UNLV football notebook: Childers finding his way in UNLV secondary

By Ray Brewer (contact)

Sunday, Aug. 9, 2009 | 11:39 p.m.

Charles Childers jogged off the practice field Sunday night at Rebel Park with quickness in his steps.

It's a pace the freshman defensive back admits took awhile to adjust to this week during his first practices with UNLV's football team.

Everything at the next level is done with more intensity, including exiting the field after practice.

"It's definitely a lot faster, everything from the learning curve to the speed of the game," said Childers, a graduate of Bishop Gorman High in Las Vegas. "The practices are fast-paced from beginning to end. There is no sitting around."

Childers proved his worth earlier in the week during newcomers practice and is fighting for a spot in the defensive back rotation. UNLV coach Mike Sanford said it was too early to tell if Childers will earn playing time or redshirt, but said the local is on the right track.

"He's a player," Sanford said. "He has a lot of ability. He is very athletic and very quick."

Childers played both ways for most of his final two years at Bishop Gorman, Nevada's 2007 large-school state champions and one of the state's elite programs.

Despite the pedigree, he is in the same boat as all freshmen — playing catch-up on a bigger stage.

"I've got a lot to learn, but I'm learning quickly and having fun," Childers said. "I'm learning how to play the corner position in terms of technique. In high school, I could rely on my athleticism."

Childers is one 19 athletes from Las Vegas-area high schools on UNLV's roster.

He's hoping to enjoy the same success as two others did in their initial campaigns last fall. Receiver Phillip Payne (Western High) had seven touchdowns — including game-winning grabs against Arizona State and Iowa State — and Beau Orth (Bishop Gorman) had a 7-yard interception return in the upset against Arizona State that helped set up a touchdown before halftime.

Sanford has longed stressed the importance of recruiting locals, and with Payne and others enjoying success, it opens the door for the likes of Childers to excel.

"It's great to see these Las Vegas guys out here," Sanford said.

It worked for the Minnesota Vikings

UNLV defensive line coach Andre Patterson calls it the "merry-go-round" drill. From the outside looking in, however, it looked like his linemen were training for a title fight, not rushing the quarterback during a football game.

Patterson broke out the boxing gloves Sunday during practice for a drill he designed nearly 10 years ago while coaching with the Minnesota Vikings.

The drill helps to reinforce one of the cardinal rules for defensive linemen — keep the offensive lineman from getting his hands on you. Swatting away the boxing gloves during the drill makes an opposing lineman's hands that much lighter when the gloves are off.

It's the same drill Patterson used during his stint with the Vikings from 1998 to '99. Patterson coached a decade in the NFL, spending time on staff with the Patriots, Cowboys, Browns and Broncos.

He showed the UNLV players tapes of the likes of Vikings notables John Randle and Jerry Ball doing the drill.

"Those tapes are a great teaching tool," Patterson said. "It's a thrill for them to see those guys on the tape."

Time to hit

UNLV will have its first practice in full pads Monday morning. It's a day several players have had circled on their calendars.

"I can't wait until Monday, I can't wait," said junior defensive lineman Malo Taumua while jumping up and down in excitement like a child at Disneyland for the first time.

"Everyone in the locker room keeps saying 'We hit tomorrow, we hit tomorrow.'"

Sunday night was the first full team practice, bringing together newcomers and veterans who trained during separate sessions since camp started Thursday.

The team, with the defense in red jerseys and the offense in white, raced from drill to drill with enthusiasm for the new year.

"Everyone loves each other. We are all having fun," Taumua said.

Ray Brewer can be reached at 990-2662 or ray.brewer@lasvegassun.com.