By Jason Beauchamp · October 8, 2008 · 1:57 AM

Each week, UNLV junior linebacker Jason Beauchamp drops by to add an installment to his blog at lasvegassun.com/rebels - Judgement Days. This week, Jason reflects on the Rebels' 41-28 heartbreaker of a loss at Colorado State last weekend, and how the team now heals its wounds during a bye week at 3-3 with bowl hopes still alive.

Quickly looking back ...

Last week at Colorado State, the game started off very competitive. I think from both sides, offense and defense, things were constantly changing. The defense let up sometimes, and on offense we did the same. When we wanted to score, we scored. When we wanted to stop on defense, we stopped on defense. I think that it's about getting up for a game and taking that game seriously, like you're playing the best team in the nation each game. We talked about it, how the best teams beat the teams that they're supposed to beat. And if we want to be a great team, we have to capitalize on games like that and take care of those type games.

We didn't this time, but we're learning, and we understand exactly what we need to do.

Moving on to the bye week ...

It's a good time to re-evaluate things and look at exactly what's happening with our team, so we're doing a lot fo re-evaluating, having meetings with coach Sanford, talking about what our roles are and what we can do and what needs to be changed. The tail end of that game, the defense let up a touchdown drive with six minutes left to go. I couldn't believe it when I looked up at the clock and there were 10 seconds left (when they scored). They should have never been in the game if you asked me and you asked our team. Anyone on our team, we should expect to have taken that game earlier. But we left them in the game and just gave them a big chance. We got a couple big turnovers and we capitalized on them. The difference was, I guess, it made us a little too relaxed in thinking we were just going to win that game.

The key right now is offense, defense and special teams need to all combine as one. We talked about it. It's time for us to be accountable. We can't be on different pages, as far as offense and defense. We can never blame anything on anybody. It's a team loss, and that game was a heartbreaker, because games we're supposed to win, we didn't win, and game's we're not supposed to win, we win. So it's all mental. As we grow, those things will change, I hope.

Hopefully in the second half of the season you'll see the change. When we play teams like that, we'll do what we're supposed to do.

I guess it's a humbling time right now. The bye week should really be a good time to analyze and really, hopefully make a lot of guys want to work hard. This week is actually a pretty serious week. I guess our bye week is different from most colleges. We have practice all week, we have lifting every other day this week, it's a pretty busy schedule with mid-terms and everything going on as well. Our practices should be uptempo even though some of our coaches won't be there.

We're really looking for that answer. It's evaluation time. Nobody's safe as far as positions. You've really got to work for what you get. Things are gonna be extra strict as far as the coaches looking at us, and it's an entire evaluation of everyone.

It's a great time to just be serious and understand what time it is for us personally.

At my position, we've got some young players, and I'm trying my best to lead them. We're looking for other leaders as far as the secondary goes, and as far as offense,. As far as the offensive line, they're finding those leaders. Me personally, I've been trying to show my leadership through play and hopefully the linebackers and front seven see the work that I'm trying to put in and can tell that my attitude and my game has changed. I really want this to happen and I really want it as much as the next man as far as a bowl game goes, because Reno was one thing, and Colorado State's another, but if we want to make our dreams come true and we want to be for real about all that, this is the time to do it. Our backs are against the wall.

It's time to draw a line in the sand and say 'no more' and 'I've had enough of it'. Just be sincere. Put your heart and soul into this entire footblal season. So we have to take care of every game we play for the rest of the season. It has to be our best, because we can't afford anymore losses if we want to carry out the dreams we talked about.

This is Jason Beauchamp, your Mountain West Conference tackling leader and your inside scoop, signing off. See you next week.