The Nevada Sagebrush

Former Wolf Pack tight end Virgil Green makes run after a reception against Washington State last season. Green is now playing for the Denver Broncos in the NFL. File photo/ Nevada Sagebrush

Tight end Virgil Green spent the last three seasons with the Pack and is now competing for a roster spot with the Denver Broncos.

After being drafted in the seventh round of the NFL draft, he’s seen action through Denver’s first three preseason games and brought down his first NFL catch for 18 yards in week one.

“That will probably always stick out in my head,” Green said. “But it didn’t feel glorious or anything.”

That’s because, for Green, it’s a short list of changes from college to pro.

“After going through ten, fifteen years of football training you know what you’re doing,” Green said.  “It’s just a matter of doing it.”

Every day, Green spends about five to six hours with his head in the Broncos playbook. Physically, though, he says NFL camp is less damaging on the body than college training camp.

“In college it’s a lot tougher physically because you know we were in a full coat more often tackling and delivering blows at full speed,” Green said. “But mentally trying to learn this (NFL) offensive system and seeing how different defenses are has definitely been a little challenging.”

The new NFL collective bargaining agreement plays a big role in that it restricts players to fewer padded practices and eliminates two-a-day practices. Nevada has two-a-days and practice has heavy contact.

“At Nevada you gotta be tough,” Green said. “Coming from there to the NFL showed me that.”

Green emphasized that guys he is playing alongside in the NFL went to colleges that held only one full-pad practice a week. Nevada holds at least two full-pad and two half-pad practices a week.

“At this level guys aren’t used to going full pads,” Green said. “But it doesn’t bother me to put on pads like that so it has helped me out.”

Doyle Miller

The former Nevada defensive back that played a big role last season agrees with Green, as he has had a similar experience at Buffalo Bills training camp.

“The big thing was that with the new CBA, there’s pretty much one practice a day and that’s a lot less physically demanding when guys aren’t being banged around,” Miller said in a phone interview. “Physically, it’s not anywhere close to what Nevada was like for me.”

The physical Nevada camp helped Miller prepare for the speed of NFL gameplay, and during week one of preseason, Miller made his first memorable NFL moment.

“There was one play that sticks out,” Miller said. “I did a good job covering a receiver to make the quarterback look the other way and I definitely won’t forget that.”

Although Miller had the chance to get in some preseason play time, he’s still listed as the No. 4 corner on the Buffalo Bills depth chart and has a lot of work to do if he wants to see any playing time.

“They [(coaches) kind of expect you to make that transition to become a pro by yourself,” Miller said. “If you don’t make that transition on your own you’ll be left by the wayside.”

Jose Acuna

Ex-Union member Jose Acuna started his NFL career a few weeks ago with the Dallas Cowboys, got released and then picked up by the Philadelphia Eagles on the waiver wire.

“It’s something I’ve wanted since sophomore year of high school,” Acuna said in a phone interview. “Not everyone gets a chance to go pro and it’s been surreal.”

Acuna was trained to block for a run-happy quarterback in Colin Kaepernick so he could fit in with the Eagles since he has the chance to block for Michael Vick.

“A quarterback is a quarterback,” Acuna said. “But a lot of the stuff we did in college is stuff that we do here.”

Wolf Pack run-game coordinator and offensive-line coach, Cameron Norcross, was a big motivator for Acuna as he made his way to the NFL.

“Coach (Cameron) Norcross helped me develop as a player, and he just helped everyone to be better prepared,” Acuna said. “Follow what your coaches say, play mean, dedicate yourself to work hard and you’ll get here if you want it enough.”

Ryan Coulson

Ex-Nevada defensive end Ryan Coulson, another part of last season’s defense that held on by a thread as Brotzman botched those kicks, landed a spot on the New England Patriots roster.

The stint was short lived, though, since he pulled his hamstring on the first day of training camp.

“It sucked,” Coulson said in a phone interview. “I was running down on a kickoff and I just pulled it plain and simple.”

After going through months of keeping himself motivated during the NFL lockout, he was right back in the same stagnant position. Coulson says his time at Nevada, his family, and friends helped him cope through these complications.

“I learned after my first fall camp at Nevada that you always have to come in shape,” Coulson said. “You have to be mentally ready to work along with taking care of your body which is an even bigger part of it.”

Coulson kept a strict workout during the lockout and through his hamstring rehab, as he committed to a schedule consistent with the workload he had for five years at Nevada.

“Getting through the lockout wasn’t all that bad,” Coulson said. “I’m a pretty motivated guy anyway, but five years at Nevada and a few buddies of mine helped me stay motivated in my workouts.”

It wasn’t enough to keep him from getting injured early in Patriots training camp, but it has been a guide for him through the treatment of his injury. He says he’s running comfortably again and is currently on the market for another team.

“Once in the NFL, you’re in the real world,” Coulson said. “It’s a job, and they can get rid of you.”

The rest of the gang (breakout)

Ex-Pack DE Dontay Moch – Drafted in the third round of the NFL draft by the Cincinnati Bengals as a linebacker. He broke a bone in his right foot during first series of his first preseason game against the Detroit Lions. He’s expected to be back in about five to six weeks.

Ex-Pack RB Vai Taua – Picked up as a free agent by the Buffalo Bills and then dropped shortly after. He was then picked up by the Seattle Seahawks, dropped again, then picked up again by the same team. He’s had two carries earning 15 yards total in the preseason.

Eric Castillo can be reached at ecastillo@nevadasagebrush.com

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