UNLV (1-0) at Kansas (0-1)

Steve Guiremand

Friday, Sept. 5, 2003 | 9:30 a.m.

4 p.m., Memorial Stadium (artificial turf) TV: None Radio: KBAD 920 AM

WHEN UNLV HAS THE BALL

UNLV run offense vs. Kansas run defense

The Jayhawks hit the junior college ranks hard last year to try and shore up a defense that allowed a woeful 256.3 yards rushing per game. That ranked Kansas 114th out of 117 Division I teams. However, the team's top defensive player and co-captain, tackle Travis Watkins, is injured and won't play and his backup, former UNLV recruit Chuck Jones, left last Saturday's opening loss to Northwestern with an undisclosed injury and is listed as day-to-day. Northwestern, predominantly a spread passing team, rushed for 235 yards against Kansas, including 196 yards and four touchdowns on 41 carries by tailback Jason Wright. That sound you hear is the tailbacks licking their chops.

Edge: UNLV.

UNLV pass offense vs. Kansas pass defense

Starting safeties Tony Stuff and Jonathan Lamb, a freshman walk-on, both performed well in the season opener against Northwestern, combining for 23 tackles, which also may be an indication of just how bad the Jayhawks run defense was. Kansas defensive coordinator Bill Young, who was Paul Hackett's defensive coordinator at USC, has indicated the Jayhawks will likely play a lot of zone coverage to protect corners Shelton Simmons, a highly touted JC transfer, and sophomore Donnie Amadi, who broke up two passes against Northwestern. UNLV gets a big boost with the return of All-Mountain West wide receiver Earvin Johnson, who has a 4- to 5-inch height advantage on both corners and has been very impressive in practice. Toss in steady senior wide receiver Michael Johnson and 6-foot-8 tight end Greg Estandia, who had two touchdown catches in his Division I debut, and the Rebels should be able to have good success throwing.

Edge: UNLV.

WHEN KANSAS HAS THE BALL

Kansas run offense vs. UNLV run defense

Jayhawks managed exactly 100 yards and averaged just 3.7 yards per rush against a Northwestern defense that was carved up for 52 points by Air Force last season. The team's top rusher, tailback Clark Green, left that game with a foot injury after gaining 79 yards on 17 carries but is expected to play. The Jayhawks' top running threat, quarterback Bill Whittemore, has been advised to stay in the pocket more this year after undergoing major knee surgery. He carried just four times for seven yards against Northwestern and had to leave the game briefly when he "tweaked" the same knee. Kansas, which gained just 69 yards on 34 rushing attempts against UNLV last year, has just one starter back on the offensive line. On the flip side, UNLV's front seven stuffed a strong Toledo running attack in its opening 28-18 victory, holding the Rockets to just 94 yards on the ground.

Edge: UNLV.

Kansas pass offense vs. UNLV pass defense

Kansas quarterback Bill Whittemore was the Big 12 Conference's newcomer of the year in 2002 but struggled bad in the wet conditions last week against Northwestern, completing just 12 of 28 passes for 240 yards, one touchdown and one interception. However, the weather won't be a factor this week with temperatures expected to be in the 70s and clear at kickoff. The Wildcats have three big-play receiving threats in redshirt freshman Charles Gordon, who had four receptions for 90 yards against Northwestern, sophomore Mark Simmons, who had a 74-yard touchdown reception in the opener, and 6-foot-4 Brandon Rideau, who led the team with 27 receptions as a sophomore. UNLV's cornerbacks, junior Willie Tagoai and Ruschard Dodd-Masters, both played well in the season-opener as did sophomore safety Joe Miklos. The big questio n is will Whittemore have time to find his receivers behind a rebuilt offensive line that figures to be tested early and often by UNLV's blitzing?

Edge: UNLV.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Kansas punter Curtis Ansel is a Ray Guy Award nominee who holds the Big 12 record for longest punt (83 yards) and averaged an outstanding 48.2 yards on four punts despite playing in a downpour last week. He gets the nod over steady UNLV junior Gary Cook who wasn't too shabby himself with a 41.5 average on five tries against Toledo. UNLV may have an edge at placekicker in senior Dillon Pieffer, who appears to have a much stronger leg this year and did an excellent job on kickoffs last week. His counterpart, Johnny Beck of Kansas, is coming off a disappointing sophomore year that saw him make just 7 of 17 field goals and 23 of 27 PATs. He missed a 20-yarder last week against Northwestern in his only attempt.

Edge: Kansas.

INTANGIBLES

Following a tough 2-10 season in 2002, the Jayhawks were counting on a quick start this year against what was being called a "soft preseason schedule" by the Kansas media. Besides Northwestern and UNLV, the Jayhawks play at Wyoming and then host Jacksonville State in the next two weeks. However, you've got to wonder just how confident the Jayhawks will be coming into this one after last week's disappointing home loss, especially with Whittemore dinged up. UNLV's two most impressive victories came on the road in 2002, at BYU (24-3) and at No. 13 Colorado State (36-33).

Edge: UNLV.

COACHING

John Robinson took over a program that had lost 16 consecutive games and had gone just 6-39 its previous four seasons in the Big West and the WAC. With the victory against Toledo last Friday, the Rebels have gone a respectable 18-19 the last three-plus seasons and appear to finally have the depth and talent to make a strong run in the tough Mountain West Conference. Second-year Kansas coach Mark Mangino was assistant head coach of Oklahoma's national championship team in 2001 but is just 2-11 since taking over the depleted Jayhawks program.

Edge: UNLV.

KEYS TO VICTORY

To win, UNLV must ...

1. Run, run and run some more. The Jayhawk rush defense once again appears to be weak.

2. Cut down on penalties. It's hard enough to win on the road in college football without piling up 13 penalties like UNLV did in the win against Toledo.

3. Bring the house. UNLV's blitz package caused nightmares for Toledo quarterback Bruce Gradkowski and figures to do the same for KU's hobbled Bill Whittemore.

To win, Kansas must ...

1. Cut down on miscues. The Jayhawks had five turnovers in their 28-20 loss to Northwestern and also missed a 20-yard field goal.

2. Pass protect. Kansas knows UNLV will be blitzing from all angles. If they can pick it up, it will give quarterback Bill Whittemore a chance to exploit a still unproven UNLV secondary.

3. Start quick. After last week's disappointing home opening loss to Northwestern, the Jayhawks need to jump-start their crowd and pick up some confidence early.

THE PICK

UNLV 30, Kansas 17