Attack of the super letdown - almost
Sunday, Oct. 21, 2007 @ 1:54 am
Maybe the Wolf Pack’s 31-28 win against Utah State on Saturday was an inevitable letdown following the Wolf Pack’s epic four-overtime game at Boise State last Sunday.
Maybe the short week between games didn’t leave the Wolf Pack with enough time to properly heal and prepare for the Aggies.
Maybe it was impossible to match last Sunday’s emotions against a team with a 12-game losing streak.
Still, Saturday very nearly turned into one of the most embarrassing losses in program history.
The Aggies are legitimately one of the worst teams in the nation. They’re one of the bottom 20 teams in total offense and defense and scoring offense in defense.
They probably wouldn’t be ranked in Division I-AA.
The Wolf Pack managed to outgain the Aggies 472-212, linebackers were running down running backs and receivers, the offensive line demolished the Aggies defense as Luke Lippincott ran for 241 yards and three touchdowns.
Still, the Wolf Pack needed a fourth quarter touchdown and a defensive stop to hold down the Aggies.
Despite size, speed, and athletic advantages at every position, the Wolf Pack fell behind in the first half by allowing 21 straight points.
The Wolf Pack seemed to come out with good intensity – the defense held the Aggies to a three-and-out on their first possession, then quarterback Colin Kaepernick finished an 85-yard drive with a 31-yard touchdown pass to a wide-open Marko Mitchell.
The Wolf Pack scored another easy touchdown a on its next drive after outside linebacker Ezra Butler intercepted Aggies quarterback Leon Jackson, but the fast start seemed hurt the team as the Wolf Pack seemed to lose interest after taking a 14-0 lead.
The defense started making Jackson – who is neither a great passer or extremely mobile quarterback – look like Mike Vick in scrambling the Aggies to two touchdowns. The special teams – still incapable of deep kickoff coverage – gave up another punt return touchdown. Kaepernick – for the first time in his young career – struggled to find a rhythm and the offense sputtered.
All that allowed the Aggies to score 21 points to take a seven-point lead at halftime.
The Wolf Pack asserted itself in the second half – the Aggies didn’t have enough of anything to stop Lippincott and the Wolf Pack’s offensive line – but Lippincott fumbled on two straight drives to allow the Aggies to take a 28-24 lead. Kaepernick saved the game with a 31-yard rocket touchdown pass to Mike McCoy.
While the stats look much better than last week, it’s tough to tell how much better the Wolf Pack’s defense played. The Aggies didn’t have enough athletes to make the Wolf Pack pay for mistakes.
The special teams still can’t be depended on to cover kicks, which is why the Wolf Pack is giving up a ton of yards in field position.
The Aggies were able to take away Kaepernick’s scrambling, and he struggled at times trying move the Pack with his arm – although you have to be impressed with how he still managed to complete a high percentage without turning the ball over.
Maybe Saturday’s disappointing result was bound to happen. Maybe it was just part of the fallout from last Sunday’s excitement.
Either way, the Wolf Pack’s performance on Saturday didn’t leave much reassurance that any game is an automatic win.
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on Sunday, October 21st, 2007 at 1:54 am and is filed under Football, Nevada Athletics.
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