Sunday, August 22, 2004
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

JOE HAWK: UNLV's Miklos 'relentless' in tackling new challenge

Joe Miklos calls UNLV's play-breaking/playmaking strong safety Jamaal Brimmer "The Example, because he does everything perfectly."

Little does the Rebels' junior free safety know, Brimmer has a nickname for him, too:

"Relentless."

"Miklos is relentless at whatever he does," Brimmer says, breaking into a wide smile at the very mention of his defensive backfield mate. "Whether it's coming in to make a tackle or handling his coverage or running in to break up a pass, he's just relentless.

"If Miklos is in position to make the big play, he'll make the big play."

Quite a compliment, you must concede, coming from someone the stature of Brimmer, a legitimate All-America candidate at his position. Quite a compliment, indeed, when you consider Miklos, 19, has only a single season of experience at one of the most difficult positions on a football field.

He's a converted linebacker, who still plays with that grunt-and-growl tenacity. But he also has the speed and agility to cover the deep field and keep opposing wideouts from breaking free.

Miklos brings the best of both worlds to work every day.

"I had never played a bit of safety before last season, not even in high school," says Miklos, who prepped at storied De La Salle High, the northern California parochial school that has won 151 consecutive games and was featured this past week in Sports Illustrated. "I had a lot of fun playing linebacker, but moving to safety has really been great.

"It gives me a chance to do more things while still doing the one thing I really love -- tackling."

In Saturday night's controlled scrimmage at Sam Boyd Stadium, Miklos had only two tackles. Neither he nor Brimmer played much as Rebels coach John Robinson used the opportunity to have his first-team offense, quarterbacked primarily by Kurt Nantkes and Shane Steichen, go against the second-team defense.

What little the 6-foot-2-inch, 210-pound Miklos played came against the Rebels' second-team offense and didn't provide much occasion to demonstrate his strengths.

But Miklos fairly proved himself last season by finishing second in tackles with 82, including 49 solo. Only middle linebacker Adam Seward had more tackles, with 119.

Miklos also forced three fumbles last season -- there's that linebacker mentality -- and he used his speed to return two fumbles for touchdowns.

Mix in a couple of pass breakups and a pair of interceptions, and it definitely was a breakout season for someone who had never played free safety before. Heck, it was a breakout season for someone who HAD played free safety before.

"That's my compadré," Brimmer says of Miklos. "When you have that kind of swagger he carries (himself with), the look that says, `Don't think of me as the weak link,' you have to back it up. He does that and more.

"The thing about Miklos is he's turned into a quality safety not because he had to but because he wanted to."

Actually, Miklos had to. Connie Brown hadn't distinguished himself at that position the season before and the Rebels needed someone to step up immediately and take the pressure off of the cornerbacks, as well as Brimmer.

Miklos did that by asserting himself in spring ball before his sophomore season. He began watching film -- over and over -- to get a sense for the nuances of the position.

"I'm still learning the position," Miklos admits. "A lot of the reads at linebacker are so quick, off the snap of the ball. You're coming downhill as soon as the ball is snapped. At safety, once the ball is snapped, you're playing in the deep half (of the defense). You can't let anything behind you.

"There are some similarities between the two positions but also a lot of differences. It's the differences I have to keep working on. That's where I have to get better."

Told of Miklos' words of committed dedication, Brimmer's smile widens from ear to ear.

"See, that's why I call him `Relentless,' Brimmer says.

Joe Hawk's column is published Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. He can be reached at 387-2912 or jhawk@reviewjournal.com.