Offense |
Defense |
Depth Chart |
Further Analysis
It's anything but.
Oh sure, Nevada wings it around as well as anyone in the WAC
averaging 250 yards per game last year, but it became co-conference
champions because quick backs Robert Hubbard and B.J. Mitchell could
pound the ball behind a great line. It helped the
stats to have a running quarterback like Jeff Rowe, too.
Mitchell is gone, but seven starters return on an offense that
finished 14th in the nation and 15th in scoring. It's a high-powered
attack that hit its stride over the second half of the season
averaging close to 41 points per game over the final five finishing
up with 49 points in a thrilling Hawaii Bowl overtime win over UCF.
Head coach: Chris Ault
21st year: 177-73-1
Returning Lettermen:
Off. 16, Def. 21, ST 1
Lettermen Lost: 15 |
Ten
Best Pack Players
1. QB Jeff Rowe, Sr.
2. RB Robert Hubbard, Sr.
3.
TE Anthony Podewell, Sr.
4.
OG Barrett Reznick, Sr.
5. LB Ezra Butler, Jr.
6. CB Joe Garcia, Sr.
7.
WR Caleb Spencer, Sr.
8.
SS Nick Hawthrone, Sr.
9. DE J.J. Milan. Sr.
10. DE Charles
Wilson, Sr.
|
|
2006
Schedule
CFN
Prediction: 8-4 |
| 9/1 |
at Fresno State |
| 9/9 |
at Arizona State |
| 9/16 |
Colorado State |
| 9/22 |
Northwestern |
|
9/30 |
at UNLV |
| 10/7 |
at Hawaii |
|
10/21 |
San Jose State |
| 10/28 |
New Mexico State |
| 11/4 |
at Idaho |
| 11/11 |
Utah State |
| 11/18 |
at Louisiana Tech |
| 11/25 |
Boise State |
|
|
2005
Schedule
CFN
Prediction: 6-5
2005 Record: 9-3
Preview 2005 predicted wins |
| 9/9 |
Washington St L 55-21 |
| 9/17 |
UNLV
W 22-14 |
| 9/24 |
at Colorado St L 42-21 |
| 10/1 |
at San Jose St
W 30-23 |
| 10/8 |
Idaho
W 62-14 |
| 10/15 |
Louisiana Tech W
37-27 |
| 10/29 |
at Boise State L 49-14 |
| 11/5 |
Hawaii
W 38-28 |
| 11/12 |
at NMSU
W 48-24 |
| 11/19 |
at Utah State
W 30-24 |
| 11/26 |
Fresno State W 38-31 |
| 12/23 |
Hawaii Bowl
UCF W 49-48 OT |
|
Hall of fame head coach
Chris Ault returned to the program to restore the glory achieved in his
first run with the program, and he succeeded as well as anyone could've
hoped with the first winning season since 1998 and the first nine-win
season since 1996. Not only is Nevada a major threat in the WAC, it has
the potential to be a big-time thorn in the sides of early opponents
Arizona State and Northwestern.
This is a dangerous team with a scary mix of veterans and
confidence. There's decent depth at some spots, but the margin is razor
thin in others needing more offensive tackles to emerge and needing a
reliable second and third option behind Hubbard in the backfield.
The defense had a hard time stopping anyone last year, but defenses
never put up great stats in the WAC. Seven starters return including
end/linebacker J.J. Milan and safety Nick Hawthrone from injuries, while
the front seven is big, experienced, and should be better against the
run.
No, this is hardly a soft team by any stretch, and now it'll go into the
season needing that toughness to deal with high expectations. Ault has
proven he can step back into the game and be one of the best coaches. Now he has to prepare his team for even more success. Don't expect
Nevada to slip any time soon.
The Schedule: It
doesn't start out pretty, but it ends with nice kick. September is
the key to a big season, especially the opener on September 1st at
Fresno State, which could make or break WAC title hopes for each
team. At Arizona State follows with home dates with Colorado State
and Northwestern to deal with before going back on the road to face
UNLV and Hawaii. Nevada can realistically shoot for a 4-2 start, but
two of those wins had better be over the Bulldogs and Warriors. Then
things take a nice, soft turn with the dregs of the conference
before finishing with a tough road date at Louisiana Tech and the
big WAC showdown with Boise State.
Best
Offensive Player: Senior QB Jeff Rowe. He stopped making mistakes,
started spreading the ball around better, and became comfortable
with the offense finishing second in the league in total offense.
Now he should be even better and make a strong run for WAC Player of
the Year honors.
Best
Defensive Player: Junior LB Ezra Butler. Cornerback Joe Garcia has
received most of the recognition and praise, but Butler is the
leading returning tackler on the strongside and a tone setter for
the defense. He should be even better with the return of J.J. Milan
and Nick Hawthrone to add more playmakers to free him up.
Key
player to a successful season: Sophomore G Greg Hall. Nevada is
full of guards but weak on tackles so it had to move a few players
to the outside to fill the holes leaving little depth at guard. The
285-pound Hall has to shine right away so the coaching staff doesn't
have to switch any of the
The
season will be a success if ... Nevada wins the WAC title. It
won't be easy with road games at Fresno State, Hawaii and Louisiana
Tech, but Boise State has to come to Reno and the second half of the
schedule is too nice not to go on a run. After last year, anything
less than a title would be a disappointment.
Key
game: Sept. 1 at Fresno State. The Bulldogs are going to want
payback after last year's 38-31 nationally televised loss, but
Nevada has to win the rematch to set the tone for the rest of the
year. The next WAC game is at Hawaii, which will become a must-win
if there's a loss on opening day.
2005
Fun Stats:
- Nevada third quarter scoring: 67 - Nevada fourth quarter scoring:
137
- Time of possession: Nevada 33:12 - Opponents 26:48
- Third down conversions: Nevada 89 of 192 (49%) - Opponents 59 of
161 (37%)
The Last Time Nevada…
…played in a bowl game…2005 (Hawaii Bowl vs. UCF)
…missed a bowl game…2004
…pitched a shutout…1994 (Arkansas State)
…was shutout…1980 (Weber State)
…scored 50 points…2005 (Idaho)
…went undefeated…never
…won a conference title…2005 (share, WAC)
…had a 3,000-yard passer…2002 (Zack Threadgill)
…had a 1,000-yard rusher…2005 (B.J. Mitchell)
…had a 1,000-yard receiver…2004 (Nichiren Flowers)
…had a first-round draft choice…never
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