SB Nation - Brett Jaekle

Boise State 2009 opponent preview: Nevada

Kevan Lee — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 20:39:11 -0000

Projected Record: 7-5 overall, 5-3 conference
At-a-glance: Nevada is a darkhorse for being a BCS buster this season. Really? Are we talking about the same Nevada? A spotty defense, suspect special teams, and the crushing reality of being Nevada will sink the Wolf Pack. Until Nevada proves consistent as a team, there's no reason to pick them anywhere else than the middle tier of the WAC.

We've come to the opponent preview where I finally stop belittling fellow WAC teams. Or do I?

Common sense would have me shaking in my Marty Tadman jersey at this year's rendition of the Pack. Kaepernick, Moch, Basped? Oh my! But then again, weren't all those guys on the team last year? Wasn't the Boise State - Nevada game two pick-sixes away from a yawner? Aren't I humanly incapable of showing respect for another conference team?

Yes to all those questions. And no to Nevada knocking the Broncos off their WAC pedestal this season.

Wins in 2008:	7
Pythagorean Wins in 2008:	7.3
Translation:	Nevada was pretty much only seven-wins good
Returning starters:	Offense: 7, Defense:7
Strength of Schedule:	94
Recruiting ranking 2005-2009:	106, 82, 105, 109, 108 (nat'l ranking from Scout.com)
WAC recruiting ranking 2005-2009:	7, 3, 7, 6, 7

Five Questions

Is the Wolf Pack the new archenemy of Boise State?

It is beginning to look that way. Certainly, they have been more competitive in recent years than Idaho or Fresno State, although the Vandals will always hold a special place (meant reverentially and retardedly) in the hearts of Bronco fans. Hawaii was fun for awhile. SJSU is fun for about a week every year. But Nevada has really taken the mantle of most loathsome team on the conference calendar.

Certainly, they are the ones most likely to give the Broncos a run for their money. Speaking of running, anyone else think Colin Kaepernick looks like a robot ostrich?

Why should I think that Nevada's secondary is going to be any different this year?

Well last year, the Pack was private-Methodist-school-intramurals terrible at defending the pass, to the tune of No. 120 (dead last) in the NCAA and 320 yards per game.

Enter ... nobody.

Chris Ault promises that defense will be a priority starting now. Yes, he's been coaching 24 years. But when you witness an apocalypse like Nevada's pass D in 2008, you're liable to try a bunch of things you previously thought were pointless. Nevada has the players to put pressure on the quarterbacks, so if they can find a handful of players who can stay in the general vicinity of wide receivers, you'd have to think they can improve on last year's result. If not, expect Ault to break with tradition again and start recruiting defensive players.

Since passing isn't Kaepernick's specialty, what's stopping the Wolf Pack from running the ball on every down?

Nothing really. They have the reigning WAC leading rusher in Vai Taua. They have the former reigning WAC leading rusher in Luke Lippincott. They have three linemen returning from last year's 290 yards-per-game offense. By the looks of things, this Nevada team could win half of its WAC games without even putting the ball in the air. They are basically a service academy, minus America respecting them.

Another reason to keep it on the ground is the loss of leading receivers Marko Mitchell and Mike McCoy. The wide receivers for UNR are rather green. Junior Chris Wellington is the most well-known holdover, and he managed 632 and six TDs last season. Kaepernick can make plays happen with his feet, but someone is going to have to be able to catch the long bombs and close range missiles he fires willy-nilly on the move. That is, if Ault even bothers calling a passing play.

Boise State's been amped about the Oregon game since January. Is the same true for UNR and Notre Dame?

Since I don't live in Reno (thank GOODNESS), I can't say for sure, but I've heard that Pack fans have extremely high hopes for this Notre Dame showdown. Are Nevada fans expecting a win? Many of them are. At the very least, they are expecting Kaepernick to really make an impression on the national television audience and Tom Hammond. It's not a make-or-break game for Nevada, but if they get past Notre Dame, they'll be getting a lot of attention in the coming weeks.

What is the Achille's heel of Nevada?

Well besides pass defense, WR depth, and the innate ability to lose at least one game they should win, the Wolf Pack are not very good on special teams. Phil Steele ranked Nevada No. 112, 99, 71, 99, and 94 over the past five years, and with the Wolf Pack losing kicker Brett Jaekle, special teams could be another adventure in 2009. Especially if the Pack recruited this kid:

Schedule around the Boise State game

11/14 Fresno State
11/21 @ NMSU
11/27 @ Boise State
End of Season

By the Numbers

190 - difference between Nevada's average rush yards and that of their opponents
7-0 - Nevada's record when holding teams under 35 points
0-6 - Nevada's record when teams score more than 35 points

I've had a lot of fun with this preview, but now it's time to get serious. My feelings about the Nevada Wolf Pack are probably a lot more tempered than those that you would find a lot of other places. People are gushing over Nevada's skill players, and with good reason. The Wolf Pack is a good team with a playmaking quarterback and strong running backs who will succeed behind a talented offensive line. Plus, their defense has a smattering of studs, and they are coached by a Hall of Famer.

On top of all this, the prospect of facing the Wolf Pack on the football field frightens me a little. Even after witnessing the Broncos completely shut down the UNR offense for three quarters last season, I don't look forward to a more experienced Kaepernick and a well-oiled machine of an offense rolling into Boise in November.

To be sure, Nevada is gunning for the Broncos. And if I were writing a preview of the Nevada-Boise State game right now, I would be significantly more respectful and fearful.

But Nevada from a season-long perspective scares me a lot less than Nevada from a game-by-game perspective.

The perfect storm of offensive prowess and defensive okayness could come together for Nevada on any given week, but it won't come together for them on every given week. The pass defense is too bad to be consistent, even if they are improved over last year's simply horrendous unit. The special teams are capable of causing multiple losses on the year. Defenses will copy Boise State's blueprint for success against the Pistol, and the teams with good enough athletes will be able to shut that machine down.

Nevada could very well give the Broncos a run for their money in the de facto WAC championship in late November. However, I'd be surprised if the WAC championship hadn't already been decided.

Nevada is scary in small doses, but until they prove that they can string together a season of consistency, domination, and solid play on both sides of the ball, they are still Nevada - old, undependable, 7-5 Nevada.

Perfect Situation
Nevada turns into 2009's BCS buster by sweeping Notre Dame and Mizzou in nonconference, steamrolling the WAC on their way to a BCS bowl, and making life a living hell for Bronco fans

Reality
Nevada plays tough against Notre Dame and Missouri, loses both, drops one or two conference games before the BSU showdown, loses that one, goes to the New Mexico Bowl

Final Record
7-5 overall, 5-3 conference

Previous previews of 2009 opponents: Oregon. Miami (Ohio). Bowling Green. UC Davis. Tulsa. San Jose State. Utah State. Fresno State. NMSU. Hawaii. LaTech. Last one (appropriately): Idaho.

MU Football Records Chase (Final Update)

The Beef — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 17:48:06 -0000

It's been real fun to cover this all season...how did Mizzou and all these amazing athletes finish up after the Alamo Bowl? And how many players can I link in one post?

National Passing Yardage:

6. Kevin Kolb_________''03-'06______12964

7. Tim Rattay_________'97-'99______12746

8. Luke McCown_______'00-'03_____12666

9. Chris Redman______'96-'99______12541

10. Chase Daniel______'05-'08______12515

Not quite the final two games I had in mind when I put this list together, as I figured Chase would end up around Rattay. However, top 10 all time is top 10 all time.

National Completions:

1. Timmy Chang________'00-'04________1388

2. Graham Harrell_______active________1367

3. Kliff Kingsbury________'99-'02________1231

4. Philip Rivers_________'00-'03________1147

5. Colt Brennan_________'05-'07________1115

6. Chase Daniel_________'05-'08_______1094

27 completions in each of his last two games, and though the yards per completion ends up being down a bit, no one can ever take away how truly accurate Chase was over the span of his career. And an early congrats to Graham Harrell for breaking this record.

National TD Passes:

6. Danny Wuerffel________'93-'96______114

7. Chase Daniel_________'05-'08______101

Never a bigger TD than his 101st, and another top 10 all-time finish for Chase. Nice to see him get to 100, that is a tremendous accomplishment.

National TD's Responsible For:

1. Colt Brennan________'05-'07________146

2. Graham Harrell______active________142

3. Ty Detmer__________'88-'91________135

4. Timmy Chang_______'00-'04________123

5. Danny Wueffel_______'93-'96________122

6. Chase Clement______'05-'08________120

7. Tim Rattay__________'97-'99________117

8. Phillip Rivers________'00-'03________113

9. Chase Daniel_______'05_'08________111

10. Matt Leinart________'02-'05_________108

This is not an official NCAA list, but my best and certainly a pretty educated guess. I would be pretty shocked if anyone else is in front of Chase at this point, but I suppose it is possible. At any rate, another category, another top 10 all-time finish for him.

Total Offense: (National and Mizzou)

1. Timmy Chang_______'00-'04_____16910

2. Graham Harrell______active_____15192

3. Colt Brennan________'05-'07_____14740

4. Ty Detmer__________'88-'91_____14665

5. Kevin Kolb__________'03-'06_____13715

6. Philip Rivers________'00-'03_____13582

7. Chase Daniel _______‘05-08 _____13486

8. Brad Smith _________ ‘02-05 ____ 13088

Last time out I said Chase had a decent shot at Rivers....did not quite get there. Still, the last TWO Mizzou QB's are in some pretty elite company in the 13,000 yard club.

All-Purpose Yardage:

1. Jeremy Maclin_______'07-'08_____5609

2. Brad Smith _________ ‘02-05 _____ 4419

3. Devin West _________ ‘95-98 _____ 3824

4. Brock Olivo _________ ‘94-97 _____ 3475

5. Zack Abron __________‘00-03 _____ 3426

6. Darrell Wallace ______ ‘84-87 _____ 3303

7. Joe Stewart _________‘74-77 _____ 3256

8. Tony Temple_________'04-'07_____3138

9. James Wilder _______‘78-80 _____ 2769

10. Justin Gage________'99-'02______2737

11. Chase Coffman_____'05-'08_____2720

Of course the punt return ends up being the big chunk for Maclin, who never really got going too much in the passing game yesteday. I am guessing this record stands for some time, the only lingering question remaining is if there is any shot Maclin returns to add on to it and take a run at the national books. Chase Coffman was a gamer all season and just missed out on the top 10, which he certainly would have earned (likely 9th) if not for injury.

(National and Mizzou) Receptions:

30. John Standeford_______'00-'03_____249

31. Nate Burleson_________'00-'02_____248

Eric Deslauriers_______'02-'06_____248

1.Chase Coffman (TE) ____'05-08______ 247

2. Martin Rucker (TE) ______ ‘04-07_____ 203

3. Justin Gage __________ ‘99-02______ 200

4. Jeremy Maclin________'07-'08______182

5. Kenny Holly __________ ‘90-93_______151

6. Tommy Saunders______'05-'08______150

7. Will Franklin __________ ‘04-07______ 143

8. Victor Bailey___________'90-'92______128

9. Thomson Omboga______'01-'04______127

10. Brian Sallee___________'91-'94_____119

11. Sean Coffey__________'02-'05______118

7 catches for Coffman gets him to 33rd all-time nationally

7 catches for Maclin keep him at 4th all-time at Mizzou

6 catches for Saunders keeps him at 6th all-time at Mizzou....quite the trio we will (likely) be replacing.

(National and Mizzou) Receiving Yardage:

1. Ibn Green (national TE)____'96-'99_____2830

1. Justin Gage ____________‘99-02_____2704

2. Chase Coffman (TE) _____ ‘05-08_____2659
3. Jeremy Maclin__________'07-'08_____2315

4. Martin Rucker (TE) _______ ‘04-07_____2175

5. Victor Bailey ____________ ‘90-92_____2144

6. Will Franklin ____________ ‘04-07_____2125

7. Linzy Collins ____________ ‘89-90_____1760

8. Kenny Holly ____________ ‘90-93_____1708

9. Tommy Saunders_______'05-'08_____1600

10. Sean Coffey ___________ ‘02-05______1596

11. Mel Gray _____________ ‘68-70______1491

12. Hank Burnine __________ ‘53-55_____1445

Saunders just sneaks by Coffey into 9th place, and Coffman does not miss Gage by much. In the end, it is kind of scary to think we are replacing 579 career receptions and 6574 career yards between the three.

Receiving TD's:

1. Chase Coffman (TE) _____ ‘05-08_______ 30

2. Jeremy Maclin__________'07-'08_______22

3.. Martin Rucker (TE) _______ ‘04-07______ 18

Justin Gage ____________ ‘99-02______ 18

5. Mel Gray _______________68-70_______ 14

6. Will Franklin ____________ ‘04-07______ 13

Sean Coffey ____________ ‘02-05______ 13

8. Victor Bailey ____________ ‘90-92______ 12

Dwayne Blakley _________ ‘98-01______ 12

10. Tommy Saunders_______'05-'08______11

Gibler, Marshall and Winslow__________10

Maclin adds perhaps a final one to his total, as he caught 13 on the season.

Kicker Scoring:

13. Alex Trlica___________'04-'07______377

14. Xavier Beitia_________'01-'04______375

15. Jeff Hall_____________'95-'98_____371

Shayne Graham______'96-'99______371

17. Steve Azar___________'00-'03______370

Justin Ayat___________'01-'04______370

19. Stephen Gostkowki____'02-'05______369

20. Luis Zendejas________'81-'84______368

Jeff Chandler_________'97-'01______368

22. Jeff Wolfert__________ ‘06-08_____ 362

23. Colt David___________active_______361

Shaun Swisham______'04-'04______361

25. Nate Kaeding_________'00-'03______360

26. Jeff Jeager___________'83-'86______358

Dusty Mangum________'01-'04______358

28. Justin Medlock________'02-'06______357

29. Brett Jaekle__________active_______356

Oh sweet irony...you are so...um...ironic. The most accurate kicker in NCAA history (and by a couple of percentage points) misses his last FG attempt. Just has to make you laugh and remember you will always be a Mizzou fan. Anyway, a pretty big evening nonetheless for Wolfert, who scores 12 points and moves up smartly on this list. With Jaekle (Nevada) and David (LSU) still to kick, Wolfert is guaranteed to finish top 25 nationally. And think about it...362 points in three seasons...the all-time record is Art Carmody of Louisville with 433 points...certainly WELL within range had Wolfert kicked all four seasons.

Sacks:

1. Brian Smith__________'03-'06_____31.5

2. Justin Smith_________'98-'00_____22.5

Stryker Sulak________'05-'08_____22.5

4. Lorenzo Williams_____'04-'07_____19

5. Rick Lyle____________'90-'93______18

6. Bobby Bell___________'81-'83______17
Steve Martin__________'92-'95______17

Antwaun Bynum_______'00-'02______17

9. Xzavie Jackson_______'03-'06______16.5

10 C.J. Mosley__________'02-'04______15.5

Ziggy Hood_________'05-'08______15.5

5 sacks in the game for the Tigers, with Sulak's two tying him with Justin Smith and Hood's one getting him into the Tiger top 10 with C.J. Mosley. Will Sulak and Hood join their Tiger brothers in the NFL next season?

Interceptions:

1. Adrian Jones________'86-'89________15

2. Ken Baston_________'63-'65________14

Bill Whitaker_________'77-'80________14

4. Erik McMillan________'84-'87_________13

5. Eric Wright__________'78-'80________11

William Moore______'05-'08_________11

7. Roger Wehrli________'66-'68________10

Harold Piersey_______'95-'98________10

Kevin McIntosh_______'91-'94________10

A bit more irony that Willy Mo dropped the last pass of the game, which certainly did end the game, but could have moved him past Eric Wright and into 5th all alone here.