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UTEP stronger that 3-3 record indicates

Associated Press Arizona Daily Wildcat Texas-El Paso senior quarterback Jay Stuckey is brought down by Southern Methodist's Billy Jack Williams during the second quarter on Saturday in El Paso. Stuckey, along with junior Rocky Perez, head up the two-quarterback system that is going to try and beat the Wildcats Saturday night at 7 p.m. in Arizona Stadium.

The UTEP Miners aren't as bad as most people think.

UTEP began the season projected to finish fifth in the mediocre Western Athletic Conference and is on pace to do so, having started the season 3-3. The Miners have yet to win a road game this season and have not had a winning season since 1988.

However, despite their shortcomings, UTEP features talented players at the offensive skill positions, and a defense capable of smothering the UA rushing game.

The Miners imported a new offensive coordinator in Gary Nord, who has implemented a more wide open offense featuring multiple receiver sets. The question mark is and has been all year: Do the Miners have the offensive weapons to produce in Nord's offensive scheme?

Running back Paul Smith has asserted himself as the Miners premier offensive weapon and is a bruising 5-foot-11, 235-pound back with cutback ability. He is averaging 116 yards per game on the ground and has thus far rushed for eight touchdowns in 1999.

"He's (Smith) an impressive guy," UA head coach Dick Tomey said. "He's a big powerful guy, he's got good speed and he's hard to bring down."

The Miners, like the Wildcats, also employ a two-quarterback system with junior Rocky Perez and senior Jack Stuckey.

Perez has started every game this season and has thrown for a team-high six touchdowns and 640 yards. Stuckey had his best outing of the year last week in the win over Southern Methodist, where he passed for three touchdowns and completed 12 of 13 passes.

Tight end Brian Natkin was fourth in receptions nationally last year and is fifth in the nation among tight ends this year with 22 catches. He's a favorite target of both UTEP quarterbacks along with wide receiver Lee Mays, who is leading the team in both receptions (27) and yards (440).

The Miner offensive scheme incorporates almost all receivers into the offense as eight UTEP receivers have caught four balls or more this season.

"They have some weapons," UA linebacker Marcus Bell said. "They have a good tight end, good receivers and a big tailback. They have players that make plays and we've got to get after it."

The Miner kicking game has been solid this season. All-WAC junior kicker Ricky Bishop has made six of seven field goals this year, his only miss being a 52-yard attempt against Oregon.

After allowing opponents 235.5 rushing yards-per-game last season, the UTEP defense has confined the opposition to 160 yards-per-game on the ground this year. In addition, only one team this season (SMU) has amassed more than 200 yards rushing against the Miners.

Defensive end Brian Young is a probable NFL first round selection, the best defensive player in the WAC conference and one of the best in the country. Young, an All-American candidate, has 55 tackles on the season, including 11 for a loss.

"The scouts tell us he's as good as anybody we'll play against," Tomey said.

Defensive end Lief Larsen, a possible pro prospect from Norway, bookends the other side of the Miner defensive line.

The UTEP linebacking crew is guided by senior Robert Weathers who posted 15 tackles in the season-opener against New Mexico. Weathers is averaging 9.5 tackles-per-game

The Miner defense often packs the line with up to seven players to combat the run and put pressure on opposing quarterbacks.

Cornerbacks Nick Salinas and Crance Clemons will most likely match-up against UA wide receiver Dennis Northcutt. If the Miner front seven can stop the UA run, Salinas and Clemons will be tested often.