Tigers getting 'opportunity'

Nevada Tigers running back Keith Overton (right) proved to be a load to bring down in Friday's "Opportunity Scrimmage" as head coach John Skeans called it. The Tigers went through some series on offense and defense Friday, getting the first three units some work in on each side of the ball. It was the first game-like activity the 2005 Tigers have seen so far.

The Nevada Tiger football team underwent their first true round of evaluations Friday, as they strapped on the pads and held an intra-squad scrimmage, otherwise referred to as an "opportunity scrimmage" by Nevada head coach John Skeans.

For the Tigers it was the first action in a game-like atmosphere that the 2005 version of the team has seen. While far from an actual game, the players were put through different series on offense and defense, with the entire depth chart getting an opportunity to show what they've got.

The series included a few different game-like scenarios, like goal-line offense and defense, played within five yards of the end zone.

The whole thing was designed to give players an opportunity to show what they've learned in the system, and show that they deserve to be on the field when the real games start.

Proving they belong on the varsity roster is one of the major challenges facing the players who were on the practice field Friday. That is because there were quite a few changes in personnel from the 2004 team.

Sophomore Ronnie Herda barked out the signals from under the center, as senior Justin Reed -- seen to be Herda's main competition at quarterback this season -- is not playing this year.

Also noticeably gone from last year's team was expected senior Opie Tipton. Tipton also is not playing this season.

They are just two of the players that chose to bypass their senior season of football, which coupled with a large number of graduating seniors from a year ago, lent a very different look to the Tigers in Skeans' second season.

The coach seemed to like what he had on the field. While not mentioning the players who were not playing, Skeans gave kudos to those who were sticking out the second season of a rebuilding process.

"We have a lot better sense of team, in terms of our mindset with the players," Skeans said comparing it to last year's squad.

The team is not void of seniors, as Heath Baker and Keith Overton return, just to name a couple. Baker and Overton were the two leading ball carriers from last season's squad, and both have bulked up noticeably from this time last year.

The team also has the Herda twins. While only sophomores, both played extensive minutes with the varsity as freshman, and both are taking a leadership role with this young team.

At the scrimmage Ronnie Herda looked in control of the offense, confidently making the calls and running the plays.

Ryan Herda did his part as a two-way player, blocking efficiently on the offensive line, and terrorizing the offense when serving at linebacker.

There were other players who stood out as well, as Overton broke many arm tackles and ran hard. Baker was tough on defense from his corner position, making some nice plays in run support.

The scrimmage came at the end of the first week of practice, culminating a week of two-a-days that the team had endured.

Skeans liked what he saw.

"Offensively we're a little bit ahead of where we were last year," he said."We've got a lot of young kids. "

Skeans said the gameplan following the scrimmage was easy.

"We just need to focus on our own effort. We're coming in and trying to focus on our practice each day."