Three takeaways from UNM's first eight practices of fall camp

One unit is ahead of the other. A key position battle is still underway. And yes, there have been a couple injuries.

Sounds about right — it is fall camp, after all.

New Mexico wrapped up its eighth practice on Thursday, bookending the first major portion of camp with its first live contact scrimmage.

Three takeaways from the early portion of camp:

1. The defense is ahead of the offense — for now

Will the Lobos have something to pack this fall? It’s still plenty early, but there’s signs they just might.

“(Former Wisconsin head coach Barry Alvarez) used to say that when I was a player: you always got to pack your defense and kicking game on the road, because they can be difference-makers for you on the road,” Eck said Thursday. “It’s not as tough to play defense on the road.”

If it felt like things were trending in this direction, Thursday’s scrimmage confirmed it: the defense is ahead of the offense. To be fair, that can be partially pinned on some offensive injuries, the nature of early padded practices and how UNM is managing some of its personnel.

It can also be pinned on just how well this defense is playing. Thursday, UNM’s first-, second- and third-team offenses combined for just one touchdown and four interceptions. That was with new faces like defensive end Keyshawn James-Newby causing havoc off the edge, and veterans like safety Tavian Combs creeping up to make plays in the box.

It all meshed rather quickly, and it still doesn’t feel like a true greater-than-the-sum-of-its-parts operation, but there are a couple guys who could be remembered as genuine, productive stars.

It also feels like UNM is finding ways to get the most out of the personnel. Again, it’s still plenty early, and it’s always a little tricky to gauge how well an offense or defense might be playing at the start of camp. But it’s been a nice start for the defense. Thursday simply put them ahead until further notice.

“It’s an amazing sight to see — just to see how aggressive we are and how urgent we are,” James-Newby said Thursday. “It’s that defensive coordinator (Spence Nowinsky). Those calls he gives out are pristine. He’s throwing fastballs, let’s just say that.”

2. Separation limited in quarterback competition

Eck made it clear at the start of camp: UNM’s quarterback competition was never going to run into the season. Whether the job goes to Idaho transfer Jack Layne or James Laubstein, they’ll know well in advance of the season-opener at Michigan. In fact, the Lobos will probably have a starter named around the time school starts on Aug. 18.

“Because I think that’s a mistake, in my opinion, that coaches can make,” Eck said. “If you let the position battle run all the way to the first game or something, you don’t get enough time in with your other first-string guys. You’re not getting enough valuable reps.”

And credit to UNM for running what has seemed to be a truly fair competition from a reps perspective.

Both Layne and Laubstein have received a relatively even split with the ones and twos, with each one flashing throughout. That Cole Welliver, Gabriel Motschenbacher and Toa Faavae haven’t played their way into the competition has helped with that arrangement, too.

But without the full complement of statistics to back their cases, neither Layne or Laubstein have really separated themselves from each other to this point. Watching the two in practice, it still feels like Layne has an edge because of his experience in the offense. There were drives where he looked supremely comfortable and operating at a considerably high level.

If Laubstein doesn’t quite have that visible comfort, he’s stepped up and made plays throughout the first week of camp, uncorking a throw every now and then that reminds you why it’s a competition in the first place.

“It hasn’t been (the case that) one guy is completing 48% of his passes,” Eck said. “Both guys have been pretty consistent.”

The clock is ticking, though. Friday’s scrimmage, the second of fall camp, looms large with this upcoming decision.

3. Year one depth already being tested

No group is getting tested quite like the receivers. UNM is working through injuries to wide receivers Keagan Johnson, Kader Diop and Isaiah Blair, leaving a lot of younger players to pick up reps on days like Thursday.

In the context of the scrimmage, Eck said that impacted the second team offense more than the first string. But it’s clear the Lobos need those guys (and a handful of others) to get healthy as soon as possible, if only because there’s rarely enough depth across the board in a year one setting like the one UNM is in right now.