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twitterUNLV FOOTBALL:
Mondays with Mike: Questions linger following UNR loss
Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2009 | 2:30 a.m.
UNLV vs UNR
UNR ran for a school record 559 yards on Saturday and beat UNLV 63 to 28. The Wolfpack earned their fifth straight victory over the Rebels in the Battle for the Freemont Cannon.
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Ryan Greene and Alex Adeyanju clean up the last bits of UNLV's devastating 63-28 loss at UNR and spin it forward, as life gets no easier for the 2-3 Rebels in the coming weeks.
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Editor's note: Each Monday, UNLV football coach Mike Sanford meets with the media to discuss last weekend's action and next weekend's matchup. So each week the Sun will bring you notes and quotes discussing both.
While UNLV football coach Mike Sanford says this week he is in a vacuum, thinking solely about the Rebels' Saturday night collision with BYU at Sam Boyd Stadium, the hot topic at his Monday meeting with the media still focused on his struggling defense and Saturday's beyond-humbling 63-28 loss to rival UNR.
It dropped the Rebels to 2-3 and put more question marks on a season that at one point harbored heavy postseason hopes. Sanford wasn't offering up too many specifics as to why his defense allowed 773 total yards of offense to the Wolf Pack, allowing a shootout to turn into a lopsided laugher.
"We have spent time yesterday and this morning analyzing what we did in this last game and why things went the way they did," he said. "I'm not going to give you the game plan, I'm not going to give any details, but we know what our problems were, we know what we have to do to fix them and we expect to bounce back."
The most in-depth he got regarding the run defense, which allowed 559 yards and let three different players jaunt for at least 170 yards, regarded gap assignments. He hinted that on the line, part of the reason for UNR finding so much space around the edges — especially on fake handoff runs by Colin Kaepernick — had to do with guys up front extending themselves too much to not only take care of their gap in the offensive line, but also help others.
"There were some things that happened in that game that was each individual guy not doing his job," he said. "The game of football is the most inter-dependent game there is. Each guy has to do his job and he can't do somebody else's job for him."
Sanford also added that he will not be making any changes on his coaching staff leading up to this weekend's game.
Instead, the fifth-year coach said he is sticking his nose further into what goes on with his defensive unit. Following the 2008 season, he said not getting more involved during a crucial five-game mid-season slide was one of his biggest regrets from the 5-7 campaign.
"I'll put it this way: I'm very, very involved," he said, not going into too much detail. "I'm not the defensive coordinator, I'm not calling the defenses, but I am very involved.
"And I'm very involved since Saturday."
As for this Saturday
This weekend will feature an equally dangerous challenge from the multi-dimensional BYU offense.
Everyone knows about senior quarterback Max Hall, but junior tailback Harvey Unga, now back and healthy after missing the season-opening upset of then-No. 3 Oklahoma, has 345 yards and five touchdown runs on just 56 carries this season.
"Two years ago we had them tied at half or maybe it was 14-13, but then they ran the ball in the second half," Sanford said, referring to UNLV's 24-14 loss in 2007, a game in which they trailed at the half, 7-6. "You can't just defend the pass against these guys. We've got to be able to defend the run and Max Hall."
Hall is an interesting case on his own.
The most decorated quarterback currently in the Mountain West, he was brilliant in the 14-13 upset over the Sooners, leading a key fourth-quarter drive that put BYU up for good.
He has completed 68 percent of his passes this year and has 11 touchdown passes to his credit.
But then there's also his 10 interceptions.
Last year — especially in a crucial loss to TCU — he showed that he's prone to make mistakes with heavy pressure in his face.
However, UNLV is tied for 90th out of 120 FBS teams with only seven quarterback sacks through five games.
Home away from home?
One of the great unknowns surrounding this weekend's game is what kind of crowd will show up at Sam Boyd Stadium.
Known as a fickle fan base, the UNLV faithful came out in respectable numbers in big home games against Oregon State and Hawaii earlier this season. However, both opposing teams' fans traveled well, creating a nearly neutral atmosphere.
BYU is known for traveling as well as just about anyone.
"I'm not concerned about that. I've gotta control the things that I can control," Sanford said. "That's out of my control."
Injury updates
Sanford was mum on what his strategy will be this weekend in terms of quarterback play, at least to start the game.
Junior Omar Clayton was held out of Saturday's loss at UNR with a shoulder injury not believed to be serious. In his place, sophomore Mike Clausen was 26-of-50 for 276 yards and a touchdown toss.
"Omar practiced yesterday, will practice this week," Sanford said. "I can't say yet whether he's completely healthy and whether he will start. My guess is that he will play. I don't know what we're going to do about starting. We probably have to make that decision later in the week."
As for senior receiver Rodelin Anthony, who has been out since the Hawaii game with a concussion, he will be a go this week after missing two games. In the season's first three contests, he totaled eight catches for 135 yards and three touchdowns.
Junior linebacker Starr Fuimaono, who leads the team in tackles with 38, has been diagnosed with a sprained ankle, which took him out of action during Saturday's first half. His status for Saturday is unknown.
Also coming to light is a shoulder injury to highly-touted juco transfer defensive end B.J. Bell, who has yet to see significant time this season. The staff is going to see how the injury plays out and may decide to redshirt him.
Ryan Greene can be reached at ryan.greene@lasvegassun.com or 702-948-7844.
Discussion: 24 comments so far…
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You aren't going to make any coaching changes this week? That tells us all what we already knew that you have no plans on fixing anything and that you are too soft to pull the trigger on anybody. Mike the sooner that you come to the realization that you cannot coach a D-1 program the better it will be for all of us that root for the rebels. You have lost all community support, you have lost your players, & the only one that thinks this can be turned around is you. President Smatresk please drop the anvil on his entire staff or there will not be one fan left in the stands at Sam Boyd stadium.
I'll be there...if my wife lets me go...
I was screaming "gap control" at my radio last Saturday. The question is, can he make the players DO THEIR JOBS!!
"....I'm not calling the defenses, but I am very involved.
"And I'm very involved since Saturday."
Think you are about 4 years too late mr sandford. You've lost us, lost las vegas, and lost the team it looks like.
You reap what you sow.
Sanford's only chance would have been to fire Therrell after last year and get a real DC.
Sanford didn't think any changes needed to be made and now he'll pay the price (Hopefully sooner than later).
If it was as simple as him becoming "very involved" in the defense, then he should have done it years ago.
It doesn't matter what he does. BYU (Pitta) is going to run all over us.
Not only do we need a coach that knows his right hand from his left but every defensive line player that starts is horrible. Preston Brooks gets blocked 10 yds. down field every play, we have 2 big Samoan stiffs in the middle that get stood up every play and cannot get off their blockers, those guys are so slow they have gotta run a 20 second 40 yard dash, & Taumua is a D-2 player at best. I am sick of everybody who thinks he is a good defensive line player, Kaepernick constantly burned Taumua everytime he ran around his side. It was a 20+ yard gain each time he ran right at Taumua. He constantly bit that dive fake or that fake option pitch every play and left his lane wide open. That shows you he sucks, & the coaches made no adjustments to fix that.
There is no reason not to believe that byu wont drop 70 pts. on UNLV and put up 900 yds. of offense on this defense. I could tackle better then anyone on this defense if I were to play in a straight jacket. UNLV will not win another game the rest of the season. I challenge anybody to tell me who they are going to beat that is remaining on their schedule?
@klub Kruger: You will be one of ten remaining fans left that will actually support this coaching staff. There will be more crickets, roaches, & spiders at Sam Boyd then rebel fans!!!
@BetOnBlack-
Not one fan? You forget, the visitors do a pretty good job of putting butts in seats at Sam Boyd.
Oh, do you mean not one UNLV fan? So Greyback and FastCam aren't going either? The UNLV fan attendance baseline is so low, there's a good chance no one will notice.
When are the citizens of Las Vegas going to realize that not showing up for games hurts the players as much as it hurts the coaches, perhaps more so? Your selfish arrogance and over-blown expectations of this young program discourage every single player. Although it's a bit of a chicken-or-the-egg scenario, the fact is no program with such pathetic fan support can ever succeed.
At all the other schools, fans turn out to support the players. Dissatisfaction with coaches is displayed by the donors to the programs. Problem is, UNLV's donor baseline is so low, donor dissatisfaction barely registers. The donor clubs at BYU, CSU, Utah, Wyoming, Air Force, TCU, and New Mexico simply dwarf the Rebel fan club. The number of donors to each of those schools' programs is always growing. In less victorious seasons, the dollars, goods, or services donated decline, but the fans still show up.
Again, a big part of the poor baseline attendance problem is stadium location, along with a less than competent outreach effort by the athletic department. The fact that UNLV doesn't even own its playing venues is also problematic. In short, as a department, UNLV athletics is hardly set up for success.
"I'm not concerned about that. I've gotta control the things that I can control," Sanford said. "That's out of my control."
Your team is out of control, Mike. The fact that you continue to rely upon your completely inept Defensive Coordinator in any capacity is unfathomable. The very definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over, expecting a different result. Having made no changes to your coaching staff at this point in the season illustrates you're not only a bad coach, but a bad businessman. You might as well be playing Saturday's game in Provo, since you've all but alienated our community. I'll listen to as much as I can stomach on the radio, rooting for the UNLV players, not the coaching staff.
I will guarantee that our 19 season ticket holders will be there this weekend. I keep hoping that I will log on to LVSUN or LVRJ and read, that Sanford was shown the door. But that hasn't happened, yet.
BTW Dragon, UNLV owns the T&M and the Silver Bowl.
A couple of questions do remain, like HOW DOES STANFORD STILL HAVE A JOB? And why did Greene even write this article?
Time to shift focus to Runnin Rebel pre-season because the fball team is a disgrace!
I'll be at the game. With all my friends. Regardless of the state of the program and the ineptitude of the head coach, i support my alma mater. If you're a rebel, you should be there too. Not going to the game won't help show Sanford the door. But if it's a close game nearing the end of the fourth quarter, i'd prefer to be in a position to help my school win. Not sitting home, bitter, listening to the radio.
What was Malo(93) doing on defense? Was he supposed to run across the line, break down, and then get burnt when Kap pulled the ball out? Freak...Go Hit the QB! Unless he had a different assignment. But then again the Rebels probably don't make assignments. Not with Therrel anyway. That guy has no clue...right along with Sanford. Change Please!
@ Jerry,
I'm also an alumnus. At this point, no-shows are a far more poignant and reaching statement to the UNLV President than you and a couple hundred faithful getting drowned out by BYU's contingent. The concessions stands will do just fine without you. Besides, I'm sure you'll have endured enough humiliation by halftime.
no shows didn't do diddily for the past four years in terms on getting Sanford fired. why would that change now? the coach is already done unless the turnaround starts on Saturday, and by turnaround I mean the Rebels actually show up for the whole game (win or lose).
"There were some things that happened in that game that was each individual guy not doing his job..."
----Yes!!! You were not doing YOUR job Sanford!
"I'm not concerned about that. I've gotta control the things that I can control," Sanford said. "That's out of my control."
----No!!! Attendance is in your control... run an adequate football team and fans will certainly show up!
I am not going to spend a penny on any rebel athletics period!!! You can do whatever you want to do but I refuse to support a program that gets progressively worse. For the past 20 years this university has sucked at all sports and it has everything to do with the administration. The basketball team is mediocre, Kruger is a C+ coach at best, UNLV has a long way to go to even being competitive!!
we will beat BYU
iA
It was only a fricken veer offense UNR ran - to beat the veer you prepare, we didn't .Just fire Therrell already!
Has anyone read his (therrell's) bio? Wow -
This youtube video pretty much sums everything up
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N8JN0nmrn...
@GDR
I'll be there, I don't know why yet, maybe for the love of UNLV or football itself but I'll be there.
I will be at the game. I refuse to wear blue. I might wear yellow to signify the lack of spine by the AD
After hearing the posts for the reasons why the fans dont show up(i dont want my car dusty waaaa)Im wondering what the reason is now?Your a fan or not!They win great,they loose we getum next week!If i were on the team and read almost all the posts about your car getting dusty at home games,who cares if you give 100% or not?The dust dosent seem to bother the other teams fans,and must really bother the team to look up and see a sea of the other teams colors on whats suppost to be your home stadium?
Whether you are in the stands or not does not make you any less of a fan rumrunner. The fact is fans want excellence, period!!! Most of Las Vegas and I know I can speak for most rebel fans who post on the sun we will no longer support a horribly failed coach, a cracker jack patchwork, just add water administration who doesn't care about winning football games, and players who quit on the field. Either make this football program right by hiring a real AD & a coach who knows what the hell he is doing, or demote this abortion of a program to D-2, or shut it down altogether.