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Rebels' execution lacking
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LOUIE TRAUB/LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL
Quarterback Omar Clayton completed 6 of 16 passes for 70 yards and two touchdowns Saturday in UNLV's spring-ending scrimmage at Sam Boyd Stadium. » Buy this photo
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UNLV coach Bobby Hauck, preparing for his first season after a successful run at Montana, encourages his players during the Rebels' spring-ending scrimmage at Sam Boyd Stadium. LOUIE TRAUB/LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL » Buy this photo
LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL
First-year UNLV football coach Bobby Hauck looks at a schedule next season that includes games against Wisconsin and at West Virginia in addition to the difficult Mountain West Conference slate and knows his team isn't ready for that challenge.
"We've learned to play hard in stretches, but I don't think we've learned to play well yet," Hauck said after Saturday's spring-ending scrimmage before about 1,200 fans at Sam Boyd Stadium. "The execution isn't sharp enough. I mean, certainly the way we played today wouldn't get us a win in the fall."
The ever-optimistic Mike Sanford, UNLV's coach the previous five seasons, never would have made such a statement. But Hauck calls it as he sees it, and he knows the Rebels have plenty of work ahead before taking the field in the Sept. 4 opener against Wisconsin.
But Hauck pointed out tackling and "attention to detail" were among areas that noticeably improved, and the team in general made a step up in the 15 spring practices.
Still, plenty of issues need to be confronted, such as deciding the quarterback race. Senior Omar Clayton operated the first-team offense in the scrimmage, and he completed 6 of 16 passes for 70 yards and two touchdowns.
"Especially after we got the first couple of plays out of the way, I thought things started running really smoothly," Clayton said.
He is competing against junior Mike Clausen and redshirt freshman Caleb Herring. Clausen has been dealing with a concussion, and he was not at the scrimmage. Hauck said Clausen went home to Southern California to tend to a family issue but that he was expected back for classes this week.
Clausen's injury gave Herring extra snaps in practice. In quarterbacking the No. 2 offense in the scrimmage, he completed 3 of 5 passes for 10 yards and rushed for a 9-yard touchdown.
Hauck said no quarterback has created enough separation from the others.
"We're not anywhere near naming a starter," he said. "I would hope we could name one as soon as possible. A year ago, we wanted to do that (at Montana) and didn't get one named until Game 10. I'd like to have one named by certainly the game week of the first game, but I don't know that that's going to happen.
"We aren't just going to name a starter out of obligation to name a starter. We'll do it when somebody earns it."
Of the three touchdown drives Clayton and Herring led, one occurred against the first-team defense. That unit kept the offense out of the end zone two other times.
"I think we're coming together more," junior linebacker Nate Carter said.
■ NOTES -- Senior defensive tackle Ramsey Feagai suffered what appeared to be a partial tear of the medial collateral ligament in his left knee. The injury shouldn't been an issue when training camp opens in August. ... Players out injured included defensive tackle Isaako Aaitui, linebacker Ronnie Paulo and center John Gianninoto, all seniors. ...
Senior tailback Channing Trotter rushed for 25 yards on five carries, and redshirt freshman Bradley Randle had 16 yards on seven rushes. ... Sophomore wide receiver Mark Barefield caught three passes for 13 yards, and touchdown catches were made by junior tight end Austin Harrington from 24 yards and Trotter from 20 yards. ...
Sophomore linebacker Travis Trickey and senior defensive end Preston Brooks each made five tackles. Linebacker Starr Fuimaono and defensive end Daniel Mareko, both seniors, each made a tackle for a loss.
Contact reporter Mark Anderson at manderson@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2914.
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dsk really it's time to look for a new coach. I swear people like this are like cockroaches they only come out at night and hide behind the computer. Coach Hauck is the right man at the right time for UNLV. He will win and be gone to better things in 5 years. What UNLV needs is a big time financial supporter to endowe the athletic fund and make sure the program goes further.
Coach Hauck has a good plan for Rebel football,
Now the players must produce in the class room and on the field
The coverage by the LVRJ was weak at best covering spring ball for the Rebels. Get on it RJ and lets get someone giving football the same coverage we get on Basketball.
I like the attitude from Hauck. Why let these kids settle. This team will never compete with the better teams in the league unless preparation, fundamentals and attention to detail become habit.
That's what will help close the gap in talent from some of the teams they play next season.