WSU vs Nevada – Get To Know The Wolf Pack
By Nick Nordi
Defense:
The defense has struggled in the past and so has the coaching staff on finding a defensive coordinator. In 4 years the Wolf Pack have gone through the same amount of defensive coordinators and head coach Brian Polian believes he has found the right one. Scott Hazelton was fired after last season and was replaced with Scott Boone.
The key to the defense is that they are experienced and have been around each other for quite a while. Of last years top 10 leading tacklers, only 1 was a senior. In fact, it isn’t until the 16th best tackler on the team last year that you see another senior. (cfbstats.com)
The front 7 is very experienced and includes linebackers; Jonathan McNeal who had a team leading 103 total tackles, Jordan Dobrich (80 total tackles), and Bryan Lane Jr. (55 total tackles), and Matthew Lyons (89 total tackles).
Defensive back Markus Smith will not be returning again as he graduated leaving Charles Garrett as the returning corner and the player with the 5th most tackles on the team with 57. Garrett is a very good corner but is unable to contain the whole field on his own.
Oct 26, 2012; Colorado Springs, CO, USA; Nevada Wolf Pack defensive end Brock Hekking (53) and linebacker Albert Rosette (51) watch as Air Force Falcons running back Jon Lee (24) lands on his head after a tackle by defensive back Duke Williams (not pictured) in the second quarter of the game at Falcon Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
Duran Workman was the main safety for Nevada last week recording 6 tackles. Kaodi Dike was a true freshman that they used a lot last season but Workman took over after transferring from a junior college.
Defensive lineman Ian Seau and Jordan Hanson led the lineman with 4 tackles each last week with Rykeem Yates, Dupree Roberts-Jordan, and Brock Hekking each following with 3. Seau is also the nephew of the late Junior Seau.
Hekking is the teams main star on defense although he finished with 48 total tackles last season. Hekking and the rest of the defensive line has bulked up and helped themselves stop the run game.
Nevada was ranked 124th in rush defense last season giving up 258.5 yards per game on average. Only 1 team was worse with the run, New Mexico State. When it came to pass defense they were ranked 88th allowing 246.8 yards per game through the air. Last season opponents scored an average of 34.4 points per game against Nevada as well.