Mendenhall believes UNM-TCU provides similar preparation

The Cougars may catch a break the next two weeks in playing New Mexico and then TCU in a short week, according to Bronco Mendenhall.

Ordinarily, he doesn’t like to consider any other game but the one that is before him, but because the Lobos and Frogs have similar philosophies on offense and defense, Mendenhall says his preparation for both games will be drawn together and he expects it to be productive for both games.

“I don’t think it’s out of philosophy to consider these two teams, although they are two different teams, you are facing a similar approach in offenses that like to run the football and defenses that apply good pressure with team speed.”

In UNM and TCU, Max Hall will face blitzes designed to confuse and hurry him. He’ll face some coverages that are sometimes displayed as zone but can became man really fast after the snap. He’ll face secondaries that like to pressure and bump receivers and he’ll have to look at linebackers, safeties and corners who gamble and come after him.

Mendenhall said he believes it will be a plus for his players and coaches. “It should be and advantage, especially on a short week that comes after this, to gain some preparation.”

Mendenhall told reporters on Monday he isn’t all that worried about penalties, especially the 12 piled up at USU because a chunk of them came in a crazy final five minutes when things got a little nutty.

Mendenhall doesn’t like the loss of composure type penalties but he prefers that his players error on the side of aggression rather than being passive pansies.

OK, that wasn’t exactly the words he used, but the meaning is the same.

“I’d rather be pulling our players back than having them be too cautious.”

There, that’s how he explained it.

Mendenhall said there is no correlation between the number of penalties per game and wins. “What I did see is we need to handle adversity, chaos and the mayhem that happens when things don’t go just right and play with execution within the whistles rather than lack of clean play outside of the whistles. That is what I’d be unhappy with.”

Mendenhall said Michael Reed is full go and he could have played Saturday, in a pinch, if he was an end of the season must game at Utah State.