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Spring drills
What: UNM will conduct six practices per week until the annual intrasquad scrimmage; open to the public.
First practice: 3-5 p.m. Monday.
Site: UNM practice fields.
Cherry-Silver game: 6 p.m. May 2, University Stadium (admission free).
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The huddle belongs to Donovan Porterie. He can only lose it.
The same thing was said about Kole McKamey a year ago.
If there is a message here for Porterie, it's this: You never know what's going to happen.
We do know that when the University of New Mexico's spring practice begins Monday, Porterie doesn't have to win the job as Rocky Long's starting quarterback.
He won it a season ago when Chris Nelson flopped after McKamey got injured.
Long says a McKamey-less offense hurt his 2006 Lobos. But it's a situation Long says should benefit the 2007 Lobos, because Porterie received game time last season that he probably would not have seen had McKamey stayed healthy.
"There is some comfort going in (to spring drills) knowing you are the No. 1 guy," said Porterie. "But that doesn't mean I'm not going to push myself. There are always guys after your job."
The front-runner chasing Porterie is Bryan Clampitt, a 6-foot-4 senior, better known as the holder for UNM kickers on field-goal attempts.
He has about as much chance of replacing Porterie as Porterie had of replacing McKamey in 2006.
Which brings us to an obvious weakness on this UNM team - no proven depth at quarterback.
Another UNM weakness could eventually lead to Clampitt's taking over the huddle.
The UNM offensive line's forte in 2006 wasn't protecting the quarterback, and the O-line lost some talented beef in Robert Turner and Bo Greer.
Long said he isn't exactly sure how much his 2007 Lobos will run and how much they will pass. Porterie said he expects to throw more, simply because he should be a better and more experienced passer in 2007.
Which means the O-line needs to improve in the pass-blocking department.
UNM also lost a quality tight end in John Mulchrone, who caught 20 passes in 2006, but UNM's losing a tight end is never a big deal.
Long said the biggest loss from 2006 is kicker Kenny Byrd, who not only led UNM in scoring with 88 points, but usually boomed kickoffs out of the end zone.
There is no heir apparent for Byrd.
After that, the Lobos look pretty solid. They have Rodney Ferguson, Paul Baker and Matt Quillen returning in the backfield.
There are 10 starters and 23 lettermen back on defense. Seniors Travis Brown and Marcus Smith combined for 117 receptions and 1,726 yards in 2006.
Long said he expects his 2007 squad to be one of the better teams in his 10 seasons as a Lobo. Yes, Long has been at UNM a decade.
"In pure talent - run fast, jump high, size, strength, all that stuff - I think we are in the lower half (of the Mountain West)," said Long. "But our edge around here has been being physical and tough."
