Winning on Monday: UNLV football promotes practice as key

UNLV’s football team beat Akron 38-10 last week.

The game, like with most of the college variety, fell on a Saturday.

But the Rebels weren’t really victorious then.

They won on Monday.

It’s all about preparation. All about how well a practice week begins and how much work you put in over the remainder of it.

And the Rebels were far better than in their previous game, a 44-6 thrashing by North Texas.

The next test is here, a game against Cal on Saturday afternoon at Allegiant Stadium.

And one way UNLV (2-2) can continue its successful ways is to again win the turnover battle.

Think about it: The Rebels were a minus-4 in margin at North Texas; they were plus-3 at Akron.

That’s a ratio difference of 7.

Meaning, it’s not a coincidence where each score fell.

Defense improved

“It’s boring, right?” coach Dan Mullen said. “Play great defense and have guys do their job and follow a plan to win. When you do that, chances are you’re going to win the game.

“It sounds really simple but it’s also really complicated. If we practice with a certain level of intensity and play with great discipline and prepare the right way, we expect on Saturday to come out and put ourselves in position to win.”

It’s a defense that certainly grew between the North Texas and Akron games, one that allowed the Zips very little after a game-opening touchdown drive.

Even then, UNLV had 30 yards in penalties to aid Akron’s pursuit.

But then things clamped down and UNLV began making plays. The Rebels would total three interceptions, including a pick-6 from defensive back Mumu Bin-Wahad.

You wonder if this is something to come, if UNLV’s defense can continue forcing others into mistakes.

It sure would help the bottom line.

“We definitely emphasize taking the ball away in practice, interceptions and fumble recoveries and all that stuff,” Bin-Wahad said. “I’m big on Mondays when you win games. The key is for players and coaches to be on the same page as you work throughout the week to put up the numbers on Saturdays we and the fans like.

“More intent during practice, more intent tackling, more intent on taking the ball away. Coach Mullen has been drilling and drilling those things into our heads. I’m excited about playing Cal. They have a really good quarterback and we’re ready to get after him.”

It’s true that sophomore Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele is highly touted as a future NFL quarterback, but Cal’s star and the offense has struggled mightily at times this season.

Sagapolutele ranks 90th nationally in yards-per-attempt (7.2) and has thrown four interceptions against just seven touchdowns for the Golden Bears.

It’s the type of numbers that UNLV’s defense has the opportunity to possibly take advantage of. Maybe.

Cal (2-2) is certainly a (big) upgrade from Akron, and it’s not as if the Rebels have slowed all opposing offenses.

They still are allowing averages of 364 yards, including 151 on the ground.

Bye week success

“We have to limit teams on first down, and when we do that, it opens up the whole defensive gameplan,” defensive back Tre Fulton said. “If we win first down and make them a passing team, it makes things a lot easier. We just have to trust in the week of practice and know we can make plays like we did against Akron.”

Talk about a turnaround following a bye week. The Rebels had zero players grade out at 80 percent or better (the first time in Mullen’s coaching career no one did) after the North Texas game. They had 20 of them after Akron.

They had six missed tackles against Akron; they had seven on one play against North Texas.

“It’s not like there’s some magic dust and we’re perfect now,” Mullen said. “We came out and responded unbelievably (at Akron) with mental toughness and preparation in practice to get ready for a tough game on the road.

“How do we do that this week (at home)? We better practice our ass off and we better prepare the right way and we better wake up and show up and perform and execute at a high level just like we did last week. If we do, we can expect positive results.”

This is Saturday.

It began on Monday.

Always does.

Up next

Who: UNLV vs. Cal

When: Saturday 12:30 p.m.

Where: Allegiant Stadium

TV: CBS Sports Network

Radio: KWWN (1100 AM 100.9 FM)

Line: UNLV minus-2½; 53½ total