As spring football concludes, Hauck, players see plenty of work ahead

By Ryan Greene

Saturday, April 17, 2010 | 8:20 p.m.

One thing was for sure on Saturday as UNLV wrapped up its spring football season with a final scrimmage at Sam Boyd Stadium: In just a couple of months, first-year coach Bobby Hauck has made a mark.

The Rebels took on his persona on the field by running a disciplined-yet-enthusiastic practice session. The buzz his hiring created was also seen in the stands, as roughly 1,200 fans showed up to watch the 90-minute session.

But don't jump ahead too far.

"We've learned to play hard in stretches, but I don't think we've learned to play well yet," said Hauck, who inherited a program which has gone 5-7 in each of the past two seasons. "The execution isn't sharp enough. Certainly, the way we played today wouldn't get us a win in the fall.

"I think we've improved dramatically since day one, but I don't think we're playing well enough to play our schedule. But we're making progress."

Still, the Rebels were able to walk away from spring and into a three-month layoff before fall camp begins having successfully installed plenty under Hauck.

"I feel like we've got a lot of the basics covered," senior quarterback Omar Clayton said. "We could go into a game and we could run this (offense). But where we get better at and where we win games and put points on the board is with the things that we need to work on and the things we'll introduce in fall camp."

The kinks that need to be worked out with some fine tuning on offense were apparent.

Clayton was steady on the afternoon, going 6-of-16 for 70 yards and a pair of touchdown passes, while redshirt freshman Caleb Herring ran the No. 2 offense, completing three of his five pass attempts for 10 yards. He also scored on an impressive nine-yard touchdown jaunt late in the scrimmage.

Junior Mike Clausen, who normally runs the No. 2 offensive unit and took a good amount of snaps with the No. 1 group this spring, was absent. He suffered a concussion earlier in the week and returned home to Riverside, Calif., for the weekend to deal with a personal issue.

On the ground, senior Channing Trotter and redshirt frosh Bradley Randle were both busy. The duo, along with junior C.J. Cox, will vie for carries in a new offense which features a better balance between run and pass.

Trotter had 25 yards on five carries and caught one pass, which went for a 20-yard score. As for Randle, he picked up 16 yards on seven totes then caught two balls out of the backfield for 15 yards.

Trotter displayed the signature tough, head-down running style that helped him rack up 541 yards and nine scores last season, while Randle looked his best in space, which was one attribute that made him one of California's elite prep running backs two years ago.

"That's my favorite thing to do, to get outside and use my speed," he said. "That's what I'm used to doing, and I've got a lot of work to do this summer.

"It's a new beginning for everybody, and it's a great beginning."

The defensive side of the ball is where UNLV was most in need of a new beginning, and if Saturday was any indication, the Rebels should be improved at the very least.

After ranking 115th out of 120 FBS teams in 2009 in total defense, the group looked stout on Saturday even without a couple of key first-teamers.

Senior linebacker Ronnie Paulo and senior defensive tackle Isaako Aaitui were both sidelined after suffering minor injuries earlier in the week.

But even without them, touchdowns came at a premium for both the No. 1 and No. 2 offenses.

"I think that just trickles down from the coaching staff," junior linebacker Nate Carter said of the intensity UNLV showed on defense this spring. "We're all still learning. It's getting to know the defense, getting to know each other in playing this defense, but I think we're gonna be OK once we get through fall camp."

NOTES

Quarterback competition nowhere near complete

Last season at Montana, Hauck said it took him until the 10th week of the season to have a clear-cut starting quarterback.

That wouldn't be his ideal situation in his first year at UNLV, but he won't stick to any kind of self-made deadline.

"I'd like to have one named certainly by game week for the first game, but I don't know that that's gonna happen," he said. "Somebody's got to separate. We aren't going to just name a starter out of obligation to name a starter. Somebody's got to earn it."

Earning some praise

When asked if anyone in particular stood out to him when looking back at spring ball as a whole, Hauck mentioned four veterans: Paulo, Aaitui, Cox and senior guard John Gianninoto.

Other numbers of note

Sophomore linebacker Travis Trickey and senior defensive end Preston Brooks each registered a team-high five tackles. Senior kicker Ben Jaekle was 3-of-4 on field goal tries, hitting from 41, 22 and 20 yards while pushing one wide from 51 yards out. Redshirt freshman backup Allen Hardison was 1-of-2, connecting from 49 yards but missing up close from 23.