New Mexico Football: Toa Fa’avae is in the driver’s seat, but can he steer the passing game?
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“It starts with me ... I feel like we had a good offensive game (against) New Mexico State, (but) we need to keep building every week (and) getting better.”
Sometimes more is less; sometimes less is more. For the University of New Mexico football team, finding the right balance will be the key to getting its passing game on track.
Toa Fa’avae is officially in the driver’s seat as starting quarterback after playing all but five snaps during the Lobos’ 42-18 throttling of New Mexico State. The multi-quarterback system between Luke Moga and Fa’avae lasted for three games before head coach Jason Eck decided it was time to roll with one.
Fa’avae took most of his reps with the first-team offense last week and told reporters on Wednesday that he didn’t know he’d be the full-time starter heading into Saturday’s game against the Aggies.
UNM’s staff, however, confirmed Thursday that they informed Fa’avae he would start full-time against New Mexico State after their road loss to Oklahoma. Fa’avae was seemingly unaware he could disclose that information to the media.
“What we were doing wasn’t working,” Eck said regarding the multi-quarterback system. “I’ve seen it work, but the quarterbacks weren’t getting better, I thought at the pace we needed to get better. I’m a big believer in that quote… ‘insanity is doing the same thing and expecting different results.’”
Eck said the offensive coaching staff reduced the number of plays in the game plan for NMSU by 25%. After watching the tape against Oklahoma, Eck and coordinator Luke Schleusner reduced the offense’s volume to focus on fewer plays and improve the execution of them.
“If you can’t do three things well, focus on two things.”
Eck’s answer was to do less to gain more.
The biggest question on offense remains improving the passing game on a down-to-down basis. Part of the decision to name Fa’avae as the starter was to find more consistency in that area.
So where do the Lobos need to improve to find more consistency in the passing game?
“All aspects,” Eck said after taking a deep breath. “Protection, route running … getting the ball out on time.”
Fa’avae connected multiple times with his pass-catchers for big gains against NMSU. The issue isn’t finding explosives; it’s how the passing game looks and feels throughout the game. As Eck said, there’s more than one variable affecting execution.
QB Toa Fa’avae misses WR DJ Darling. It’s unclear if Darling didn’t run the route at the right depth or if Fa’avae didn’t put enough air under it. Eck did say they had multiple plays where players ran the wrong route.
“It starts with me,” Fa’avae said when asked about improving the passing game. “I feel like we had a good offensive game (against) New Mexico State, (but) we need to keep building every week (and) getting better.”
QB Toa Fa’avae hits WR Bailen George down the middle of the field for 37 yards on 3rd & 9. New Mexico would go on to score its first opening-drive touchdown of the season.
Fa’avae’s willingness to push the ball downfield has never been in question. The question has been whether he can connect on those throws consistently. His 40-yard throw to tight end Cade Keith against Oklahoma was a glimpse of that ability, and it carried over into Saturday’s win over the Aggies.
The off-script chunk plays were encouraging. Fa’avae showed an ability to create outside the structure of the offense, something the Lobos will need as conference play begins.
QB Toa Fa’avae throws on the run to WR Zhaiel Smith for a 38-yard gain in the third quarter. New Mexico would score its third touchdown six plays later.
With more live reps in practice, Fa’avae will have an opportunity to find his rhythm, not only pushing the ball downfield, but also taking the easier completions underneath to keep the offense ahead of schedule and out of second- and third-and-long situations
The arm talent has never been an issue, nor has his ability to fit throws into tight windows.
QB Toa Fa’avae fits a throw into a tight window to WR Troy Omeire for a first-down.
But Fa’avae’s willingness to push the ball downfield comes with a tradeoff: more aggressive throws create more opportunities for mistakes. New Mexico has yet to turn the ball over this season, but the Lobos have had several close calls through the first four games.
QB Toa Fa’avae’s pass to TE Cade Keith is nearly intercepted in the second quarter.
Fa’avae has the keys now. The arm talent is there. The explosive plays are there. What the Lobos need to see is whether the consistency can last for four quarters starting Saturday against UTEP.
After ditching their multi-quarterback experiment and throttling rival New Mexico State, the Lobos have officially handed the keys of the offense to Toa Fa’avae. By streamlining the game plan and focusing on execution over volume, head coach Jason Eck saw immediate results, including a flurry of explosive downfield throws. But big plays aren't the whole story. As UNM kicks off conference play against UTEP, the ultimate test for Fa’avae won't just be his arm talent; it will be whether he can master the simple completions, protect the football, and deliver four quarters of steady, down-to-down consistency.