For UNLV linebackers, playing with pain is part of the job

By Ryan Greene

Friday, Oct. 23, 2009 | 2:29 p.m.

At this point in his career as UNLV's starting middle linebacker, you could forgive junior Ronnie Paulo if he's forgotten what "100 percent" feels like.

Entering Saturday's contest on the road against winless New Mexico, Paulo will be looking to somewhat protect a sprained shoulder. After trying to work through the injury in warmups before last Saturday's loss to Utah, the pain was too intense to allow him to play.

Paulo — the Rebels' fourth-leading tackler this season — will be back at it this weekend after practicing at full speed since the Utah defeat. Alongside him will be senior Jason Beauchamp and junior Starr Fuimaono, who are tied as the team's second-leading tacklers.

Aside from almost always being in the middle of pile-ups on the field, all three have gotten used to the idea of playing with pain.

"I think the key is to understand the reason why you're playing," said Beauchamp, who led the Mountain West Conference in stops in 2008. "You've got to have a mentality as a linebacker that you're tough. I think a lot of it as well is knowing your body, knowing what you can and cannot do. Being able to still play fast, but still watching for your bruises, bumps, whatever it is.

"The key is mental strength."

Beauchamp has found a way to tough his way through all seven games this season, despite suffering a badly sprained right ankle early on and following it up with a mild MCL sprain a few weeks back.

Still, on top of his 41 tackles, he leads the Rebels in both tackles for a loss (6) and sacks (3.5).

While dealing with the injuries — both of which still require him to wear protective braces — he's learned to compensate to protect himself.

"If I'm doing a move to do a spin or come underneath, I want to go to the side where I can push off," he said. "You've gotta make sure your other side is that much stronger."

Paulo said much of the same. Last year, in his first season as a starter, a sprained ankle in the season's second game against Utah lingered, and was ultimately compounded in the team's 10th game, when he sprained his MCL against New Mexico.

He said that was when fundamentals came into play, and it's a similar scenario this season, as he's dealing with the shoulder sprain.

Instead of viciously attacking or diving into opponents, Paulo said that now he has to square up better and lock his hands on a ball carrier, wrestling them to the ground more than simply unleashing brute, blunt force.

"It's not necessarily using the other (shoulder), but fitting up, using more fundamentals," Paulo said. "Last year, when I hurt my ankle, every time I'd come up for a tackle, I'd make sure not to put too much pressure on that ankle.

"This is a minor pain now. It's something I can play through. I played through it last year, so it's no big deal."

Improved depth has helped UNLV deal with the injuries to an extent this season. Sophomore backups Nate Carter and Beau Orth both were thrown into the fire last season and saw more time than expected. It helped prepare both as UNLV dealt with injury woes in 2009 within the linebacking corps just as it did in 2008.

But where the Rebels have fared better this season with health in the middle of their defense is by avoiding major injuries, such as the ACL tear suffered against Utah in 2008 by Fuimaono. It left a gaping hole in the UNLV run defense for the rest of the season.

Fuimaono missed the BYU game with an ankle sprain, but has stayed otherwise healthy.

While the Rebels' run defense is still struggling, coach Mike Sanford at least knows he can depend on his most experienced, talented unit to show up whenever possible, rather than letting a 2-5 record and ugly losses compound minor aches and pains.

Their sacrifices might find some return this weekend, as New Mexico ranks 107th out of 120 FBS teams in rushing offense and 110th in total offense.

This comes after the Rebels have faced three consecutive opponents — UNR, BYU and Utah — whose offenses all rank in the top 30.

"I'm proud of those guys," he said. "There's a difference between pain and injury. Some of those guys have had injuries, but now they're playing with pain. And I have great respect for them, for what they are doing, playing with pain.

"I think that's part of playing the position, part of playing the game of football. This is the time of the season where a lot of positions have to play with pain, but especially the ones that are most in the physical fray."