Spring Break
Spartan run defense will be tested against Nevada
Ryan Buchan
Issue date: 11/4/09 Section: Sports
This season, every opponent the Spartans have faced has had a rushing offense ranked in the top half of the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision, and the team has not done much to stop those runners.
Only Western Kentucky University and Eastern Michigan University have been worse at stopping the run than the Spartans in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision this season. SJSU has given up an average of 242 rushing yards per game.
The Spartans do not catch a break this week, as they go against the best rushing attack in the nation.
The Nevada Wolf Pack, led by quarterback Colin Kaepernick and running back Vai Taua, average 319 yards per game on the ground.
A major contributor to Nevada's rushing attack is Kaepernick, who averages 100 rushing yards a game. His rushing total is the 24th best among all ball carriers in the FBS.
"It is very difficult to prepare for Nevada, because they are a two-headed monster," said Adonis Davis, SJSU senior defensive tackle. "Kaepernick is an awesome player. We have to defend him as much as we have to defend their running back."
Taua has averaged 105 yards a game this season, ranking 18th in the nation.
Two weeks ago, against Idaho, the Wolf Pack put up 70 points and ran for 484 yards.
In the first half of the game against Boise State last week, the Spartans showed that they improved their rushing defense, allowing eight yards on 18 carries.
But, Boise State ran for 132 yards in the second half.
Against Boise State, senior linebacker Justin Cole was held out of the starting lineup in favor of Pompey Festejo, who Tomey said was playing better.
Tomey said he was unsure if Cole would start this week.
With less than a minute left in the half, the Spartans trailed Boise State 10-7. In the final 44 seconds, the Broncos scored two touchdowns to go into the half with a 24-7 lead.
"With a minute left in the half, it was a great football game and it was hard to tell the difference in the two teams," Tomey said. "We busted a coverage or two, and fumbled the ball and did things that stole all the momentum."
Only Western Kentucky University and Eastern Michigan University have been worse at stopping the run than the Spartans in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision this season. SJSU has given up an average of 242 rushing yards per game.
The Spartans do not catch a break this week, as they go against the best rushing attack in the nation.
The Nevada Wolf Pack, led by quarterback Colin Kaepernick and running back Vai Taua, average 319 yards per game on the ground.
A major contributor to Nevada's rushing attack is Kaepernick, who averages 100 rushing yards a game. His rushing total is the 24th best among all ball carriers in the FBS.
"It is very difficult to prepare for Nevada, because they are a two-headed monster," said Adonis Davis, SJSU senior defensive tackle. "Kaepernick is an awesome player. We have to defend him as much as we have to defend their running back."
Taua has averaged 105 yards a game this season, ranking 18th in the nation.
Two weeks ago, against Idaho, the Wolf Pack put up 70 points and ran for 484 yards.
In the first half of the game against Boise State last week, the Spartans showed that they improved their rushing defense, allowing eight yards on 18 carries.
But, Boise State ran for 132 yards in the second half.
Against Boise State, senior linebacker Justin Cole was held out of the starting lineup in favor of Pompey Festejo, who Tomey said was playing better.
Tomey said he was unsure if Cole would start this week.
With less than a minute left in the half, the Spartans trailed Boise State 10-7. In the final 44 seconds, the Broncos scored two touchdowns to go into the half with a 24-7 lead.
"With a minute left in the half, it was a great football game and it was hard to tell the difference in the two teams," Tomey said. "We busted a coverage or two, and fumbled the ball and did things that stole all the momentum."
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