Friday, October 27, 2006
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UTEP-Tulsa
El Paso Times
The Houston game was the latest example of UTEP’s run-blocking woes. For most of the second half, the offense was backed up near its own end zone, handcuffed and desperate just to get out in the open field again. Miner junior running back Marcus Thomas, who is averaging a disappointing 54.9 yards a game, couldn’t do much behind an offensive line that quickly began to crack. One of the things UTEP may try is inserting freshman James Thomas II at quarterback. Thomas was previously a redshirt, but after the injury to quarterback/receiver Lorne Sam Oct. 14, Mike Price figured Thomas may be able to step in and run the same draws and fake draws that worked so well for Sam (he averaged 5.7 yards a carry).
The Golden Hurricane defense ranks first in Conference USA in three of the four major statistical categories, including total defense (it is holding the opposition to an average of 259 total yards per game), pass defense (121.3 yards a game) and scoring defense (16 points per game). On the other side, Tulsa ranks second in the league with a 405.1 average in total offense per game. It also ranks second in scoring offense, with a 29.6 average. It doesn’t hurt that the team is made up mostly of veterans. Tulsa has 43 letterwinners this season, including 17 returners on offense and 24 on defense. Offensively, there’s junior quarterback Paul Smith, who reaps the benefits of an offensive line that returned four of five starters from the championship squad of a year ago. And don’t forget senior running back Brandon Diles. Defensively, the Golden Hurricane flaunts linebackers Nick Bunting (senior) and Nelson Coleman and Chris Chamberlain, both juniors.
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