Nevada looks to exploit Missouri defense

The formation is rare among college football programs.

By Nick Forrester

Published Sept. 11, 2008

The Nevada Wolf Pack will bring their unique and high-powered pistol attack to try to exploit the Missouri defense Saturday afternoon.

The pistol formation is similar to the shotgun formation, except the quarterback lines up closer to the center with the running back behind him.

"Their quarterback [sophomore Colin Kaepernick] is an outstanding player, a big tall guy that runs the option really well," coach Gary Pinkel said.

Nevada is only one of a couple of teams in the country that runs the pistol formation but, so far, it has worked. After two games this season, Nevada has the No. 5 rushing offense in the nation with 325 yards per game. The Wolf Pack are averaging 6.5 yards per carry. In one win against Grambling State, Nevada piled up 629 yards of total offense, and followed up by out-gaining a potent Texas Tech offense last week, 488-421.

Nevada also finished the last season No. 7 in the nation in total offense, averaging 488.9 yards per game.

"We're simply focusing on how we can get better," senior defensive lineman Ziggy Hood said. "They have a great quarterback. He's a big kid, he's mobile and he can run. When you have a mobile quarterback, it brings a new threat to the offense and creates a whole new atmosphere."

Kaepernick has passed for 386 yards so far this season and has run for an additional 143 yards.

"We've already faced a quarterback who's good at both [running and throwing] in [Illinois quarterback] Juice Williams," junior linebacker Sean Weatherspoon said. "I think we'll be pretty prepared because of the preparation that Williams gave us in the first game."

Although the Missouri rush defense has been successful so far this season, giving up only 82.5 yards per game, the secondary has not had as much luck, allowing an average of 350.5 yards in the first two games. The Missouri defense is last in the Big 12 in passing yards allowed.

"The problem is simply their chemistry," quarterback Chase Daniel said. "It takes a while to get better. It's similar to last year when they started off slow but finished first in the Big 12 in total defense. For the most part, the secondary will be fine, they just have a couple of kinks to work out."

The starting running back for Nevada, senior Luke Lippincott, suffered a season-ending knee injury in the second quarter against Texas Tech last week.

The Tigers and Wolf Pack kickoff at 11:30 a.m. Saturday.