EL PASO, Texas (KFOX 14, CBS 4) — The UTEP Miners have struggled to close out games during the first two seasons under head coach Scotty Walden. Late turnovers and costly mistakes have led to a number of losses.
As the Miners enter year three of the Walden era, ball security is at the forefront of every aspect of the program.
“Taking care of the football is the number one objective this spring and going forward in everything we do,” Walden said. “We are 1-6 in the last two years in close ball games. There has been a lot of fourth quarter turnovers that are the difference between us going to a bowl game and us not.”
The Miners are incorporating ball security drills into every practice, reinforcing the importance of protecting possession. Players understand that turnovers will result in them sitting on the bench this fall.
“Ball security is job security,” UTEP running back Elijah McCoy said. “That being held over our heads is a good thing. We know we need to protect that ball. The ball is the program and we need to die for that ball.”
It starts at the quarterback position, and Coach Walden says he’s encouraged by the growth in decision-making from EJ Colson and the rest of the Miner QB room.
“I think we are coaching decision making better,” Walden said. “Does that decision have ROI on it, return on investment? Or are you forcing something? I am seeing clean decisions being made. When it is time to run they are running and they are finding the backs more.”
UTEP has nine practices remaining in its spring window before shifting focus to summer workouts.