WAC Preview: Nevada Wolfpack
July 11th, 2008 by Kevan Lee
The WAC’s new fantasy Mecca resides in Reno.
With Hawaii’s rebuilding efforts and Boise State’s uncertain quarterback situation, Nevada has the most experienced sure-thing of an offense in the conference, and head coach Chris Ault has empirical evidence that the Pistol formation actually works.
The Wolf Pack went to their third consecutive bowl game last year (at 6-7, they were Exhibit A for having too many bowl games), and Nevada had freshman QB Colin Kaepernick (right, AP) to thank for that.
Kaepernick filled in for injured starter Nick Graziano in the fifth game of the season and proved to be a revelation. Nevada’s season could have tanked, but instead, the Wolf Pack flourished behind the steady hand of Kaepernick (19 passing touchdowns, three interceptions).
The WAC Freshman of the Year deserved all the honors he got, though the accolades may have been more for his legs than for his arm. Kaepernick had some stinkers of passing games (134 yards vs. Hawaii, 137 yards in the New Mexico Bowl), but he had some equally amazing running days (100 yards and two touchdowns versus New Mexico State). The lanky quarterback is best when he is making plays with his feet, breaking out of the pocket, and running downfield or scrambling to find open receivers. As such, the big play is a Kaepernick specialty.
He was a nightmare for Boise State’s defense in the four-overtime, 69-67 thriller last fall (177 yards, two touchdowns). And he was equally as scary to the Nevada defense in the 2008 spring game (146 yards, two touchdowns, five carries). Kaepernick, if he is able to hold off a healthy Graziano for the QB position, will be hard to pass up in any fantasy draft. To start the season, he would make a great backup QB on a fantasy roster, and when he faces the tired, beleaguered WAC defenses later in the year, he could be starter material.
Those beleaguered WAC defenses are no more beleaguered than they are at Nevada. The Wolf Pack struggled on defense last year, and they could struggle even more this fall. Three linebackers graduated, and the Pack has to replace two starting cornerbacks to boot. New defensive coordinator Nigel Burton will wonder what he got himself into.
One bright spot for the “D” will be linebacker Joshua Mauga , who could have had a much better season last fall were it not for injuries. Unfortunately, Mauga is it as far as outstanding defensive players, which could make for a frustrating season for the Wolf Pack.
The porous defense’s saving grace will have to be the offense. Kaepernick will obviously be a fun player to watch, but he is not even the best player in his own backfield. That distinction goes to senior RB Luke Lippincott .
Lippincott is the WAC’s top returning rusher (no, it’s not Ian Johnson, despite what the media attention makes you think), and with an experienced line in front of him, he should have ample opportunity to add to his Nevada legacy. The senior rushed for 15 touchdowns last fall, and he could improve on that number this year with the equally dangerous Kaepernick taking attention away from him. A converted safety, Lippincott is a runner who gets the job done through whatever means necessary. He runs hard, is tough to bring down, and he has a nose for the end zone.
The linemen leading his way are seasoned veterans, which will be key to the offense running smoothly. Center Dominic Green might be the best of the bunch, and his teammates OTs Alonzo Durham and Mike Gallett and G Greg Hall are all some of the best at their positions.
The best fantasy option at receiver is Marko Mitchell , the team’s leading receiver from last year. Mitchell had 1,129 yards and eight TDs playing with a green Kaepernick behind center for most of the season. Those numbers could rise if Kaepernick keeps the ball in the air and doesn’t rely too much on his running skills.
One area of the offense that will take a drop in production will be the tight end position. Last year, Adam Bishop was a dangerous red zone threat, with half of his 14 receptions going for touchdowns. Expect the Wolf Pack to pound the running game when they get nearer the goalline, and don’t expect a Nevada tight end to be a viable fantasy option.
Senior Brett Jaekle will handle the kicking duties once again, and he should see the field plenty. Last year, he hit on three-fourths of his field goal attempts, a number that the Wolf Pack hope to see rise into the 80 percent range.
Conclusion
Nevada should be the most exciting team to watch in the WAC this year, both because of their spectacular offense and their leaky defense. They epitomize the national stereotype of the WAC, which is probably why they find themselves in lower-tier bowls every year.
Certainly, the New Mexico Bowl is happy to have them, but unless the Pack is happy with the New Mexico Bowl, they will have to be more well-rounded on both sides of the ball.
At any rate, fantasy owners should be happy with what the team has to offer. Start Nevada’s opponents as often as you can. Start Nevada players when conference play begins. And sit back and watch the points roll in.
Kevan Lee runs a website for Boise State football called One Bronco Nation Under God (OBNUG). For the best Bronco news, humor, and commentary, visit www.obnug.com .
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