8/15/2007
When the Nevada football team played Miami (Fla.) in the MPC Computers Bowl on New Year's Eve, the Hurricane's standout defensive player was Calais Campbell, a 6-foot-8, 285-pound sophomore defensive end coach Larry Coker called one of the best defensive ends he had ever coached.
The Wolf Pack, which played the entire season without a true offensive tackle, countered with Alonzo Durham, who was a reserve most of the season but stepped up and played well against Campbell.
The Pack's season-opener will pose a similar challenge. One of the top defensive players for the Nebraska Cornhuskers, who host Nevada on Sept. 1, is Ndamukong Suh, a 6-4, 305-pound sophomore defensive tackle.
And this time the Wolf Pack will counter with someone who began fall camp no higher than third-string center.
The losses of Dominic Green, a second-team All-Western Athletic Conference selection last year, who is out until at least the third week with a broken foot, and second-teamer Kyle Robertson, who was dismissed from the team last week for disciplinary reasons, leave the Pack thin at center.
Josh Catapano, a 6-3, 285-pound junior; Kenny Ackerman, a 6-5, 290-pound sophomore; Dain Lutz, a 6-5, 270-pound sophomore; and Jeff Meads, a 6-3, 290-pound true freshman, have taken snaps in practice this week.
Ault said it's too early to know who might emerge as the starter until Green returns. One thing is for sure, though: center in the pistol offense, in which the ball is snapped three yards back to the quarterback on every play except certain goal-line formations, requires consistency.
"They're working hard. We're overworking them," Ault said. "They've got to learn that position. We've got some time to get it taught. We're pushing Catapano and Ackerman as hard as we can. There's a lot on them. They've got to understand that's a key position for us."
INJURIES: Junior receiver Jack Darlington is sidelined with a concussion, and red-shirt freshman linebacker Jared Silva-Purcell is out with a meniscus injury, Ault said Monday.
Darlington was popped when he caught a pass over the middle during practice last week. The team did not know when he will return.
Silva-Purcell injured his right knee during Sunday's scrimmage. Ault said he would be out four to five weeks.
When the Nevada football team played Miami (Fla.) in the MPC Computers Bowl on New Year's Eve, the Hurricane's standout defensive player was Calais Campbell, a 6-foot-8, 285-pound sophomore defensive end coach Larry Coker called one of the best defensive ends he had ever coached.
The Wolf Pack, which played the entire season without a true offensive tackle, countered with Alonzo Durham, who was a reserve most of the season but stepped up and played well against Campbell.
The Pack's season-opener will pose a similar challenge. One of the top defensive players for the Nebraska Cornhuskers, who host Nevada on Sept. 1, is Ndamukong Suh, a 6-4, 305-pound sophomore defensive tackle.
And this time the Wolf Pack will counter with someone who began fall camp no higher than third-string center.
The losses of Dominic Green, a second-team All-Western Athletic Conference selection last year, who is out until at least the third week with a broken foot, and second-teamer Kyle Robertson, who was dismissed from the team last week for disciplinary reasons, leave the Pack thin at center.
Josh Catapano, a 6-3, 285-pound junior; Kenny Ackerman, a 6-5, 290-pound sophomore; Dain Lutz, a 6-5, 270-pound sophomore; and Jeff Meads, a 6-3, 290-pound true freshman, have taken snaps in practice this week.
Ault said it's too early to know who might emerge as the starter until Green returns. One thing is for sure, though: center in the pistol offense, in which the ball is snapped three yards back to the quarterback on every play except certain goal-line formations, requires consistency.
"They're working hard. We're overworking them," Ault said. "They've got to learn that position. We've got some time to get it taught. We're pushing Catapano and Ackerman as hard as we can. There's a lot on them. They've got to understand that's a key position for us."
INJURIES: Junior receiver Jack Darlington is sidelined with a concussion, and red-shirt freshman linebacker Jared Silva-Purcell is out with a meniscus injury, Ault said Monday.
Darlington was popped when he caught a pass over the middle during practice last week. The team did not know when he will return.
Silva-Purcell injured his right knee during Sunday's scrimmage. Ault said he would be out four to five weeks.
