Rebels cashing in turnovers in 2003

Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2003 | 9:08 a.m.

With parity seemingly on the verge of sweeping the nation, perhaps the thickness of the alumni's collective wallet isn't the factor it once was in college football.

Turnovers, on the other hand, are bigger than ever.

Anybody mystified by UNLV's early season success need only look at that line of the box score. After their first four games last year, the Rebels were a minus 8 in turnover ratio. This year, they are plus 8, tied for third in the nation with Arkansas, Southern Cal, Syracuse and Toledo.

In the past two games alone, the UNLV defense has produced more turnovers than Pepperidge Farms.

Depending on the point of view, the Rebels either forced or were happy recipients of five Wisconsin turnovers in a 23-5 victory against the vaunted Badgers two weeks ago in Madison. They came up with six more -- three fumbles and three interceptions -- in Friday's 33-22 victory against Hawaii.

That's 11 in two games. But the stat is turnover ratio, and to have a good one, the offense must hang on to the ball while the defense is taking it away. The Rebels have done that, too, committing just one turnover in sloppy weather at Wisconsin and one against Hawaii.

So how much of the turnover margin is luck and how much is skill?

Well, if you ask the Rebels, it's at least three parts of the latter with about one part of the former.

"It's kind of a philosophy coach Brad (defensive coordinator Mike Bradeson) has been trying to install in our system," said Rebels linebacker John Andrews, who leads UNLV with four fumble recoveries. "That's playing fast, playing with ferocity and playing aggressive.

"We believe that if we can just keep going, keep playing fast -- no matter what happened on the play before -- the turnovers will come."

Andrews said that also explains why he has been Johnny on the spot when the opposition has put the ball on the ground, or the Rebels have knocked it there.

"It's just getting to the ball," said Andrews, one of a bevy of UNLV speedsters on the defensive side of the ball. "I try to be around the ball every play because that's the only way you can make plays."

Last year, Rebels strong safety Jamaal Brimmer was the Mountain West defensive player of the year without making a single interception. This year, he already has three, and also returned a fumble for a 55-yard score at Wisconsin.

He said after having to scratch for turnovers last year, the Rebels talked about not having to claw for them this season.

"That was one of our goals coming in, to (force) more turnovers, but we didn't know it was going to be this big," he said.

"We practice running to the ball and we've got play makers on defense. Good things happen when you run to the ball. You can make a touchdown-saving tackle, pick up a fumble, whatever.

"We're not that big on defense so we're going to play off our speed and getting to the ball."

Another Rebel who can speak to getting to the ball -- all day if you let him -- is cornerback Ruschard Dodd-Masters, this week's Mountain West defensive player of the week after making 10 solo tackles, forcing two fumbles, returning another one 22 yards that set up a tying touchdown, and breaking up a pass against Hawaii.

Dodd-Masters, who has become the Rebels' best cover guy and also their most talkative, agreed that the momentum generated by a turnover is not to be overestimated.

"Sudden change is always a big factor, whether we've got to get back on the field after an offensive turnover or the offense has to get back on the field after a defensive turnover," he said. "Sudden change has a great impact on the game."

And he said when one team is benefitting from most of the momentum swings, as the Rebels are, it increases its confidence.

"Once confidence begins to soar, it's like -- what's the word I want? -- a deja vu thing," Dodd-Masters said. "Good things just keep occuring."

On the subject of self-assuredness, Dodd-Masters said the player of the week laurel will only boost his individual confidence -- not that he needed it, of course.

He was at the St. Jude's Ranch Monday on a community service assignment when he heard the news. He was a hit with the kids up there, but had they asked, he might have told them that one of the fumbles he forced was a tad on the lucky side.

"Not to brag or anything," he said about the play on which he punched the ball out of the grasp of Hawaii's West Keliikipi, "but I had been saying to some of the guys that I was going to hit him up high. But then he cut at the last second."

Dodd-Masters was about to tackle the air when he spun and just happened to punch the ball loose.

"It was kind of an instinctive thing," he said with just the slightest hint of a wink.

Or maybe he was just blinking his eye.

Like his teammates, Dodd-Masters believes there's a method to this turnover madness.

"For the most part, we try to be solid on defense," he said. "Then, if things aren't gong our way, we say it's time to make a play -- get a turnover, three downs and out, you know what I'm saying?

"We just need to keep making plays."