Thursday, Sept. 2, 2004 | 12:02 p.m.
It's too bad Eric Gagne didn't have some college football eligibility he wouldn't mind using.
UNLV Coach John Robinson definitely could have used a closer like Gagne during a 6-6 season in 2003 season.
While Gagne inspired "Game Over" T-shirts en route to a Cy Young Award in 2003 as a Dodgers reliever, the Rebels' season could have best been described as "Game NOT Over."
The Rebels could easily have been 8-4 a year ago if not for two simple reasons: They could convert cheap-shot field goals in the clutch to seal games against Colorado State and BYU and their secondary struggled to protect leads down the stretch in both of those losses.
"We didn't close out games that came down to the last minutes," Robinson acknowledged. "And we let them get away from us in painful fashion. One of the clear lessons to me is that we have to play more efficiently and play well in close games."
With 13 starters back from a team that was talented enough to beat teams like Wisconsin, Toledo, Hawaii and New Mexico on its best days, there is plenty of reason to expect the Rebels should improve on their seventh place Mountain West finish from a year ago. ... if they can find a way to win the close ones.
"We need to get over the hump with victories," Robinson said. "We need to contend for championships and get back into bowl games. We are at a level now where those are legitimate goals and I think will be from now on."
Here's a look at how the Rebels shape up entering the 2004 season:
Quarterback
Senior Kurt Nantkes bounced back from a dislocated pubic bone injury that forced him to miss all of spring practice to hold onto his starting position despite a strong push from improving sophomore Shane Steichen.
Robinson said he envisions playing both during the season. It's a much better situation than in 2003 when Nantkes had to try and play on one leg the final month of the season because of the team's lack of experienced depth and talent at the position.
"We feel fortunate that we have two quarterbacks that can lead this team," Robinson said. "I think Kurt is fine and he is ready to go again."
Running back
There is no question that this is the deepest position on the squad with no less than six players capable of coming in and making an impact.
Senior speedster Dominique Dorsey (5-7, 170) had back-to-back 100-yard games against Wisconsin and Hawaii in 2003 and also has shown to have good hands catching the ball. He enters the year as the starter after rushing for 626 yards as a junior.
Senior Dyante Perkins from Bishop Gorman High School will also play a key role in the offense lining up at tailback in short yardage situations, halfback in others and will also play some H-Back to take advantage of his blocking and pass catching skills.
JaJa Riley (6-2, 210), a junior transfer from Ohio State, gives the Rebels a power back while former J.C. star Alvin Marshall, forced to redshirt in 2003 with arch problems, is healthy again and should make a big impact both running and catching the ball.
Two youngsters to keep an eye on are sophomore Erick Jackson (5-6, 180) and true freshman David Peeples (5-9, 190) of Cheyenne High. Both make up for their lack of size with good speed and good moves.
Junior Chad Henley (6-1, 250) gives the Rebels something they've lacked in recent years, an excellent blocking fullback.
Receivers
The Rebels were expecting big things from 6-foot-8 Greg Estandia this year but the senior tight end is expected to miss at least the first two games with a knee injury. Junior Michael Freund (6-2, 240) steps into his spot.
With Estandia out, the Rebels will count even more on all-Mountain West Conference wide receiver Earvin Johnson, who caught 60 passes for 834 yards and four touchdowns as a junior. He has caught a pass in 30 consecutive games and will be moved around more this season by new offensive coordinator Bruce Snyder to try and get better matchups.
Junior Terry Furlow and sophomore Donell Wheaton also should play key roles at the other receiver spots. Both have 4.4 speed in the forty.
Sophomore Tremayne Kirkland, a first team all-conference punt returner, also was expected to battle for starting time but has been sidelined for two weeks with a separated shoulder which will keep him out probably until October.
Offensive line
Two starters return led by senior guard Joe Critchfield (6-4, 300) and senior center Marcus Johnson (6-1, 300), who moves over from guard to take over for NFL draft pick Dominic Furio.
Senior tackle Tyler Crandal, who started nine games a year ago, will sit out the season following back surgery. That means the Rebels will start a pair of unproven sophomores, Marco Guerra (6-5, 350) and JC transfer Chris Bowser (6-6, 280), at the position. Junior Zach Gorham (6-5, 310), slated to start at the other guard spot, also could see some time there.
"Joe Critchfield and Marcus Johnson will be our senior leaders," Robinson said. "Most of the other guys are sophomores who are going to be together for a few years and make up a big-time line."
Defensive line
Although all three starters from 2003 have moved on, their experienced backups figure to more than hold their on in starting roles.
Sophomore nose tackle Howie Fuimaono (6-0, 325) is a potential all-conference player after starting four games as a freshman. He'll be backed up by former junior college star Isaiah Tafua (6-2, 275).
Junior Leon Moore (6-5, 280) of Rancho High School had four sacks and six pass-breakups as a sophomore reserve and was a preseason all-conference pick in some publications. The other end will be senior Brian Nicholson (6-5, 275), who had two sacks as a reserve last fall.
The key for the Rebels could be how quickly two highly-touted junior college transfers, Mario Hill (6-2, 260) and Isaac Watts (6-2, 260), develop at defensive end. Watts started his college career at Arizona before transferring to junior college powerhouse City College of San Francisco while Hill was regarded as one of the top juco defensive linemen in sourthern California in 2003 at Pasadena City College.
"Defensive line is an area where we don't have great size but it is an active group," Robinson said. "We have an influx of young talent. We hope to play a lot of players and if that happens we'll be strong."
Linebackers
There may not be a better group in the Mountain West Conference than this veteran unit.
Senior Adam Seward, a two-time all-MWC pick who has a school record 312 tackles, and senior Ryan Claridge, who has forced a school-record nine fumbles, are both getting strong looks from NFL scouts. Another senior, Zach Bell, would probably start for most teams in the conference. Still another senior, Terrence Young, provides solid depth.
Both outside starting linebackers, senior John Andrews and senior Reggie Butler, return and give the Rebels outstanding speed at the position. Andrew tied for the MWC lead with five fumble recoveries as a junior while Butler had three sacks and four pass breakups and is a solid tackler.
Lanky redshirt freshman Ryan Welter and true freshman Beau Bell are future stars who provide good depth along with junior college transfers Bobby Kelly and Matt Pattison.
"This is one of the top groups I've ever coached," Robinson said.
Secondary
Senior Jamaal Brimmer enters the season as a first team All-American and could contend for the Jim Thorpe Award. He led the MWC with six interceptions a year ago and is a potential first round NFL pick, especially is scouts use their eyes instead of their stopwatches.
The Rebels' other safety, junior Joe Miklos, isn't too shabby either and should contend for all-MWC honors.
"Overall, safety is a real bright spot for us," Robinson said. "Jamaal Brimmer is one of the elite defensive players in the country."
The most improved area on the team could be at cornerback where senior Ruschard Dodd-Masters returns at one side and will be joined by improving sophomore Earnest Gordon. Two highly-touted junior college transfers, Charles Ealy and Chanti Bloomer, also figure to see plenty of playing time.
Special teams
Senior punter Gary Cook averaged 43.4 yards on a school and league-record 83 punts as a junior and was a second team all-MWC pick thanks in part to his precision at dropping balls inside the opponents' 20-yard line.
Leading scorer Dillon Pieffer graduates at place-kicker but Robinson is very high on redshirt freshman Sergio Aguayo, one of the top prep kickers in the nation in 2002.
The big question is who will step up for injured punt return star Tremayne Kirkland (shoulder) at the start of the season? Both Wheaton and Dorsey are expected to fill in until Kirkland, who led the MWC with a 12.6 average, returns.
archive
