Robinson likes what he sees on defense

Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2003 | 9:20 a.m.

John Robinson won four Rose Bowls at Southern California, guided the Trojans to a school-record 28-game unbeaten streak, from 1978-80, and won national coach of the year honors in 1979.

Having an aggressive, ball-hawking defense that is especially stingy against the run, he knows, is vital to accomplishing major goals.

Robinson, however, did not ordain UNLV's defense as an elite mover and shaker Monday after his weekly Quarterback Club luncheon.

Not yet, anyway.

"Well, it hasn't done much yet," he said. "I mean, we're five games into the year. I think it has ... it's developing that kind of, oh, I don't know what the word is ... camaraderie, or (work) ethic or whatever.

"You know, we just have to see if that holds up or not, but it has the kind of mentality, right now, to be real good."

Even then, he tempered his words with a final "I think."

That hesitancy might be wise, since the Rebels (4-1) play what will likely be an ornery Air Force team Saturday afternoon at Falcon Stadium in Colorado Springs, Colo.

The Falcons' defeat at Navy last weekend was their first in six games, and UNLV is the lone Mountain West Conference team that has not yet played a league game.

"We're going to get challenged," Robinson said. "We have some offenses coming down the road."

Air Force promises to be formidable, since it is second in the nation with an average of 304 yards a game on the ground.

UNLV allows an average of 114 rushing yards, the second-best yield in the Mountain West Conference and 31st in the country. In four of Robinson's 12 seasons at USC, foes did not average triple figures in yardage against the Trojans.

The Rebels are also second in the league in pass-efficiency defense, at 109.2.

Opponents have been jolted by the hard hits and sticky mitts of Adam Seward, John Andrews, Jamaal Brimmer, Ruschard Dodd-Masters and Chris Eagen, among others.

Saturday's 16-12 victory in Reno was secured by two sterling defensive plays in the final four minutes, Ryan Claridge's tip and an ensuing interception by Eagen, and Seward's interception over the middle.

Those Rebel rousers have helped the unit forge a turnover margin of plus-7, tops in the conference and tied for seventh, at 1.4 a game, in the nation. At this time a year ago, UNLV had a minus-7 turnover figure, which was near the bottom of the NCAA.

That turnaround has fueled a program that was picked in the bottom third of the country's teams by three national publications to the brink of its first ranking in the Associated Press poll.

During his luncheon, Robinson wondered aloud if this group of UNLV linebackers -- Seward, Claridge, Andrews, Reggie Butler and Zach Bell -- is the best in school history.

He said Seward has the tenacity of a hunting dog, and he also praised freshman nose tackle Howie Fuimaono.

Robinson said the only blip so far, which is the source of his reservations about the potential of his defense, was the poor showing at Kansas in a 46-24 drubbing to the Jayhawks.

In that second half, UNLV was outscored 30-7 as Kansas had 283 yards of total offense, to the Rebels' 124.

"That was the one big crack in our armor," Robinson said. "We kind of fell apart. They've all resolved not to let themselves panic. Sometimes you get nailed, but I think they're making strides."

So the defenders learned from that Sept. 6 game?

"Oh yeah, we've talked about it a lot," Robinson said. "It's like anything. When the pressure gets on you, you feel it. When that happens again, will they stay calm? I think so."