Coaches’ faith in Decker merited

Blake Decker didn't have much of a choice, so he had to hope what is said about trust proved true. That while it's hard to come by, it's also the most essential ingredient in effective communication.

Security is a fluid term when evaluating a returning starting quarterback playing under a new coaching staff. It can really be an unknown when your college football team won two games the previous season and you threw more interceptions than touchdowns.

Actually, in that particular case, it doesn't exist.

"One of the first things I did was sit down with the coaches and ask them if I was going to get a fair shake," Decker said. "I told them that I was sure they had seen the stats from last year and wasn't sure how much film they had watched yet, but just wanted to know where things stood. They promised me I would get a fair opportunity in spring ball, that while I didn't have an advantage over anyone, I was on an even level.

"I love to compete. From the first day, this coaching staff has been honest and up front with all of us. I think knowing we had to compete for jobs helped all our seniors. It created the environment we needed, on the field and in the classroom and in the weight room. It made us better, knowing we had to battle every day for our spot."

He is the other quarterback in UNLV's game against No. 13 UCLA on Saturday night at Sam Boyd Stadium, the equivalent to a supporting role as hype and attention and compliments are showered upon another.

Josh Rosen is a true freshman who has played just one game for the Bruins, but he performed well enough in a 34-16 win against Virginia that the all-too-early hyperbole machine went into overdrive well before he finished a 351-yard, three-touchdown effort. The kid wasn't halfway to his team's locker room afterward before being christened with whispers of the H word.

You're never going to hear Decker and Heisman mentioned in the same sentence, but what most witnessed in UNLV's opening game was a better, stronger, more confident quarterback than the one who struggled mightily making correct decisions last season.

The Rebels lost at Northern Illinois 38-30 and yet within defeat showed promise from several spots, including the guy running UNLV's offense.

He will turn 25 this month, a former junior college transfer from Arizona who served a two-year church mission in Mexico following high school. Decker is what you want in a leader — experienced, thoughtful, always one to turn a question about himself into an answer about the team.

But roller coasters aren't where you want a quarterback to spend much time, and for all the yards (2,886) Decker threw for as a junior, he also had 18 interceptions to 15 touchdowns. He would follow a great throw with an awful one, a smart choice with a dreadful one. He saw what no one else in a stadium did some plays, and that wasn't always such a good thing. He saw openings where, well, none existed.

Paid for it, too.

"I think we were silently rooting for him to win the (starting job) this season because you know he has been out there and played in big games and has that experience," first-year head coach Tony Sanchez said. "He's a good runner and has a good arm. What we talked about most in the offseason was decision making. We needed to do a good job making sure he was comfortable running the offense so we can limit turnovers.

"We knew we had a good quarterback. We knew that if we got him comfortable with what we're doing, he'd be fine. It showed (against Northern Illinois). He had a great game."

Decker's number — 21-of-39 for 319 yards with two touchdowns and one interception — were certainly good enough to win, but the Rebels wore down defensively in the second half and dropped a game they at one point led 17-3.

Things get tougher now for everyone wearing a UNLV uniform, given the Rebels likely won't play a faster, more athletic, more skilled side than UCLA this season.

UNLV has to run the ball to stay close, has to limit turnovers on offense and create them on defense to stand a chance, has to hope the other quarterback in this game plays within himself and doesn't get caught up in trying to match a certain hyped freshman on the other side.

"That won't happen," Decker said. "Obviously, you want to be the best and not go out there as a second- or third-tiered player. It's an opportunity to play against a guy with a lot of notoriety. (Rosen) is a great quarterback, even as a freshman, but when you're out there, titles are eliminated. You just look at him as a quarterback who earned and deserves the job. At the same time, there is no direct comparison between us.

"As an offense, we're just worried about what their defense does. Our defense can worry about (Rosen). Control what you can control. We didn't go to (Northern Illinois) to be happy about losing by eight. We went there to win. I would have rather thrown for 50 yards if it meant we had won."

That's a pretty good attitude in which to trust.

Ed Graney can be reached at egraney@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-4618. He can be a heard on "Seat and Ed" on Fox Sports 1340 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Follow him: @edgraney