UNLV Defensive Scouting Report

I am going to be honest, whoever is Coaching the offense needs to spend a little time with the defensive side of the ball. It is no wonder that the previous UNVL games have been close -with the exception of the Utah game. In the three games that I watched I didn’t see one player or play stand out for positive reason. I don’t want to be all negative because they did beat Arizona State, but if ASU’s linemen were auditioning for the clown circus that night and well….they got the part. They all probably jammed into their tiny car after the game.

UNLV’s Defensive Scheme:

The Running Rebels play a basic 4-3. Their defensive linemen are big space eaters, which frees up their linebacker to flow to the ball. They have some good zone blitzes and occasionally bring pressure up the middle. Their man coverages normally have a safety over top and their zone package is predominately cover 2.

Their defense does a decent job of matching up with receivers when they come into their zone. The linebackers do a good job of switching off underneath routes and cutting receivers off.

But as a whole, the defense is extremely lazy. They don’t pursue to the ball and they hardly ever gang tackle. Individual players within the defensive scheme -not as a team unit- make a lot of their plays. After a shoe string tackle or big hit the individual defender will often pound his chest while his teammates mosey back to the line of scrimmage. As you can tell I wasn’t impressed by Rebel’s defense.

The Defensive Line

The Rebel defensive linemen haven’t ever meet a buffet table they didn’t like. The casinos on the strip cringe when they see this group coming their way. The only two I noticed doing anything good were #99 Isaako Aaitui and #93 Malo Taumua. These two tackles can do a good job of controlling from offensive guard to offensive guard, but they tire quickly and often take plays off.

Within the scheme they do what their Coaches ask them to do - they take up space and keep the linemen off of the linebackers.

Linebackers

Because Bo Bell made every play on the field for this defense the past two years this group of linebacker are still growing into their roles. #33 Jason Beauchamp is the old timer of the bunch, but he is still a junior. #56 Ronnie Paulo is a sophomore and #55 Nate Carter is a freshman who the Rebels are hoping will become the next Bo Bell. All three linebackers look good in their jerseys but they don’t play particularly well. They let the ball carriers come to them and they are at their best when they are running from sideline to sideline.

This group makes a lot of plays, but they also give up a lot of yardage. The difference between this years defense and last years defense is that this year the linebackers let the action come to them. Last year they brought the action to the offensive players, physically forcing contact on the offense.

They are also susceptible to play action and often don’t match-up well against tight ends. This group will have to play very well in order to give their team a good opportunity to win.

Defensive Backs

These guys are the best ankle bitting tacklers I have ever seen. They don’t like to come up and tackle the running back. They will instead come up hard and fast and dive at the ball carriers legs. It’s not something I like to see, but it gets the job done.

Their corners are good athletes, but have numerous technical flaws. They often let the receivers run free down the field and rely on their speed to make up the difference - which hasn’t worked that well so far this season. The corners do a good job in their zones, but they often play high and uninspired. I think Austin and Mike match up very well against their corners.

Safeties - honestly I don’t remember much about their safeties because they didn’t stand out as big hitters or exceptional cover guys. They come up fast and hard, but they just dive at the ground. They often allow receivers to get behind them and they lack the recovery speed to chase down the streaking receiver.

The defense as a unit doesn’t play that well together. As individuals they will make some plays and maybe knock a guy down. I wasn’t blown away by their execution or their effort and in order to compete against our offense they will need one of those two characteristics. As always their defense has a punchers chance. If we allow their offense to move the ball and their defense get some emotion early it could be a long day. That is where ASU screwed the pooch. They didn’t throw the knockout punch when they were up 20-10 and instead they let the defense believe they could play. Before ASU knew it the clock had expired and they were left wanting.

Keys to the Game:

Score first, we need to jump on these young Rebels quick. We can’t allow for a first quarter shut out. If we allow them to build up their emotions we could find ourselves in a dog fight.

Work the match ups against their linebackers. Dennis and Andrew along with Fui create a huge mismatch against the Rebel linebackers. It will be tempting to throw the ball down field and get the crowd excited. By exploiting these match ups early we will force their safeties to become more and more involved close to the line of scrimmage. We will then find that our receivers will have more space and they can than create good throwing lanes for Max.

As the statistics show we have to run the ball for 100+ yards. This is priority one going into this week. We need a combination of off tackle runs as well as inside power runs. This will get those big Rebel D-linemen huffing and puffing, which will slow the rush and aid our passing game.

Control the clock. UNLV’s offense is far better then their defense so we need to keep the “Running Gunning” Rebel offense off the field. Move the ball in chunks and make the drives long and methodical.

Last of all we have to play harder and faster. Our efforts needs to be unmatchable. That means pressing a fast tempo on the Rebel defense and swarming the Rebel ball carriers on defense.

BYU definitely out matches the Rebels, because last weeks game was so lopsided it leaves us fans with uneasiness in our stomachs. What if something goes wrong early? What if we have a turnover? What if they score on a big play? What if, what if, what if.

Everyone needs to remember that this is the same team that outlasted Washington. The same team that pounded Wyoming and the same team that won 16 games in a row. We are a good football team, that still has great potential. The game is four quarters for a reason.

Saturday will be filled with ups and downs. The team that grabs the emotion early and than outlast the other team is going to win.

Cougars over power the Rebels at home 42-24 and Harvey has a big day.