Wolf Pack secondary readies for 'Air Raid'

BY DARRELL MOODY

Appeal Sports Writer

RENO " Nevada's top four cornerbacks have a combined two starts between them and both of those came in last week's opener against Grambling State.

Antoine Thompson and Michael Evans got the starts last weekend, but Doyle Miller and true freshman Isaiah Frey also saw significant action in the 49-13 victory.

All four are in the infancy stages of learning how to play cornerback at the collegiate level and all four are learning that it takes more than athleticism and natural ability to succeed.

The quartet will be thrown into the fire when they go up against 12th-ranked Texas Tech's "Air Raid" offense Saturday night (6:05 p.m., ESPN Radio 630AM) at Mackay Stadium.

Tech's offense, led by quarterback Graham Harrell and wide receiver Michael Crabtree, is tough to stop even with a veteran group in the secondary. One has to wonder what will happen with an inexperienced group like Nevada's. Even safeties Uche Anyanwu and Jon Amaya only have 25 combined starts on the back line.

The Red Raiders offense resembles the proverbial Chinese fire drill. Five receivers spread across the field, looking for open areas, going against four or five defenders. Tech's offense is based on timing and the receivers racking up yards after they catch the ball.

"Unfortunately it's part of the business," said Nevada cornerbacks coach James Ward when asked if he would have liked extra preparation. "It is what it is. We have to try to prepare. It's going to be a good challenge."

Stopping a spread offense is tough.

Ward says his group, while showing promise, has quite a ways to go.

"It was their first college game," Ward said. "We're not where we need to be. I have a whole list of things drawn up to work on."

Thompson and Evans, the first-game starters, got mixed reviews from Ward.

"They made some good plays and bad plays," Ward said. "They were minor things. It was their first college game. We're not where we need to be. We have a whole list of things to work on.

"Frey is doing great. We got him in the game against Grambling, and that helped settle him down. Doyle knows what's expected."

Games like Texas Tech and Missouri are what the 5-foot-10 Evans lives for and it's a big reason why he chose Nevada. He admits that it's been a big jump from junior college.

"It's basically technique and learning the system," said Evans when asked about the difference between junior college and college. "Coach (Nigel) Burton recruited me, and he said I would have to come in and fight for a spot. I knew everybody was new. The four of us push each other every day. We help each other."

Thompson said it's been a tough transition.

"There is much more competition, assignments to remember," Thompson said. "There is a lot of competition between the positions. It's definitely not as easy as I thought it was going to be.

"I'd give myself a D so far. I know I can do a whole lot better. I just want to improve and pick things up quicker."

Thompson's strength is his nose for the ball. He racked up 50 tackles and six interceptions at Reedley College.

"My speed and my ability to get to the ball," said Thompson, talking about his strengths. "I played more zone in junior college. I wished I'd play more man because I would have been more prepared. That's where the technique comes in. The game is so fast."

And it's about to get even faster.

- Contact Darrell Moody at dmoody@nevadaappeal.com or (775) 881-1281

TEXAS TECH VS. NEVADA

When: Saturday, 6:15 p.m.

Where: Mackay Stadium

TV/Radio: None/ESPN Radio 630AM

Coaches: Chris Ault (Nevada); Mike Leach (Texas Tech)

The pick: Texas Tech by 15