UNLV has more pressing matters than QB situation

The questions are always first about quarterback.

Who will start this week?

Will you play more than one?

Should they wear profanity-blocking earplugs when approaching you on the sideline?

Things don't get easier for UNLV coach Bobby Hauck and his team today, when a Rebels team coming off a 20-point loss to one ranked team (now-No. 11 Wisconsin) visits another (No. 20 Utah).

Omar Clayton or Mike Clausen will stand first behind center for UNLV, but Hauck's words this week suggest both will see time.

Another question: Does it matter who plays and how much?

Anyone who watched Wisconsin muscle up and shove around UNLV knows it really isn't important who is the one handing off or delivering passes, not if the offensive line doesn't begin blocking someone.

Hauck felt the game film from the Wisconsin loss showed his line's woes were more about lacking execution than losing a physical matchup, but things weren't memorable either way.

The Rebels ran 15 plays in the first half.

Wisconsin ran 14 on its first drive.

The Rebels finished with 112 yards rushing, but they had minus-9 over the first 30 minutes when the game remained close.

Wisconsin rushed for 278.

The Rebels couldn't have blocked me.

Wisconsin could have blocked an Amtrak at full speed.

"We just need to execute better," Hauck said. "Frankly, I was more discouraged before I looked at the tape. There are a lot of things we can clean up and improve on. If we do, we have a chance to move the ball."

Utah represents the next opportunity for an offensive line that starts three seniors to prove experience also translates to ability. It didn't seem that way against the Badgers. The big guys up front were handled.

The good news: UNLV in recent seasons has held its own in one of the game's most important areas, ranking third among Mountain West Conference teams and 23rd nationally in sacks allowed last season and second in league and 15th nationally in 2008.

They allowed four against Wisconsin, but that could be far more about the Badgers' talent than anything lacking with UNLV.

Or so the Rebels hope.

"We definitely had our troubles," senior tackle Matt Murphy said. "Maybe the new scheme, a new offense, getting used to things. No one likes going three-and-out.

"There was some frustration, like 'What's going on?' But you can't hang your head after the first game. That's why you play 13. That's the veteran attitude we have to have. We're going to have things go wrong, but all that matters is the next play."

Football is like basketball when it comes to talented big guys. There are just so many to go around, and the Rebels' placement on the football food chain right now demands they take chances and hope like heck to coach kids up.

Included on their two-deep on the offensive line for today's game are six sophomores and a freshman.

It happens often with a new coaching staff trying to rebuild what has been a dreadful product -- young faces tend to receive ample opportunity.

That can be both good and bad.

"I like big, fast guys, and if you look at our freshmen class, you'll see that's what we're looking for," Hauck said. "We want to build (the offensive line) with high school kids. We're going to cover our board (in recruiting). We will take a quarterback every year. We'll take a running back every year. We'll take four to five offensive linemen in every class.

"Now, you don't take three good ones and two that can't play just to say you took five. We'll be in some heated competitions for good linemen. I think sometimes you panic and take some guys that are down your list and they end up not being able to contribute."

In beating Pittsburgh to open its season, Utah allowed only 82 yards rushing and a mere 2.3 per carry.

The Utes might have ended Dion Lewis' Heisman Trophy pursuit before it began, limiting a sophomore who gained nearly 1,800 yards last season to a career-low 75. His longest run over the final three quarters was 8 yards.

There is a message within those numbers for UNLV's offensive line today:

Get better. Fast.

Block someone. Immediately.

"It's all about regrouping and putting (Wisconsin) behind us," Murphy said. "(Utah) is another great team we have to go against. It will just take a lot of effort and work."

It will probably take more, but that's as good a start as any.

Las Vegas Review-Journal sports columnist Ed Graney can be reached at
egraney@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-4618.