Defense

[rebel5280]

Again 41-7. We were fine. Sure they moved a ball on us a little when the game was still a game. He is a good qb. I am actually more concerned with our run d in the first half tbh.
Syracuse a little different story. They played us completely different than they had all year. It took us a while to adjust. Arguably too long. But still. We may have been a bit too cute on defense with the gameplan.
No question about it, we have had some issues in the pass defense. Good news that is not a concern for the next 2 weeks. But we have also been very good in pass defense this year too.

If the game ended with this score I would have been fine but we went into prevent and let the guy pass for almost 600 yards which is a very “bitter” pill to swallow!

My only question is why did the coaches decide to coast in the second half on D?
Key guys got hurt so don’t say it was to give our depth a chance, they did not play because the starters were in all game, hence the key injuries to Mani, Elad, Catalon etc..

I thought we were a better team defensively this year!

 

[dcut03]

If the game ended with this score I would have been fine but we went into prevent and let the guy pass for almost 600 yards which is a very “bitter” pill to swallow!

My only question is why did the coaches decide to coast in the second half on D?
Key guys got hurt so don’t say it was to give our depth a chance, they did not play because the starters were in all game, hence the key injuries to Mani, Elad, Catalon etc..

I thought we were a better team defensively this year!

Game context matters. Playing aggressive defense is good, but it can lead to more big plays. Dinking and dunking takes time off the clock.

Keeping everything in front of you. Going to a bend but not break defense. We played that way too much last season all of the time, because our personnel dictated that. This year we have been able to be more aggressive. But when you get to a point where you have a huge cushion, the way you play will often change

If you have a multiple score cushion, the gameplan changes. This isn't a unique issue to UNLV. Winning the game matter more than giving up passing yards. This same team did similar things to Boise the week before.

I'm sure that the staff wasn't fully "happy" with how the second half went, but they knew what they were doing at the same time.

 

[1Tripoda]

Those passing yards numbers look confusing. The numbers keep going up but their team are going nowhere.

 

[Masked_rebel]

Those passing yards numbers look confusing. The numbers keep going up but their team are going nowhere.

Thats what happens when you arent a good football team defensively... You get behind and have to play catch up. Its why garbage time sucks for fantasy football when you are on the opposite side of it.. Your offensive stats go up, but the overall record doesn't improve.

 

[dcut03]

Thats what happens when you arent a good football team defensively... You get behind and have to play catch up. Its why garbage time sucks for fantasy football when you are on the opposite side of it.. Your offensive stats go up, but the overall record doesn't improve.

It is also why our offensive numbers looked good under Sanchez, lol

 

[1Tripoda]

Thats what happens when you arent a good football team defensively... You get behind and have to play catch up. Its why garbage time sucks for fantasy football when you are on the opposite side of it.. Your offensive stats go up, but the overall record doesn't improve.

I am talking about a single drive. Lateral passes? Penalties?

 

[rebel5280]

Game context matters. Playing aggressive defense is good, but it can lead to more big plays. Dinking and dunking takes time off the clock.

Keeping everything in front of you. Going to a bend but not break defense. We played that way too much last season all of the time, because our personnel dictated that. This year we have been able to be more aggressive. But when you get to a point where you have a huge cushion, the way you play will often change

If you have a multiple score cushion, the gameplan changes. This isn't a unique issue to UNLV. Winning the game matter more than giving up passing yards. This same team did similar things to Boise the week before.

I'm sure that the staff wasn't fully "happy" with how the second half went, but they knew what they were doing at the same time.

I saw the game I have the context, thanks.

I don’t agree with the stance many have about the defense.
We aren’t as good, especially upfront and as the season wears on, we are getting exposed in the passing game by guys who aren’t good. I guess I’m different, I believe a good team dictates the style of play to the other team when you are better, not take your foot off the gas and let them back in when you don’t have to. And before you try to explain this is what is done by others, I don’t care about others. I’m on Rebel net not a general college football chat room board.

I only care about what the Rebels are doing and I think this type of “prevent” style of defense sucks and it’s the reason I believe it’s laughable to think this team could be a playoff team, we get smoked liked Liberty did last year!

 

[Bullmastiff 1]

But are the stats skewed a bit because they are always coming from behind?
My point is is we looked bad against the pass and Petras is no where near as good as McCord!

That's the point. They trail in games and wrack up meaningless second half yardage. Look at Boise game exact same thing happened.

 

[reagan21]

I believe it’s laughable to think this team could be a playoff team, we get smoked liked Liberty did last year!

Think about what you just said there. If UNLV was in the playoff as a 12 seed up against a 5, Who G.A.F what happens. You'd rather win the NM Bowl against some trash G5? Give me the playoff money, the ability to sell ourselves to other teams and sell ourselves to a P5.

We're UNLV. We should take a playoff spot and an L over anything else.

 

[Masked_rebel]

I saw the game I have the context, thanks.

I don’t agree with the stance many have about the defense.
We aren’t as good, especially upfront and as the season wears on, we are getting exposed in the passing game by guys who aren’t good. I guess I’m different, I believe a good team dictates the style of play to the other team when you are better, not take your foot off the gas and let them back in when you don’t have to. And before you try to explain this is what is done by others, I don’t care about others. I’m on Rebel net not a general college football chat room board.

I only care about what the Rebels are doing and I think this type of “prevent” style of defense sucks and it’s the reason I believe it’s laughable to think this team could be a playoff team, we get smoked liked Liberty did last year!

Lol.. Any G5, including Boise, is going to get smoked by P4 teams in the playoffs like Liberty did in a NY6 bowl. That's not the point of wanting to make the playoff.

So Syracuse we forced into passing the ball almost 20 more times than they averaged because the run defense UNLV has shown was fairly good. Utah St abandoned the run game that had 30 yards on their first half TV drive because we went up by 3 scores because our defense forced them into passing downs or turnovers, Fresno St into abandoning their run game by being ineffective and then forcing them into down and distance scenarios... Your point is trying to say that we should dictate the style of play.. Well being super effective on offense, or jumping out to huge leads has basically led teams to abandon trying to run the ball on UNLV.

Would we all want our coaches to keep the foot to the pedal all game- the in game thread was full of that kind of post and absolutely- prevent defense sucks and is boring to watch when the other team increases their efficiency. We should've crushed them like we did Utah Tech, but the reality was their defense sold out for the second half to stop our running game and it caused Hajj to be under a lot of pressure when we dropped back to pass and we didn't exactly open he playbook up to relieve that pressure up 4+ scores. Our defense got really vanilla and yeah, it was mind boggling to not rush more than 3 guys, but thats a coaching decision someone made.

 

[Boston Rebel 2]

I saw the game I have the context, thanks.

I don’t agree with the stance many have about the defense.
We aren’t as good, especially upfront and as the season wears on, we are getting exposed in the passing game by guys who aren’t good. I guess I’m different, I believe a good team dictates the style of play to the other team when you are better, not take your foot off the gas and let them back in when you don’t have to. And before you try to explain this is what is done by others, I don’t care about others. I’m on Rebel net not a general college football chat room board.

I only care about what the Rebels are doing and I think this type of “prevent” style of defense sucks and it’s the reason I believe it’s laughable to think this team could be a playoff team, we get smoked liked Liberty did last year!

We could definitely be a playoff team yeah we would get smoked (not like Liberty because we are better than them) but smoked nonetheless. But there is that 1 in a million Utah over Bama, BSU over OU possibility but at a minimum the school builds its brand name and collects a nice fat check in the process.

 

[j. spilotro]

Think about what you just said there. If UNLV was in the playoff as a 12 seed up against a 5, Who G.A.F what happens. You'd rather win the NM Bowl against some trash G5? Give me the playoff money, the ability to sell ourselves to other teams and sell ourselves to a P5.

We're UNLV. We should take a playoff spot and an L over anything else.

Exactly. All of a sudden the bar is a NYD bowl. Anything less, failure. You gotta be kidding me.

That’s insanity.

 

[Bullmastiff 1]

Think about what you just said there. If UNLV was in the playoff as a 12 seed up against a 5, Who G.A.F what happens. You'd rather win the NM Bowl against some trash G5? Give me the playoff money, the ability to sell ourselves to other teams and sell ourselves to a P5.

We're UNLV. We should take a playoff spot and an L over anything else.

We should turn down that money! I'd rather play in the John Deere Weed Whacker Bowl against Sam Houston State and not get smoked!

And for basketball NIT is where it's at baby!

 

[dcut03]

I saw the game I have the context, thanks.

I don’t agree with the stance many have about the defense.
We aren’t as good, especially upfront and as the season wears on, we are getting exposed in the passing game by guys who aren’t good. I guess I’m different, I believe a good team dictates the style of play to the other team when you are better, not take your foot off the gas and let them back in when you don’t have to. And before you try to explain this is what is done by others, I don’t care about others. I’m on Rebel net not a general college football chat room board.

I only care about what the Rebels are doing and I think this type of “prevent” style of defense sucks and it’s the reason I believe it’s laughable to think this team could be a playoff team, we get smoked liked Liberty did last year!

It is also a very long season. You get up 41-7. Things change.
Our defense is better this year. Look at the turnovers the sacks, the wins. And our schedule is tougher this year.
Whats the point of selling out your defense after getting gassed the week before with a few guys already banged up? We won by 2 tds and 2 pt conversions. Keep them in front of you. Let them run clock get out with the win.
We have 2 big games coming up against stronger opponents. The game was never in doubt.

 

[Bullmastiff 1]

Lol.. Any G5, including Boise, is going to get smoked by P4 teams in the playoffs like Liberty did in a NY6 bowl. That's not the point of wanting to make the playoff.

So Syracuse we forced into passing the ball almost 20 more times than they averaged because the run defense UNLV has shown was fairly good. Utah St abandoned the run game that had 30 yards on their first half TV drive because we went up by 3 scores because our defense forced them into passing downs or turnovers, Fresno St into abandoning their run game by being ineffective and then forcing them into down and distance scenarios... Your point is trying to say that we should dictate the style of play.. Well being super effective on offense, or jumping out to huge leads has basically led teams to abandon trying to run the ball on UNLV.

Would we all want our coaches to keep the foot to the pedal all game- the in game thread was full of that kind of post and absolutely- prevent defense sucks and is boring to watch when the other team increases their efficiency. We should've crushed them like we did Utah Tech, but the reality was their defense sold out for the second half to stop our running game and it caused Hajj to be under a lot of pressure when we dropped back to pass and we didn't exactly open he playbook up to relieve that pressure up 4+ scores. Our defense got really vanilla and yeah, it was mind boggling to not rush more than 3 guys, but thats a coaching decision someone made.

Exactly.

The game was for all reasonable purposes over at halftime. They would have needed to score 35 unanswered.

You play soft coverage. They dink and dunk down the field burning up clock. You give 2nd and even 3rd string guys in to get game reps. You have a cushion to do that.

The game was never in doubt at any moment.

 

[Bullmastiff 1]

It is also a very long season. You get up 41-7. Things change.
Out defense is better this year. Look at the turnovers the sacks, the wins. And our schedule is tougher this year.
Whats the point of selling out your defense after getting gassesld the week before with a few guys already banged up? We won by 2 tds and 2 pt conversions. Keep them in front of you. Let them run clock get out with the win.
We have 2 big games coming up against stronger opponents. The game was never in doubt.

You don't do it because reasons!!!

 

[oneepstein]

You don't do it because reasons!!!

That seems to be the synopsis with many around here. No point arguing it anymore. It was a good warm up for another road game in a similar environment against what should be a better team than Utah State. Play well and build confidence for Boise.

 

[Bullmastiff 1]

That seems to be the synopsis with many around here. No point arguing it anymore. It was a good warm up for another road game in a similar environment against what should be a better team than Utah State. Play well and build confidence for Boise.

OSU can run the ball. Well.

But defense is pretty banged up.

If UNLV can get up a couple scores Beavers would have a tough time coming back with that offense. If Rebs get down early it could be a problem as OSU will take the air out of the ball.

That's definitely an advantage having Hajj at QB now vs Sluka. If UNLV falls behind they are more capable of coming back.

 

[Masked_rebel]

OSU can run the ball. Well.

But defense is pretty banged up.

If UNLV can get up a couple scores Beavers would have a tough time coming back with that offense. If Rebs get down early it could be a problem as OSU will take the air out of the ball.

That's definitely an advantage having Hajj at QB now vs Sluka. If UNLV falls behind they are more capable of coming back.

We have a top 20 rush defense... flip side we have a top 5 scoring offense.. They are 84 in total defense and 116th in rushing defense... Our style of play will create alot of problems for them.

 

[Bullmastiff 1]

We have a top 20 rush defense... flip side we have a top 5 scoring offense.. They are 84 in total defense and 116th in rushing defense... Our style of play will create alot of problems for them.

I agree. Their QB had some decent numbers while at Idaho. He's a threat with his legs but he's got 3 TD to 5 INTs on the year.

One thing UNLV will have to be aware of or careful of is selling out too much against the run and giving up any big plays downfield on play action. He hasn't been great in that regard but don't let this be the week He figures it out. If UNLV can contain the run game in base defense without committing an extra defender to the box they should be able to contain OSU.

 

[Rebel1986]

Exactly. All of a sudden the bar is a NYD bowl. Anything less, failure. You gotta be kidding me.

That’s insanity.

Considering the insanity of supporting a team for decades that never won shows most of the UNLV fans are clinically insane!

 

[ckfitz]

Considering the insanity of supporting a team for decades that never won shows most of the UNLV fans are clinically insane!

No, just loyal. Anything wrong with that?

 

[oneepstein]

OSU can run the ball. Well.

But defense is pretty banged up.

If UNLV can get up a couple scores Beavers would have a tough time coming back with that offense. If Rebs get down early it could be a problem as OSU will take the air out of the ball.

That's definitely an advantage having Hajj at QB now vs Sluka. If UNLV falls behind they are more capable of coming back.

I worry because “you never know”, but I’m not worried because I think I know. Looking forward to watching these Rebels do what they do. I think it’ll work out.

 

[dcut03]

We have done pretty well with Mobile QBs this year. Houston's QB could scoot a little bit, and I cant remember off the top of my head, and I think we have faced another mobile QB?
We have enough speed and quality at LB that staying home and respecting a mobile QB should be a relative strength of this team.

 

[reagan21]

We have done pretty well with Mobile QBs this year. Houston's QB could scoot a little bit, and I cant remember off the top of my head, and I think we have faced another mobile QB?
We have enough speed and quality at LB that staying home and respecting a mobile QB should be a relative strength of this team.

Kansas has a mobile QB as does Cal State-Fresno.

 

[InZoneU]

We are tied for 1st in nation for turnover margin.

NCAA College Football FBS current team Stats | NCAA.com

Discover the current NCAA FBS Football leaders in every stats category, as well as historic leaders.

www.ncaa.com

 

[dcut03]

Kansas has a mobile QB as does Cal State-Fresno.

Kansas!! Derp!!

Yes he got some yards in the first half, but we totally shut that shizz down in the second.

 

[Masked_rebel]

Kansas!! Derp!!

Yes he got some yards in the first half, but we totally shut that shizz down in the second.

That's been one of our strengths. We start taking away the run game or teams just completely abandon it vs us...