Forget last season, you can look forward to the future
Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2008 @ 1:17 am
The Nevada football team ended its season at New Mexico and played like it did all season – inconsistently.
Despite not allowing a touchdown in the final three quarters and blocking two field goals against a team without its best running back, it was the Nevada offense that took the Wolf Pack down in a 23-0 loss to New Mexico in the New Mexico Bowl.
Summing up one of the most ridiculous and unpredictable seasons, next season has a lot of promise.
An even better offense
– Charles Manu is the only offensive lineman lost and senior running back Luke Lippincott, the Western Athletic Conference’s top rusher last season, has got to love that. A healthy Dominic Green snapping with Mike Gallett and Greg Hall on each side of him will make the line one of the best in the WAC.
– Green will be snapping to one of the better young quarterbacks in the West. Wait, which one?
Nolin Graziapernick?
How the hell do you make that decision? You got one of the best accurate arms the team has seen since Mike Maxwell in Nick Graziano, who hurt his foot against Fresno State. Then you got Colin Kaepernick, who went beyond everyone’s expectations as a reliever with a rocket arm and stunning elusiveness.
Nevada coach Chris Ault has his toughest quarterback decision in his third stint as coach.
– Marko Mitchell had his best season for Nevada posting 1,033 yards, 47 catches and eight touchdowns. 2008 will be his season to show if he’s an NFL prospect. His 6-foot-4 frame is ideal. We’ll see if his speed and hands are enough.
Mike McCoy will be back for one more year and with Kyle Sammons gone, that leaves playing time open for several young players.
The D
– The Nevada Sagebrush, and other media outlets, had its comment sections at the end of Web stories filled with people urging defensive coordinator Ken Wilson, or coach Chris Ault, to step down. Web names such as “Fire Ault” and “Ault Must Go” were leading the charge.
While no one stepped down, former Oregon State cornerback’s coach Nigel Burton will take over as defensive coordinator.
A change on the defense was needed, but fans will look forward to his recruiting. Rivals.com ranked him one of the best recruiters in the Pac-10.
– The Wolf Pack loses its best linebacker in Ezra Butler, but with the loss of one prospect enters a new pro prospect and Fallon native Josh Mauga.
Mauga, who injured his knee Oct. 20 against Utah State, led the team in tackles for the first half of the season. He doesn’t miss tackles and he’s the kind of kid, attitude-wise, that you want on your sideline.
– Perhaps a quick replacement at linebacker is Dontay Moch. Moch, 6-foot-1, 220 pounds, won a 200-meter state track title in high school and has had two years to get stronger. Expect this guy to do some good things.
– Secondary problems have been around the past two years. Despite playing better as the season progressed, seniors Paul Pratt and DeVon Walker were torched downfield in nearly every game.
The future is bright for Jon Amaya and Uche Anyanwu. Both have ideal size and speed to snatch more interceptions and bring relief for the long ball.
– Kevin Basped will lead the team in sacks next season.
Special Teams
– I want to see Brian Fludd. I want to see this supposed 4.3 speed. I want the crowd at Mackay Stadium to get anxious on punt returns and kick offs.
– Is it about time we go out and recruit a punter? Zack Whited graduated. Hopefully they can find someone who is better than 92nd in the nation.
Scott Oxarart is the Sports Editor of the Nevada Sagebrush. He can be reached at soxarart@nevadasagebrush.com
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on Tuesday, January 22nd, 2008 at 1:17 am and is filed under Football, Sports.
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© 2008 The Nevada Sagebrush
January 22nd, 2008 at 1:22 pm
Should be a better year this year than last year. Aren’t all of the players now officially recruited by Ault?