A primary change in the secondary: Rebels have depth

Steve Guiremand

Monday, Aug. 23, 2004 | 9:25 a.m.

Now this is the kind of problem UNLV defensive coordinator Mike Bradeson doesn't mind having.

One year after the Rebels had to play almost entirely zone in the secondary to cover for their shortcomings and lack of depth at cornerback, Bradeson now actually has some competition for a starting position.

Senior Ruschard Dodd-Masters, who returned an interception 61-yards for a touchdown in the team's scrimmage on Saturday night at Sam Boyd Stadium, has one side locked up after starting for two years.

But the other side, which was thought to be all sewn up for by star junior college recruit Charles Ealy in the spring, now has become at least a two-man battle.

In fact, true sophomore Ernest Gordon, who started a game against BYU a year ago when Dodd-Masters was suspended, has spent the past week working on the first-team defense ahead of Ealy. He also started Saturday's scrimmage with the first unit. And another highly regarded junior college transfer, fall enrollee Chanti Bloomer, appears to have nailed down a spot as a nickel back.

"We're still evaluating the position," UNLV defensive coordinator Mike Bradeson said.

For Bradeson, it's a much better scenario than a year ago when starter Will Tagoai went down with a season-ending knee injury in the fourth game of the season. That stretched an already young and thin secondary even thinner. The Rebels finished 85th in the nation in pass defense allowing 239.8 yards per game and 17 touchdowns and had major breakdowns in the secondary at the end of key losses to BYU and Colorado State.

"It's nice to have some options there," Bradeson said.

Gordon, who has been timed at 4.4 seconds in the 40-yard dash, making him one of the fastest members on the team, says he's feeling "more comfortable now, especially after getting to play last year. ... I'm starting to know my plays and I'm a smarter player than a year ago."

Gordon says he believes he and Ealy (5-foot-11, 205) complement each other.

"He's got a bigger body than me and is good with the jam," said Gordon, a 6-foot, 170-pounder. "I think my strength is coverage. We're both getting better as players."

The prospect of starting at Tennessee in two weeks is an exciting one for Gordon, who once intercepted three passes in a game for Hiram Johnson High School in Sacramento, Calif.

"I'm real happy," he said. "This is what I've been waiting forever for it seems like. Finally I've got my shot so I'm going to try and take advantage of it and do the best I can."

Kirkland, who also is expected to make a big contribution at wide receiver for the Rebels this fall, suffered a separated shoulder while returning a punt and left the stadium with his arm in a sling.

Rebels trainer Kyle Wilson said he expects Kirkland to be out about a week.

Meanwhile, all-MWC linebacker Adam Seward, expected to rejoin the team for practice today after undergoing right foot surgery for a stress fracture last month, caused a few gasps when he entered the stadium wearing a walking boot.

"It's just a little sore," Seward said. "In another couple of days it will be OK."

Sources around the football team said one of the reasons Seward's foot was placed in a boot was to keep him from trying to come back too fast.

A poll of several Rebels assistant coaches named 6-foot-3, 220-pound Bell, the younger brother of starting inside linebacker Zach Bell, as the most impressive of the freshmen.

"That's the future right there," Bradeson said of the linebacking trio. "And it might be the near future. We lose a lot of linebackers after this year so those kids have got to get ready to play."

The Rebels' top four inside linebackers -- Seward, Bell, Ryan Claridge and Terrence Young -- as well as both starting linebackers, John Andrews and Reggie Butler, all graduate after this season.