Know the Foe: Wyoming at Nevada
Nov. 24—Neil Healy has covered Nevada football for the Reno Gazette-Journal for two years. He weighs in on what University of Wyoming fans can expect this weekend against the Wolf Pack.
Nevada is 122nd in the country in scoring offense at 18.4 points per game. What have been the biggest factors in the Wolf Pack's scoring struggles?
It's a laundry list of problems, but it has to start with the offensive line. The line just can't control the line of scrimmage. The unit has given up 35 sacks thus far, and surrenders an average of 3.18 sacks per game, which is in the bottom-third in the country. Everything else, from the inconsistent quarterback play and questionable play calling, takes a back seat to the offensive line's inability to assert itself in the trenches.
Who do you expect to be the starting quarterback between Brendon Lewis and A.J. Bianco during the last game of the regular season?
Coach Ken Wilson said (Monday) that Bianco is out and will not play at quarterback this week. It will be Brendon Lewis. Bianco got dinged up after throwing two interceptions in his first three series (last weekend against Colorado State).
Running back Sean Dollars has run for 496 yards and six touchdowns going into this weekend's game. How effective has Nevada's running game been this fall?
Nevada has struggled to run the ball all season, ranking 91st in rushing offense and averaging a mere 3.5 yards per carry. Dollars, an Oregon transfer, shows flashes from time to time, but the Nevada offensive line just hasn't been able to create the holes for him to run through. Whenever Nevada has any consistent success in the running game, it's usually due to one of the quarterbacks taking the ball himself after the play breaks down.
Ken Wilson is 4-19 since taking over as head coach last year. How hot is his seat, if at all?
The seat is practically melting, it's so hot. It's hard to defend a coach when his team lost 16 straight games. As a defensive coach, you'd expect his side of the ball to be showing signs of improving, but it's almost the opposite, with Nevada ranking 125th in total defense. With a new athletics director at the helm and Wilson's buyout dropping to $1 million on Dec. 1, it would be a complete shock if Wilson returns for a third year.
Wide receiver Dalevon Campbell leads the team with 562 receiving yards and two touchdowns. What kind of spark has he provided the offense?
He's been the only consistent big-play receiver Nevada's offense has had. In the past six games, his longest catches have been 48, 44, 51, 36, 38 and 31 yards. At 6-foot-4, 215 pounds, he has the size, and he's averaging almost 20 yards per reception, which shows he has the ability. He just suffers from being in an inconsistent offense. A receiver can only do so much.
Defensive back Emany Johnson leads the team with 87 tackles. How big has he been for this Nevada defense?
Johnson's play can be seen as a double-edged sword. He's obviously been a major bright spot in a defensive backfield that ranks near the bottom in passing yards allowed (120th) and pass efficiency defense (125th). The problem is when one of your DBs, specifically one of your safeties, leads your team in tackles, that usually means the offense is breaking through your front seven, and it's up to the guys in the second level to make a stop.
It's hard to imagine how much worse it would be if Johnson wasn't as effective as he has been. His two-interception game against then No. 25-ranked Fresno State in September kept that game within reach for a while before the Bulldogs put their foot on the gas. He's been a bright spot, for sure.
Nevada is 110th in the country in scoring defense at 32.6 points allowed per game. Where has the Wolf Pack defense struggled the most this year?
The front seven, specifically the defensive line, has been a big disappointment this year. The offseason narrative was that, despite losing some senior talent, the defensive line would be the strength of the defense. That hasn't been the case. Nevada is 117th in rushing defense and is tied for 118th in sacks. That all starts up front.
Nevada and Wyoming are No. 11 and No. 12, respectively, in total offense in the Mountain West. Do you expect this to be a relatively low-scoring game?
That wouldn't be surprising. With neither offense being consistent, that could lead to the defenses being on the field too long, which leads to fatigue. Whichever defense can get off the field faster, either with three-and-outs or turnovers, will be the difference maker.
Wyoming is 0-4 on the road this season, and Nevada is 1-4 at home. What do you expect to happen this weekend?
I'd expect Wyoming to win by double-digits. While not an electric offense, Wyoming can run the ball effectively at 4.3 yards a carry, and the offense has only turned the ball over 11 times all season. If Nevada commits some early turnovers and Wyoming gets a quick lead, it'll be hard the claw back.
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Alex Taylor is the assistant editor for WyoSports and covers University of Wyoming athletics. He can be reached at ataylor@wyosports.net. Follow him on X at @alex_m_taylor22.
