Bruins Nation - UCLA-Nevada: Wolfpack PreviewsBlog Of The Bruins, By The Bruins, For The Bruinshttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48017/bruinsnation_f.png2013-08-29T12:00:10-07:00http://www.bruinsnation.com/rss/stream/44430492013-08-29T12:00:10-07:002013-08-29T12:00:10-07:00Oppo Notes: Wolf Pack's Coaches & Special Teams
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<figcaption>Brian Polian has prepared himself well for a head coaching opportunity in the NCAA | Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Notes on Nevada’s coaching staff and special teams.</p> <p>Let's continue to build on IE Angel's excellent scouting report on Nevada (you can check out lot more notes on <a href="http://www.bruinsnation.com/ucla-nevada-bruins-wolfpacks-2013/2013/8/23/4652696/ucla-football-notes-bruins-starring-in-pac-12-networks-friday-night/in/4414013">our game hub here</a>). In this post we will focus on the team's staff and special teams. After 28 years of great run under Chris Ault, the Wolf Packs have a new guy at the top. Nevada hired Texas A&M special teams coach Bill Polian to succeed Coach Ault (who BTW is part of the Bruin family as he is the father-in-law of none other than Coach John Savage).</p>
<p><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2013/1/5/3840764/brian-polian-nevada-head-coach">Per SBN</a> Polian is "considered to be one of the best recruiters in the nation" and he comes into the program with some serious NFL bloodlines:</p>
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<p>Brian Polian is the son of current ESPN NFL analyst Bill Polian, who served as an executive for the Indianapolis Colts for several years.</p>
<p>Under Polian in 2012, Texas A&M converted 59% of their field goals and 90.5% of points after touchdowns. Meanwhile, the team averaged 43 yards per punt. The Aggies also returned one punt for a touchdown.</p>
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<p>Polian has prepared himself well for this opportunity <a href="http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/9364650/brian-polian-gets-shot-college-football-head-coach-replacing-chris-ault-nevada-wolf-pack">per Mark Schlaback of ESPN</a>:</p>
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<p>Polian has prepared the past 15 years to walk the sideline as a head coach and he'll get his opportunity when the Wolf Pack open the season at UCLA on Aug. 31. After playing linebacker at John Carroll University, Polian worked as a graduate assistant for Nick Saban at Michigan State in 1997. After working as an assistant at Buffalo in 1998, Polian spent the next two seasons as a graduate assistant for Kevin Steele at Baylor, where he earned a master's degree in education.</p>
<p>Along the way, Polian was determined to create his own identity, instead of riding the coattails of his father and older brother. Chris Polian was general manager of the Colts from 2009 to 2011 and is currently director of pro personnel for the Jacksonville Jaguars. His younger brother, Dennis, is a special assistant to Tennessee Titans coach Mike Munchak.</p>
<p>"I'd be naive to think my dad's relationship with Nick Saban didn't help me get a job," Polian said. "But from that day forward, I built my career on my own name. To be frank, that's what I'm most proud of. I've never worked in the same organization with my dad or brothers. People that doubt that can go back and look at my track record. I've been with some bad football teams. I love my father and he's been the single most important influence in my life. But I've done it on my own, and I'm really proud of that."</p>
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<p>Well, he seems to have certainly paid his dues. He is also <a href="http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/9364650/brian-polian-gets-shot-college-football-head-coach-replacing-chris-ault-nevada-wolf-pack">smartly holding on to Coach Ault's offensive coordinator</a> - <a href="http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/9364650/brian-polian-gets-shot-college-football-head-coach-replacing-chris-ault-nevada-wolf-pack">so that the Wolf Packs' can keep running that legendary "pistol" offense</a> (well it's legendary around this part because of all the wrong reasons, even though it's been fun to watch as a pure CFB junkie when Coach Ault's program has run it recent years) and have a sense of stability in the program:</p>
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<p>Polian isn't interested in completely rebuilding the Nevada program that Ault built during his 28 years as head coach. He'll keep the Pistol offense that made former Wolf Pack quarterback <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/14842/colin-kaepernick" class="sbn-auto-link">Colin Kaepernick</a> a household name. Last season, Kaepernick led the San Francisco 49ers to <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/super-bowl" class="sbn-auto-link">the Super Bowl</a> while running a version of the Pistol offense.</p>
<p>Polian was able to retain offensive coordinator Nick Rolovich, who helped junior <a href="http://espn.go.com/college-football/player/_/id/501241/cody-fajardo">Cody Fajardo</a> become one of the country's most efficient quarterbacks last season. Fajardo completed 67 percent of his passes for 2,786 yards with 20 touchdowns, while running for 1,121 yards with 12 scores in 2012.</p>
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<p>While Nevada's offense has been prolific in recent years, they have had defensive issues. And Polian tapped North Dakota's Scott Hazleton as his defensive guru. As <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2013/4/30/4283188/2013-nevada-football-preview-cody-fajardo">noted by our SBN guru Bill Connelly in his awesome Nevada primer</a>:</p>
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<p>Polian tapped Scottie Hazelton, most recently the defensive coordinator at North Dakota State (2010-11) and linebackers coach at USC (2012), to head his defense. Hazelton experienced serious success at NDSU, but he inherits a unit that is experienced up front (where it was pretty awful in 2012) and nearly devoid of experience in the back seven.</p>
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<p>Well, we will see how he schemes against Mazzone right off the bat this Saturday.</p>
<p>Given that Coach Polian was a special teams coach, no surprise that the Wolf Packs are putting a lot of emphasis on this unit. The <a href="http://www.rgj.com/article/20130826/SPORTS06/308260026/Nevada-football-Wolf-Pack-looks-ramp-up-special-teams">Wolf Packs have a pretty good punter in "linebacker-looking" senior Chase Tenpenny</a> (6-foot-4, 250 pounds):</p>
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<p>Tenpenny, who transferred from Fort Scott (Kan.) Community College in 2011 and redshirted that year, had one of the best seasons in Nevada history in 2012. Because of Nevada's prolific offense, he did not have enough punts to qualify in FBS or Mountain West Conference stats (46 punts in 13 games), but he still averaged 43.3 yards per punt, fourth best in school history and on pace to be the second-best career average.</p>
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<p>But their <a href="http://www.rgj.com/article/20130826/SPORTS06/308260026/Nevada-football-Wolf-Pack-looks-ramp-up-special-teams">kickers are question marks</a>:</p>
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<p>As much of a known factor that Tenpenny is, kicker <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/205129/brent-zuzo" class="sbn-auto-link">Brent Zuzo</a> is an unknown. Zuzo, a 5-10, 175-pound true freshman from Canton, Mich., won the placekicking duties ahead of <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/137303/colin-ditsworth" class="sbn-auto-link">Colin Ditsworth</a> in training camp. Ditsworth backed up Allen Hardison in field goals and PATs last season and was the kickoff specialist.</p>
<p>"He's got a live leg. He really does have a live leg. You can see it in his kickoffs," Polian said of Zuzo. "I'm just worried he's a freshman. But, shoot, you gotta play. It's time to go. That's why we recruited him, why we scholarshipped him. We know there will be growing pains. It comes with the territory when you play young guys."</p>
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<p>Apparently Nevada also struggled last year in getting touchbacks on kickoffs as Ditsworth got only 29 touchbacks in 78 KOs (even thoguh the KOs were moved to the 35 from 30). No doubt UCLA coaches are going to take note of that and hopefully guys like Manfro, Perkins and maybe even <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/208081/myles-jack" class="sbn-auto-link">Myles Jack</a> (?!) will be able take advantage. Can't wait to find out how it unfolds on Saturday.</p>
<p>GO BRUINS.</p>
https://www.bruinsnation.com/ucla-nevada-bruins-wolfpacks-2013/2013/8/29/4666722/UCLA-nevada-bruins-wolfpacks-Brian-Polian-nick-saban-notesNestor2013-08-28T08:45:06-07:002013-08-28T08:45:06-07:00Oppo Notes: Wolf Pack's Offense
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<figcaption>Ron Chenoy-US PRESSWIRE</figcaption>
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<p>A look at Nevada's team on the offensive side of the ball before they head to the Rose Bowl on Saturday night.</p> <p>For as below average as the <a target="_blank" href="http://www.bruinsnation.com/2013/8/27/4661168/nevada-preview-defense#comments">Wolf Pack defense was last season</a>, their offense was borderline elite in production. In total offense, Nevada ranked 8th in the nation at over 514 yards per game. Especially impressive was their rushing offense, led by Stefphon Johnson and his phenomenal season. The Wolf Pack in 2012 ended up 7th in the NCAA in rushing at over 270 yards per game.</p>
<p>Offensive coordinator Nick Rolovich returns for his second season in control of the offensive play-calling and, while it is unlikely that the Wolf Pack exceed their production from last season, the Wolf Pack will once again be a potent offense in 2013.</p>
<p>Nevada runs the Pistol offense, but not the mediocre version that Bruins' fans had to suffer through. The good version, where the team can effectively pass, run and give a defense multiple looks and formations. This is the offense where Colin Kaepernick flourished in college and where Chris Ault made himself a College Football Hall of Famer, retired in 1995 and then came back to be even more successful from 2004-2012. While Ault is once again retired and Kaepernick is turning heads in San Francisco (or Santa Clara, not sure where the 49ers play this year), the Pistol remains and it is an offense that I always enjoy seeing on Saturdays.</p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.bruinsnation.com/2013/8/27/4661168/nevada-preview-defense#comments"></a><b>Offensive LIne</b></p>
<p>The Pistol masks a lot of flaws in an offensive line if run correctly. There is a bit of turnover at this spot for the Wolf Pack (losing three starters and three other players were dismissed from the team in the spring), but there is also some talent returning.</p>
<p>Last season's starting right tackle senior <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/79227/joel-bitonio" class="sbn-auto-link">Joel Bitonio</a> (6'4" 315) moves over to start at left tackle. Bitonio is probably the best offensive lineman the Wolf Pack have on the roster, having started 26 games in a row heading into his senior year. He's backed up by redshirt freshman <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/162187/jacob-henry" class="sbn-auto-link">Jacob Henry</a>, who is a little undersized at only 265 pounds.</p>
<p>The other returning starter is junior <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/116338/matt-galas" class="sbn-auto-link">Matt Galas</a> (6'1" 280) at center. Galas was named to the Rimington Award watchlist this preseason, along with Bruins' center <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/136321/jake-brendel" class="sbn-auto-link">Jake Brendel</a> and other top centers across the NCAA. Galas is backed up by sophomore <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/162185/abel-de-haro" class="sbn-auto-link">Abel De Haro</a>, who transferred from Valley College in Los Angeles last season.</p>
<p>Those two guys should be solid for Nevada, the question marks are at the other three spots across the front line.</p>
<p>At right tackle, redshirt junior Kyle Roberts has the size of a D1 tackle at 6'6" 305 pounds and saw playing time in 9 games in 2012. He'll be backed up by fellow junior <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/205133/braxton-isaac" class="sbn-auto-link">Braxton Isaac</a>, another JC transfer from a Southern California school at Foothill College.</p>
<p>The right guard spot will be manned by senior <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/162190/fred-lavulo" class="sbn-auto-link">Fred Lavulo</a>, who was a defensive tackle at the start of Nevada's fall camp early this month. Lavulo has decent size at 6'2", 305 and is yet another transfer from a Southern California junior college, having attended Cerritos College before transferring to Reno. Redshirt sophomore Zach Brickell backs up Lavulo.</p>
<p>Finally, junior <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/137310/connor-talbott" class="sbn-auto-link">Connor Talbott</a> is listed as the starter at the left guard spot. Talbott actually started one game last season for Nevada, against Arizona in the New Mexico Bowl. Talbott has good size at 6'4" 290 and gives the Wolf Pack a more experienced left side of the offensive line. He's backed up by redshirt freshman <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/162184/jeremy-macauley" class="sbn-auto-link">Jeremy Macauley</a>.</p>
<p>Overall, this is a line with two potential All-Mountain West players and three question marks of varying degrees. It'll be a real test for them to go against the depth and talent UCLA features in the front-seven on defense.</p>
<p><b>TIght End</b></p>
<p>This is a weird spot because Nevada's offensive coordinator is best known for his work at Hawaii, where the tight end spot is not even truly recruited because it's a non-factor in their scheme. Last year, Rolovich had an NFL tight end at Nevada in <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/14918/zach-sudfeld" class="sbn-auto-link">Zach Sudfeld</a> (who is Aaron Hernandez's replacement in New England).</p>
<p>This season, the starter is senior <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/116344/kolby-arendse" class="sbn-auto-link">Kolby Arendse</a> (6'3", 250). Arendse was the starter for Nevada in 2011, but was surpassed by Sudfeld last season. In a backup role, Arendse contributed 13 catches for 196 yards. His backup redshirt freshman <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/162174/jarred-gipson" class="sbn-auto-link">Jarred Gipson</a> is more of a strict blocking tight end and isn't a huge threat in the passing game.</p>
<p><b>Wide Reciever</b></p>
<p>Outside of quarterback this is probably the strength of the Nevada offense, which could be a concern for the inexperienced Bruin secondary. The Wolf Pack return all three starters from the X, Z and F spots in the Pistol.</p>
<p>The star is at the X spot in sixth year senior <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/37095/brandon-wimberly" class="sbn-auto-link">Brandon Wimberly</a> (6'3" 225 pounds) out of Los Angeles. Wimberly had 70 catches for 845 yards last season along with 4 touchdowns garnering First Team All-Mountain West honors. He is a big target and will likely get the redzone looks that went Sudfeld's way last season (a very similar situation to Shaq Evans and <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/50249/joseph-fauria" class="sbn-auto-link">Joseph Fauria</a> for UCLA last year). He's backed up by a true freshman in <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/205101/d-andre-fuller" class="sbn-auto-link">D'Andre Fuller</a> (5'10" 160 pounds).</p>
<p>The returning starter at the Z spot is junior RIchy Turner (5'11", 180) who caught my eye in their bowl game against Arizona last year where he put up 96 yards and a touchdown. Overall, Turner had 60 catches for 752 yards and 3 touchdowns in 2012, his first season in Reno after transferring from Fullerton College. He's backed up by senior <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/79204/joseph-huber" class="sbn-auto-link">Joseph Huber</a> (5'11", 185) who had 3 catches for 44 yards and a touchdown in 4 games last season.</p>
<p>The F spot is held down by a very talented player out of Gahr High School in redshirt junior Aaron Bradley (6'1", 200). Bradley is the third returning starter for Nevada, having put up 467 yards on 45 catches and 4 touchdowns last season in his second year as a starter.</p>
<p>Bradley's backup is one of Nevada's most intriguing players in redshirt freshman Hasaan Henderson. Henderson is a giant target at 6'5", 230 pounds and was converted from quarterback to a wide receiver this offseason. Anytime a team has a player with that kind of size, he's going to be a potential threat in the red-zone and a constant mismatch while on the field. Keep an eye on him on Saturday night.</p>
<p><b>Running Back</b></p>
<p>Having to replace a player that put up the kind of season that <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/79222/stefphon-jefferson" class="sbn-auto-link">Stefphon Jefferson</a> did in 2012 might seem as difficult as replacing <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/38186/johnathan-franklin" class="sbn-auto-link">Johnathan Franklin</a> does for UCLA. That isn't really the case for Nevada though, as Jefferson for some reason declared for the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl-draft" class="sbn-auto-link">NFL Draft</a> early and went undrafted and was cut early after being picked up by the Titans as an undrafted free agent.</p>
<p>(Side note: Why do these guys declare early? You had to know that you didn't have the measurables to get drafted, you get grades on your skills back before you declare. Just never makes sense to me)</p>
<p>The talent level at running back isn't that important in the Pistol offense, similar to the plug-and-play running backs of Mike Shanahan's old Denver Bronco teams. Pretty much any marginally talented halfback can rush for 1000 yards in this offense.</p>
<p>Junior transfer <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/205083/don-jackson" class="sbn-auto-link">Don Jackson</a> is the guy at the top of the depth chart for Nevada to start with and he is more than capable of being successful at Nevada. Jackson has decent size at 5'10", 210 pounds and led junior college players in yards per carry last season.</p>
<p>Behind him are 5'9" 195 pounds junior <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/137290/kendall-brock" class="sbn-auto-link">Kendall Brock</a> and senior Nate Lytle (5'11" 200 pounds). I would expect for all three to get over 5 touches unless one has a lot of success against the Bruins early on.</p>
<p><b>Quarterback</b></p>
<p>This is where the real headliner of the offense (and really the whole team) is for the Wolf Pack. Redshirt junior <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/116318/cody-fajardo" class="sbn-auto-link">Cody Fajardo</a> is probably the best quarterback in the Mountain West Conference, at least on a pure numbers basis. Fajardo is a guy who I actually played against in summer passing league before my senior season in high school. A local player out of Servite High School, he didn't get a ton of looks as a QB from big time schools for some reason. He has good size (6'2", 215), decision making skills (20 touchdowns to 9 interceptions last season while completing 67% of his passes) and running ability (190 carries for 1121 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2012). Fajardo is on basically every watchlist that <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/38230/brett-hundley" class="sbn-auto-link">Brett Hundley</a> is on at quarterback, so he is a guy worth keeping an eye on even after Saturday.</p>
<p>If any other quarterback than Fajardo sees the field on Saturday, that is likely very good news for UCLA. For the sake of being thorough, he is backed up by junior Devin Combs and redshirt freshman <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/162156/tyler-stewart" class="sbn-auto-link">Tyler Stewart</a>.</p>
<p>This offense is one that will test the question marks on UCLA's defense.</p>
<p>The young, inexperienced secondary will matchup against big, experienced and talented receivers.</p>
<p>The running game of Nevada and the Pistol is always tough to stop and the athleticism of Fajardo is the best warmup to Taylor Martinez of Nebraska that a defense could ask for.</p>
<p>Talent wise, UCLA should have the advantage across the board, especially in the front seven against the Wolf Pack offensive line. Missed tackles and poor execution could lead to big plays against Nevada, so discipline and aggressiveness will need to be balanced out throughout the game on Saturday.</p>
https://www.bruinsnation.com/2013/8/28/4666860/ucla-nevada-preview-wolf-packs-offenseIE Angel2013-08-27T11:00:11-07:002013-08-27T11:00:11-07:00Oppo Notes: Wolf Pack's Defense
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<figcaption>Thearon W. Henderson</figcaption>
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<p>A look at Nevada's team on defensive side of the ball before they head to the Rose Bowl on Saturday night.</p> <p>The Wolfpack were not overly impressive on defense in 2012, ranking 95th in total defense giving up over 440 yards per game (for reference, the Bruins came in at 76th) and were not much better in scoring defense ranking 99th at over 33 points per game (UCLA was 58th at 27 points). What caused the struggles for Nevada was likely their rushing defense, which was one of the worst in the NCAA, giving up over 210 yards per game.</p>
<p>Struggling at that level will put a job in jeopardy as a defensive coach, so, unsurprisingly, the Wolfpack's DC from last year Mike Bradeson lost his gig, but stayed on staff to coach the safeties. A mildly familiar name takes over the helm of defensive coordinator for Nevada in former Southern Cal linebackers coach Scottie Hazelton.</p>
<p>Hazelton, who has a lot of experience as a coordinator, has installed a Tampa 2 base defense. This is the defense that SC ran under Monte Kiffen, so, if nothing else, the Bruins should be used to seeing it once Saturday rolls around.</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px;">Despite the struggles, there was talent on the defensive side of the ball for the Wolfpack in 2012. Both corneback <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/37098/khalid-wooten" class="sbn-auto-link">Khalid Wooten</a> and strong safety Duke WIlliams are on NFL rosters after solid senior seasons.</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px;">With the loss of those two, Nevada also lost all three of their starters at linebacker and their free safety as well, returning just 5 starters on a defense that was not very good last year.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><b>Defensive Line: </b></p>
<p>The Tampa 2 relies heavily on the ability to get pressure from the front 4 without committing extra defenders to the pass rush. They have the experience to be able to do that and will have to produce to help the inexperienced secondary. Though it is not a group that excelled last season, so the question of that experience being helpful or not will seen on Saturday.</p>
<p>The Wolfpack's best player on defense is junior defensive end <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/116348/brock-hekking" class="sbn-auto-link">Brock Hekking</a> (75 tackles, 8 sacks, 10 TFL). Hekking was All-Mountain West last season and some view him as the best pass rusher in the conference. On the opposite edge is another returning starting in sophomore <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/137323/lenny-jones" class="sbn-auto-link">Lenny Jones</a> (7 TFL, 5 sacks). Both the ends are listed at 255 pounds and around 6'4".</p>
<p>Backing up Hekking and Jones at defensive end in the two-deep are seniors <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/137286/jake-peppard" class="sbn-auto-link">Jake Peppard</a> (a local kid from La Habra and Cerritos College) and Tyler Houk. Peppard is listed at exactly the same size as the starters at 6'3" and 255 pounds and Houk is the same weight but an inch taller at 6'4".</p>
<p>How all 4 DEs in the two deep can be almost the exact same size is curious to me, but that is clearly the size that Nevada wants out of their defensive ends. That is a little undersized, but that can be expected across the board for a Mountain West team.</p>
<p>The interior is not lacking for experience either. The group is headlined by senior <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/79229/jack-reynoso" class="sbn-auto-link">Jack Reynoso</a> (6'3", 280), a 3rd year starter for Nevada. On the opposite side, another returning starter will man the nose tackle spot in junior <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/116347/jordan-hanson" class="sbn-auto-link">Jordan Hanson</a> (6'2", 280), a former teammate of Anthony Barr at Loyola High. He will be backed up by an intruiging transfer in 6'0" 275 pound junior <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/205139/dupree-roberts-jordan" class="sbn-auto-link">Dupree Roberts-Jordan</a>, who had 12 sacks in his senior season at Lakewood High School and spent the last two years at Golden West College.</p>
<p>Another player to watch in the rotation is redshirt sophomore <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/137307/rykeem-yates" class="sbn-auto-link">Rykeem Yates</a>, who at 6'2" and 270 pounds saw a lot of playing time as a redshirt freshman last season. Yates also was a signee for the Bruins in 2011, but ended up not enrolling and ended up at Nevada.</p>
<p> </p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px;">Perhaps the most interesting name is that of sophomore transfer <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/134247/ian-seau" class="sbn-auto-link">Ian Seau</a>, the nephew of the late Junior Seau. The younger Seau had a crazy season at Grossmont College, accumulating 18 sacks; but I'm not sure if he'll be at defensive end or outside linebacker for the Wolfpack. He is listed at just 6'2", 227 pounds, so outside linebacker makes more sense to me; but he is listed as a defensive end. Regardless, he should be on the field against the Bruins plenty.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><b>Linebackers:</b></p>
<p>This is the real problem spot for Nevada this season, despite the big losses of two NFL players in the secondary. Losing an entire starting group of linebackers is tough to overcome, especially when drastic improvement in run defense is a necessity for success.</p>
<p>The starter at Mike is former walk-on sophomore <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/137301/jordan-dobrich" class="sbn-auto-link">Jordan Dobrich</a> (6'2", 235), who is being touted by Nevada as a potential 2nd-3rd round pick by new head coach Brian Polian. His backup from the post-spring depth chart is fellow sophomore Reggie Coates (6'1", 240), another local kid from Crespi.</p>
<p>From what I've researched, Dobrich should be able to handle the responsibilities of the middle linebacker in the Tampa 2. The outside linebacker spot is a much bigger question. That scheme requires super athletic linebackers that have to be playmakers in the passing game as well as forces in the run game (think Derrick Brooks, Lance Briggs)</p>
<p>At one outside linebacker spot, there is a competition between sophomore <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/137311/burton-de-koning" class="sbn-auto-link">Burton De Koning</a> (6'2", 225), junior Jonathan McNeal, two transfers in sophomore <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/136471/matthew-lyons" class="sbn-auto-link">Matthew Lyons</a> and junior Faigofie Faautuala, as well as true freshman Travis Wilson. Tough to analyze any of these players because they have next to zero experience as NCAA Division 1 linebackers.</p>
<p>The most talented potential option for the Wolfpack at outside linebacker is 6'4", 210 sophomore Bryan Lane Jr., who has practiced some at safety but should be starting or at least featured heavily at outside linebacker for the Bruins.</p>
<p>If this group improves on last season's group, the Wolfpack defense could be significantly better. If this group struggles, it could be a very long season in the first year of the post-Chris Ault era.</p>
<p><b>Defensive Backs:</b></p>
<p>This is another position that had a lot of turnover in the offseason, similar to that of the Bruins defensive backfield. Nevada loses all but one starter from the 2012 group. That one starter, junior <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/116319/charles-garrett" class="sbn-auto-link">Charles Garrett</a> (5'11", 205), switched from corner to strong safety this season.</p>
<p>Sophomore Bryson Keeton (6'2", 190), who was also at cornerback in 2012, looks to be the starter at free safety for the Wolfpack. Keeton played in six games for Nevada, registering 4 tackles and an interception in spotty work.</p>
<p>At the cornerback position, senior <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/162150/markus-smith" class="sbn-auto-link">Markus Smith</a> (6'1", 195 with 17 tackles in 11 games last year) looks to have one spot locked down. The other spot is likely to be occupied by junior <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/116328/evan-favors" class="sbn-auto-link">Evan Favors</a> (6'0", 185). Both of those guys have size enough to compete with the Bruins wideouts, but the question will be if they can tackle to the level necessary in the Tampa 2. Any missed tackles by corners in that scheme usually lead to big gains in the run game as well as after the catch on passes.</p>
<p>Options for depth in the Wolfpack secondary include talented true freshmen Tere Calloway (5'10", 175) and Elijah Mitchell (5'8", 170) along with redshirt freshman <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/162166/randy-uzoma" class="sbn-auto-link">Randy Uzoma</a> (6'1", 205). Those players figure to see the field quite a bit against UCLA and are talented enough to end up starting by the end of the season. Junior Necho Beard (6'0", 205 from Rancho Verde in Moreno Valley) also figures to play at the safety spot during Saturday night's game.</p>
<p>Overall, this Nevada defense is talented enough to do well in the Mountain West. They should not be able to compete with the experienced offensive line of the Bruins and the superior talent at the skill positions. In their first action against a different D1 offense, the Tampa 2 scheme Nevada employs could experience some difficulties in both the running and passing game. Look for a competitive defensive effort by the young Wolfpack defenders, but several big plays throughout the game and a lot of total yards by the Bruins' offense.</p>
https://www.bruinsnation.com/2013/8/27/4661168/nevada-preview-defenseIE Angel