Steichen getting feel for offense

Steve Guiremand

Wednesday, March 24, 2004 | 9:39 a.m.

Shane Steichen was discouraged at first when he had his redshirt taken off during the 10th week of his freshman season.

Four months later, Steichen, a lanky 6-foot-3 sophomore, couldn't be happier.

With senior quarterback Kurt Nantkes out of action with a dislocated pubic bone, Steichen has gotten the majority of snaps with the first team offense during the first 10 days of spring football practice. And Steichen, a graduate of Oak Ridge High School in the Sacramento suburb of El Dorado Hills, has made the most of the extra practice time.

"It's a great plus for him to get those extra snaps," UNLV coach John Robinson said. "I think we go into the fall now saying we have two proven quarterbacks."

Steichen, who ended up starting UNLV's final two games of the season against Colorado State and at Wyoming, said the extra experience has been invaluable in his development.

"I think everything happens for a reason," he said of losing his redshirt status late in his freshman campaign. "That's something that happens and you just have to roll with it. If I didn't have that game experience, I probably wouldn't be where I am right now."

Indeed, it's hard to remember that Steichen was still in high school a year ago at this time by the way he's running the show in his first college spring practice.

"Shane has done very well," Robinson said. "Shane is going to be a very good college quarterback. I think he has real instincts for the game and his mechanics are good. I think he has a very bright future."

"It's a good feeling to get more snaps," Steichen said. "Every time you get more reps, you feel more comfortable with the guys."

Steichen and Nantkes will likely battle during fall camp for the starting quarterback position.

"It's actually a dislocation of the pubic bone," Nantkes said. "When I took that hit, my pubic bone just dislocated. All the muscles that are connected to that area just kind of flared up and got real weak."

The bone has since been popped back into place and Nantkes has been undergoing exercises to strengthen the area.

"Half of the battle was finding out what I had," Nantkes said. "I went to about six doctors before I finally found someone who knew what I had."

The worst part of the whole ordeal has been having to miss his final spring practice.

"It's probably been more painful watching than the injury itself," Nantkes said. "I pride myself on playing hurt and going out there and playing when I can. It's been tough having to watch."

But two-time all-Mountain West Conference pick Adam Seward actually broke down and wept because he couldn't practice Tuesday after reinjuring his left foot.

Seward had missed most of spring ball with a stress fracture in the foot. But he returned on Tuesday and eagerly took part in about 45 minutes of drills before having be carted away from the field.

"I want to watch practice," an emotional Seward pleaded with trainers as they began to rush him back to the locker room.

"He's got a stress fracture in his foot," Robinson said. "They thought it had healed, but it sounded like he hurt it again. He'll probably be out another three or four weeks."

Senior Marcus Johnson, who has switched to center from the left guard spot he has started the past 25 games, hyperextended his left elbow and watched the last hour from the sideline.

"It always happens in a pile," Johnson said. "I put my arm down and someone went into it."

Johnson said he had just begun getting comfortable with snapping when he went down. He is expected to replace Dominic Furio as the Rebels' starting center in the fall.

"Today was the first day I was really starting to feel good about things and then this happens," Johnson said.

Johnson said he hopes to be back for practice later in the week.