Doug Martin says NMSU “played timid” in loss to Wyoming

NMSU head football coach Doug Martin did not hold back in his weekly news conference Tuesday.

Martin said he wants a major shift in mentality before the team’s next game Thursday at Minnesota, following Saturday’s 29-7 home loss against Wyoming.

“You know, we really played timid, played too conservative, and just didn’t play like ourselves and have the identity that we want as a football team,” he said. “So, that’s been the challenge to our guys, to play a lot more physical and just get after it a lot more than what we did the other night.”

He was particularly critical of the offensive line, which allowed three sacks and wasn’t able to open gaps for the run game. The Aggies ended the game with a negative rushing total (-9 yards).

“We did not protect at all. You know, our offensive line was horrendous in that entire game,” said Martin. “They played like they were scared.”

Martin indicated that he believed his team may have lost a bit of its edge after winning the Arizona Bowl last season.

“You can keep telling these guys, and you talk to them over and over, but it’s not 2017 anymore. And as much as we’ve tried to tell them that, you know, I think they still went out there and thought it was 2017,” he said.