Posted by bambi2godzilla on 8/13/2007, 10:52 am Nevada head coach Chris Ault knows where the secret to his team's success lies. "We have eight starters coming back, actually 14 different players who have started the last year-and-a-half at certain points, so it's our most experienced group," Ault said. "My expectations are very high for our defense. We've created some nice competition and for me, that's got to be the difference in trying to compete for a championship and trying to hope for a championship." He's not joking. The Wolf Pack might have the strongest defensive unit, top to bottom, in the entire Western Athletic Conference. It starts up front, where Nevada lines up in a 3-4 formation. Senior nose tackle Matt Hines is a load and a leader, coming off a season which saw him be named as a team captain and follow that up with productive numbers (21 tackles, 5 tackles for a loss, 1 sack). Ault said that defensive end Erics Clark is due for a breakout campaign as well. And at outside linebacker the team has standout senior Ezra Butler. Butler tormented opposing backfields last season, leading the WAC in tackles for a loss (17.5) and finishing fourth in sacks (7). "He can run," Ault said. "He's a guy who makes some plays for you as far as getting to the quarterback and dropping back into coverage. There are role players and there's guys who are playmakers. At that position, we like our guy to be a playmaker and he's done well there." Ault also points to senior Jeremy Engtrom and junior Josh Mauga as impact players at linebacker in 2007. "He's (Mauga) probably one of the best athletes on our defense," Ault said. "I thought he was one of the most dominating linebackers in the conference last year. He will be, when he's done, the best linebacker that played inside for us. There's no question about it." The secondary is also strong and deep. Ault said that he has four safeties with starting experience led by Jonathon Amaya. Amaya, who also plays baseball, was a walk-on freshman last year and stepped in as a starter. "We did not expect big things out of him," Ault said. "He came on and started as a freshman last year and was by far the best safety I ever had at the University of Nevada and I've had some pretty good safeties." Seniors Devon Walker and Paul Pratt are expected to start at cornerback for the Wolf Pack. The unit will need to be the team's cornerstone as the offense tries to find its rhythm early in the season. A brand new backfield will be in place, with quarterback Nick Graziano taking over under center and junior Luke Lippincott at running back. Lippincott started a handful of games last year and Ault has made it no secret that he wants the junior as his every-down back. Ault is also high on third-down runner Dwayne Sanders. Sanders was moved from wide receiver and Ault said he displayed nice ability at his new position in the spring. The wide receiver position has some question marks as well but the team has a nice outlet in the passing game in tight end Adam Bishop. At 6-foot-4, 245 pounds, Bishop provides Graziano a big target to look for as the quarterback gets used to the Ault's famed "Pistol Offense". Ault said that the biggest challenge for Bishop will be staying on the field, as the senior has been hobbled by nagging injuries throughout his career. "I feel like I'll be Graz's safety valve," Bishop said. "I have a good relationship with him and hopefully I'll be able to get him out of some jams. Help him keep the pressure off." As a whole, the defense will look to carry the load, at least at the outset. "We gotta give the offense some time to gel," Hines said. "The burden's on us to come out and play well and hold this team up. Give it some new time with the new quarterback."
63.249.102.18
Nevada will lean on "D'
Teddy Feinberg
Las Cruces Sun-News Sports Editor
8/13/2007
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