Nevada Crushes Colorado State As Defense Shines, Wolf Pack Face Cal Next

Colin Kaepernick put on a show as Nevada crushed Colorado State 51- 6 on Saturday in Reno. With 402 yards of offense, Kaepernick passed for two TD's and rushed for two more. The senior QB was 21 for 29 in the air for 241 yards and rushed 11 times for 161 yards.  It was classic Kaepernick. He was absolutely dominant and thrilling to watch.

But monster offensive performances have become almost routine for Kaepernick and Nevada. An offense that is a true powerhouse with a defense that is more outhouse. That was until Saturday. It had been suggested by some that new offensive coordinator Andy Buh had transformed the historically hapless Nevada secondary. Against Eastern Washington last week, the defense did look better than last year, but still missed tackles and gave up two big plays.

Not so against Colorado State.  Nevada did something I have not seen them do in 37 years of watching the Wolf Pack. Yesterday, against Colorado State, the big story was not the offensive avalanche, it was an absolutely stifling and smothering defense. Nevada completed dominated on both sides of the ball. Something dramatic has changed in Wolf Pack football. The secondary was all over the receivers who were nailed instantly. Dontay Moch and James Michael Johnson were simply ridiculous. The corners and safeties played great! Here's the story everyone else has missed. Nevada now has a defense, a powerful, dominating defense!

Considering that Nevada scored 135 points against Boise State in the last three games and managed to lose all three by a combined total of only 20 points, it's fair to say, if Nevada had a defense half as good as their offense, they might have won one or more of those BSU games. Well folks, Nevada now appears to have a defense that is as good as their offense. At least they did last night.

The emergence of a potent Nevada defense comes none to soon. They face the PAC-10 next week when Cal comes calling for the first time in half a century. Cal put on a show themselves yesterday demolishing Colorado. Nevada may not be able to hang with Cal, but based upon what I saw last night, the hard truth is, Cal may get shocked. The game is a sell out. Cal will be playing at 5,000 feet elevation and will not have time to acclimatize. Nevada needs to capitalize on Cal's oxygen deficit.

We shall see if Nevada's new found defensive prowess is enduring or was just a one time fluke against a weak Colorado State team. But, I was there and I saw it. The big story is, Nevada now has a defense to go with its offense. Look out!