After a much-needed bye week, the UTEP Miners were looking to do two things: get healthy and hit the reset button. Head Coach Sean Kugler said that they were able to get several key players healthy, including, but not limited to quarterback Ryan Metz and running back Aaron Jones, and also says he’s ready for the Miners to get back to work.
“We really do understand that were 1-5, we’re not 5-1 and we’re not 4-2,” Kugler said, “We’re behind the eight ball, our backs are against the wall and we have to choose to fight back. But to start to do that, you have to solve problems.”
One of those problems that Kugler acknowledges was the lack of energy from his team. He cites his own decision of reducing the number of live hits and “competition drills” during practice because of injury concerns. As the Miners return to action this week, Kugler said that those drills would become a regular part of practice once again.
“I believe energy comes from within and how you prepare during the week,” Kugler said, If you do it during the week, it carries into the game. I can fault myself for that, I got away from that and we’re going back to it.”
Another major change that Kugler discussed during his Monday press conference were personnel changes. There were several of them brought up, including naming Metz as the starter moving forward, moving former Chapin receiver Brandon Moss from cornerback to wide receiver full time, and saying that fans would “see a lot more” of freshman wide receiver and former El Paso Andress standout Eddie Sinegal.
Kugler also named freshman and former Eastwood Trooper Greg Long as a starting left tackle. No matter what side of the ball the Miners change up, Kugler is going with a new theme in his depth chart.
“You see some fresher faces out there and again, having a healthier team and integrating some of these guys, I think from a personnel standpoint, that’s where we are heading.”
This Saturday, the Miners hit the road to take on the UTSA Roadrunners, who have won back-to-back games to get to .500 after starting the year 1-3. They’ll provide a tough matchup for a Miners’ offense that has struggled to generate offense, averaging just under 16 points a game this year.
“What we cannot do, is go on the road and get behind the eight ball early. We need to come out fast and that needs to be the focus for us in this game.”
It’s been a tough run for the Miners so far this season, but Kugler says his team is ready to turn the page. He still has the belief that his team will come out with an edge the rest of the year.
“There’s no white towels being thrown in here,” Kugler said, “These kids want to compete and they want to win. They do not think that this season’s over. I don’t think that our season is over and I think these kids are going to come out and fight and try to rebound.”
