UNLV Offensive Scouting Report

AP Photo Ross D. Franklin

UNLV is a much-improved team under the 4th year of Coach Sanford. Their execution has improved year to year and they are playing a lot harder.  Just a couple of years ago this team lacked the heart necessary to win close games. This year they have demonstrated both the play making ability and the desire needed to improve upon their previous years records.

Coach Sanford’s team does a lot of things that could potentially give our Cougars some problems.

The Scheme:

The UNLV offense is the spread in its purest form. They mix in some power elements in short yardage situations, but not enough to distract from their true identity. The spread revolves around the quarterback being able to make sound decisions in the running game and keep the defense off balance in passing situations. Omar Clayton is the quarterback that Coach Sanford has lacked since the early departure of Shane Steichen (Sorry about the ankle Shane). As opposed to last year, Omar is making good decisions with the ball, limiting turnovers. This gives his team and scheme the chance to be successful.

UNLV will be predominately in 11 and 10 personal –one RB one TE/ one RB zero TE.  Against BYU I would expect lots of four and five wide looks. Their running game is the ride option, with #4 Frank “The Tank” Summers banging through anyone standing in his way. Most of their ride option plays are meant to hit off tackle or cut back inside against the grain of the defense. If Summers is forced outside than their offense will have problems and our safeties will escape without shrinking in stature. If The Tank can get North and South it will be a long day for Fowler and Tafuna.

Their passing attack revolves around the third receiver to the passing strength and the second receiver on the two man side. Often the two inside receivers to the passing strength will cross. When that happens the primary receiver is the player that ends up being the #3. The route combinations present challenges in coverage because they will pick on the linebackers. Our LB’s will have to make deep enough drops in order to force the quarterback to throw the ball to the check down receiver. UNLV often runs a receiver shallow in front of the linebackers in hopes of the ILB not completing his drop. If he doesn’t complete his drop the quarterback will hit receiver who is also running a route over the middle, but 5-7 yards deeper then the shallow route.

UNLV also depends on their receivers to make a lot of plays for them. They take numerous shots down field and because their receivers have good size they often out jump defensive backs for completions.

O-Line

Their line is the weak part of their offense. They often cave under pressure and haven’t shown the ability to pick-up the blitz. Their tackles seem to always be one step behind, but it hasn’t hurt them a ton due to their quarterbacks athletic abilities. When run blocking they use a zone blocking scheme and they aren’t afraid to cut linebackers and defensive tackles.

Quarterback

As I mentioned above, Omar Clayton has done a far better job than quarterbacks UNLV had had for the past two years. He makes good decisions with the ball and has a tremendous ability to escape the rush and get positive yards. Clayton will be a great test to see how our defense has improved since last Thursday.

He is at his best when running the option, or rolling out to his right. He doesn’t have the strongest arm, but he is accurate and can fit the ball into tight places. He also has a good receiving core, which often bails him out when he floats a ball down field. What worries me is his running ability. Once again our defense will be forced to play honest, team defense. BYU will need to be assignment sound in order to take away the RB first, the quarterback second, and the pitchman third. Defensive players have to understand their option assignment in order to have success against UNLV’s spread attack.

Omar Clayton is a good player.

Wide Receiver

The Running Rebels are deep at this position. They have four quality receivers on the field at all times. Their go-to guy this season is #80, Casey Flair. Next in the pecking order is #88, Ryan Wolfe. It seems like this kid has been around forever and he continues to be very consistent and productive for the Rebel offense. After those two is #84, Rodelin Anthony, and #18, Phillip Payne. All receivers have good hands, size and speed. It will be a good test for our defensive backs because at some point in the game someone will have to make a play to get us out of a jam. It will be a good measuring test to see if we are going to bounce back or fall flat.

One thing these receivers have struggled with has been physical defensive backs. They don’t respond well after being jammed or re-routed. Something everyone should be watching is how physical our LB’s and DB’s are when a receiver is running through their zone. We need to be pushing these receivers around and messing with the offensive timing. This will be a good match-up to watch.

Running Backs

#4 Frank “The Tank” Summers is one of the best backs in our league. He reminds me of Quinton Ganther with his ability to pound the ball inside and get stronger as the game progresses. Also, for a big fella he is surprisingly nimble. He shows flashes of athleticism as he side steps tackles and high steps ankle biting defensive backs. As I watched the tape I started to keep track of the Tanks body count. He has left a good handful of guys rolling around on the ground. His best quality is he doesn’t lose yards after contact. He is constantly churning his feet and falling forward for extra yardage. Even when he is stacked up in the backfield he doesn’t lose yards. That’s a great quality to have in a hard nosed running back.

#3, CJ Cox, spells the Tank every once and a while, but he is second fiddle to Frank. He’ll get a handful of carries on Saturday. Cox is the fastball to Summers inside brush off pitch –that reference was for all you World Series guys. He has the speed to bounce outside and hit a crease for a big gain. BYU shouldn’t sleep when he is in the game, especially when he is in an option heavy formation.

Keys to the game:

• First and foremost we are going to have to stop the option running game and force the ball to bounce outside to our pursuing defensive players. We cannot let Frank Summers get North and South. Through assignment sound football we can force UNLV to be one dimensional, which will decrease their chances of scoring. They aren’t the best when teams have forced them to throw the ball without the threat of the running game.
• Keep Omar Clayton in the pocket. He isn’t comfortable in the pocket and often throws off his back foot. If we are able to play zone behind a four-man rush and still get some pressure on him we will be successful. If we have to zone blitz and take risks in order to get pressure we will put unnecessary pressure on our defensive secondary and possible give up points.
• Gang tackle and play with unmatchable effort. UNLV is playing harder this year than they ever have. Their guys work harder and scrap for every last yard. Our pursuit needs to be ferocious, which could cause a much need turnover.
• Our defensive ends and outside linebackers need to have one of their best games of the season. If our ends can play the ride option play well and our outside and wrapping linebacker can keep the quarterback from getting loose, UNLV will have to alter their game play. (The wrapping linebacker is the backer that has to overlap and play the quarterback.)
• The BYU defensive backs need to disguise and mask coverages. UNLV will come to the line and Clayton will survey the field. Their team will get ready and than everyone will look to the sideline for a new play. We can’t give up our coverages by aligning in them to soon. We need to give one coverage look and then play another. Our defensive backs need to start having confidence in there understanding of the defense and start playing around with both the quarterback and the O-coordinator.
• Play with passion. The pressure is off, go out and make a statement to the rest of the league that you’re still a force within the MWC. Be a dangerous defense!!