sa国际传媒官网网页入口

New Mexico wrapped up its first week of spring practice under second-year head coach Jason Eck on Friday, closing its fifth session with a scrimmage period.

Here are three things we learned:

The defense is (unsurprisingly) ahead of the offense

For high school, college and professional teams, it鈥檚 a fact of life when practice starts back up: The defense is usually ahead of the offense. A lot of that has to do with the general nature of playing defense 鈥� you don鈥檛 need to get your timing down in the same way you might if you were playing offense.

In UNM鈥檚 case, much of that quality has to do with the fact that it's returning five true starters on defense 鈥� linebackers Jaxton Eck and Mercury Swaim, safeties Tavian Combs and Austin Brawley and defensive lineman Brian Booker 鈥� while bringing back plenty of guys (safeties C.J. McBean and Drew Speech and cornerbacks Frankie Edwards III and Jahmir Torres) who got meaningful reps last year.

So, if it wasn鈥檛 all too surprising, Friday鈥檚 scrimmage period served as a relatively clear confirmation of that: The defense is, in fact, ahead of the offense.

UNM鈥檚 third-string offense managed the lone offensive touchdown of the day, one countered by McBean鈥檚 pick six on quarterback Toa Fa鈥檃vae. And while the Lobos ran the ball relatively well at all levels, the first- and second-string offenses struggled to move the ball a good bit.

Is that a bad thing, at least right now? I鈥檓 inclined to say no.

For starters, the offense is dealing with some injuries (more on that later), but I like what I鈥檝e seen from the defense at all levels at this point. Replacing the production of Keyshawn James-Newby and Brett Karhu might be impossible, but I鈥檝e been pleasantly surprised with what I鈥檝e seen from transfer defensive ends Albert Tuakalau and Jalen Charles so far.

As a matter of fact, I think the defensive line has collectively stolen the show a few times this spring. Connect that with a linebackers room that鈥檚 working in some new players like Clay Martineau and C.J. Johnson and a secondary that has good options at different positions, and it鈥檚 not a big surprise that the defense has managed this kind of start.

Is it the strength of the team right now, in the way that it was last season? Eck didn鈥檛 quite go that far, but he likes what he鈥檚 seen.

鈥淚 expect us to be really good on defense,鈥� he said Friday. 鈥淲e gotta keep improving on offense.鈥�

Injuries are stacking up

Perhaps the most noteworthy development from the first week of practice: Eastern Washington transfer receiver Miles Williams will miss the rest of spring with a knee injury. That means UNM will miss Williams and UNLV transfer Troy Omeire 鈥� largely expected to be the Lobos鈥� WR1 this fall 鈥� for its final 10 practices; Omeire is expected to be cleared over the summer.

On top of that? Returning receivers Shawn Miller, Zhaiel Smith and Kader Diop are all dealing with minor injuries, so UNM effectively missed its top five receivers for Friday鈥檚 scrimmage period. That鈥檚 after a season where injuries helped dictate the Lobos only playing three receivers (Miller, Smith and Keagan Johnson) with any regularity.

And on top of that? Defensive end Darren Agu missed Friday鈥檚 practice with an injury, one of 16 players who weren鈥檛 able to go in any capacity. If it isn't an ideal arrangement, it鈥檚 probably not as dire as it sounds. UNM is dealing with significantly more soft tissue injuries than those of the season-ending variety.

But there鈥檚 no way around it: UNM is a little banged up at the moment, and really banged up at one position where they鈥檝e already dealt with too many injuries in the past year. Again, it鈥檚 not quite at the point where it鈥檚 a major problem, but the Lobos could use a couple positive developments when it comes to these injuries over the next few weeks. 

Quarterback separation is minimal at this point

There were some good (and maybe not so good) days for quarterbacks Luke Moga and Toa Fa鈥檃vae this week. Sometimes they matched good days, sometimes they didn鈥檛.

The big question: Have either separated themselves? Eck didn鈥檛 think so, largely on the principle that spring practice isn鈥檛 set up to be a separator in any competition battle.

鈥淚 still think it's an evaluation (between) the two,鈥� he added.

I鈥檒l agree with that sentiment. There鈥檚 been enough good stuff from both through five practices, but more consistency will go a long way over the final 10.

Sean Reider covers college football and other sports for the Journal. You can reach him at sreider@abqjournal.com or via X at .