia Southern 22-19
Lost to Texas A&M 52-10
Lost to Arkansas State 41-22
Beat Texas State 50-10
Lost to Appalachian State 37-7
Lost to South Alabama 35-28

MVP Offense: RB Larry Rose III
Rose was not healthy in 2016, and yet he still managed to rush for 96.11 yards per game for the ever hapless Aggies. He finished with 865 yards and four scores as a junior. Had he been healthy, I would imagine that he would have left as an early entry into the draft, but he will return for his final season in 2017.
MVP Defense: LB Rodney Butler, LB Terrill Hanks
Butler was a clear national leader in tackles, as he finished with a whopping 165 total tackles in 2016. He finished with eight TFLs, and forced three fumbles. He finished in double figures in tackles in every game but one, and finshed with 24 in a win over New Mexico.
Others of Note
Tyler Rogers finished his career at QB by passing for 2603 yards and 16 TDs to 12 INTs. He completed just 55.4% of his passes, and averaged 36.7 attempts per game.
NMSU allowed 31 rushing TDs, while rushing for only 13.
Nobody collected more than 391 yards receiving as an individual
The Aggies were forced to make 88.75 tackles per game, while forcing just 73.33.
The offense allowed 94 TFLs on the season.
Rogers was sacked 36 times in 2016.
The Aggies defense collected just 11 sacks all season.
Rogers had 55 of his passes broken up, and was hurried 33 times.
NMSU was penalized over eight times peer game in games they actually won. They were penalized less in losses.
The Aggies converted on just 33.68% of 3rd downs.
Parker Davidson was reasonably solid as a sophomore at PK, hitting 15/19 FGs.
The Aggies averaged just 17.54 yards per kickoff return, and 3.17 yards per punt return.
Best Win: New Mexico
A win against the hated Lobos is always something to cheer about, and could make a season for a team that has lost so regularly for so long. LB Butler had his biggest game of the season here, and helped temper the disappointment from the loss to their other hated rival, UTEP, the week before.
Worst Loss: UTEP
If there was a rival that the Aggies should have handled in 2016, it was UTEP, who was basically awful. Instead, the Aggies lost by over two touchdowns to the Miners in the season opener.
2017 Non Conference Schedule: 8/31 at Arizona State, 9/9 at New Mexico, 9/23 UTEP, 9/30 at Arkansas
The Aggies have been bounced from the Sun Belt starting in 2017, and will play as an independent, rather than drop to FCS football like Idaho did when they were kicked out as well. They will most definitely be dogs against Arizona State, New Mexico, and Arkansas. I could give the Aggies a real shot against UTEP, however, if everything bounces right. That being said, a see 1-3 in non con play as a best case situation, with 0-4 being a stark reality here.

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