NEW ORLEANS — Doug Martin didn't shy away from what could prevent New Mexico State from having its best season since rejoining the Sun Belt.
"Our issues are going to be on the defensive side," said Martin, who is 7-29 entering his fourth season with the Aggies.
It's not like Martin was revealing any big secret, though. The Aggies return just five starters from last year's defense, but that might not necessarily be a bad thing, considering they gave up 42.4 points per Sun Belt game last year, the worst mark in the league. They were also last in pass defense in league games (282.3 yards per game) and ninth against the run (218.8).
To help shore that up, Martin brought in an old friend — defensive coordinator Frank Spaziani. Martin was Spaziani's offensive coordinator at Boston College in 2012. Spaziani was fired after that season, and Martin was hired as head coach at New Mexico State in 2013. After three consecutive seasons of giving up 39 points per game or more, Martin brought in Spaziani this year.
"He's been huge," Martin said. "To get a guy with his pedigree and experience to come to New Mexico State, that was probably the best recruit we landed last year."
Because Martin thinks everything is lined up on offense, starting with running back Larry Rose III, last year's Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Year who gained 1,615 yards rushing.
The Aggies lost three starters on the offensive line, but quarterback Tyler Rogers returns after missing the final eight games of last year with a thumb injury. The Aggies also get two of their top four receivers in Tyrian Taylor and Gregory Hogan, who combined for 63 catches for 1,061 yards and 9 touchdowns, and Martin boasted this week about a junior college haul of wide receivers that make up what he thinks is "the best group of wide receivers I've had in 20 years."
The junior college receivers were a symbolic addition, too. Martin said when he was hired in 2013, Academic Progress Rate scores prevented him from recruiting a lot of junior college players. But the Aggies signed seven junior college players in last year's class, including three receivers and two defensive linemen.
"Being able to fix those problems and open up more recruiting avenues for us is helping us move the program forward," Martin said.
But for the Aggies, it starts with Rose, who rushed for 1,115 of his yards and averaged 6.3 yards per carry in conference games. He said this week that he wants more this year.
"Anything less than 1,600 is unacceptable," he said.
FOOTBALL PREVIEWS
Arkansas State reporter Troy Schulte previewed each team in the Sun Belt conference. Read each one below:
New Mexico State at a glance
2015 RECORD 3-9 overall, 3-5 Sun Belt
ALL-TIME SUN BELT RECORD 19-23, in six seasons
COACH Doug Martin (36-82 in 11th season overall, 7-29 in fourth season at New Mexico State)
RETURNING STARTERS 11 (six on offense, five on defense)
KEY PLAYERS RB Larry Rose III, WR Tyrian Taylor, OL Anthony McMeans, LB Derek Ibekwe
KEY LOSSES WR Teldrick Morgan, WR Jordan Bergstrom, OL Isaiah Folasa
TITLE SCENARIO New Mexico State took a jump last year with three conference victories, two more than it had in 2014 when it rejoined the league as a football-only member. The Aggies beat Idaho in overtime, Texas State and won at Louisiana-Lafayette before losing to Arkansas State and at Louisiana-Monroe to end the season. The Aggies are one of only two teams to play Appalachian State, ASU, Georgia Southern and Louisiana-Lafayette this year, which means their league slate will be tough sledding. But they get Louisiana-Lafayette, Georgia Southern and Appalachian State at home. They'll still be likely underdogs in each of those games, but not having to make the long trips east could make for the chance at an upset. The conference opener Sept. 24 at Troy, after a nonconference schedule that includes games at Texas-El Paso at home against New Mexico and at Kentucky, could be a gauge for both teams.