UNLV can reasonably expect more victories

Trying to convince a football coach to talk about an opponent other than the next one on the schedule is like trying to find an airline executive optimistic about the future.

It's the same for players, who are drilled to repeat the "one game at a time" mantra.

To truly understand whether UNLV can win more than two games for the first time since 2003, it's important to look beyond Saturday's opener against Utah State at Sam Boyd Stadium.

The bottom half of the Mountain West Conference is so dreadful, it's amazing Temple hasn't applied for membership. So UNLV really has a reasonable opportunity to improve its win total, especially since this appears to be the strongest team in coach Mike Sanford's four seasons.

If the Rebels get through an early season stretch at Utah and Arizona State relatively unscathed, they get Iowa State, UNR, Air Force and Wyoming at home. Only Air Force posted a winning record last season, but the Falcons lose their two best players -- quarterback and UNLV killer Shaun Carney and do-it-all wide receiver Chad Hall.

Plus, UNLV has winnable games at Colorado State and San Diego State. All those opponents are in addition to Utah State, which went 2-10 last season and was one of two teams the Rebels actually beat.

Of course, a Rebels team that went 2-10 itself and annually spends the holidays watching bowl games rather than playing in them can't make assumptions about beating anyone. UNLV even has to take Utah State seriously.

"Our main goal is going to be don't think about anything else but what's right in front of us, because that for sure is going to ensure that our focus is on that game," sophomore quarterback Omar Clayton said.

Clayton mixed flashes of greatness with inexperience-induced mistakes last season, but he has progressed in preseason and emerged as a player with loads of potential.

Senior defensive tackle Jacob Hales, a Las Vegas High School graduate, said Clayton recently told the team how indebted he felt to UNLV for even being in the program.

"(Clayton) says he owes the team, because he hasn't gotten a win yet, and that just shows his hunger and his desire and the type of person he is," Hales said. "I think that's the type of person we want leading our team, and we're lucky to have him."

Unlike last season, when Clayton worked his way up the depth chart to become the late-season starter, he was handed the offense on Day One of training camp, allowing him to develop a better chemistry with his teammates.

He has some weapons in senior tailback Frank Summers, experienced wide receivers Casey Flair (senior) and Ryan Wolfe (junior), and freshmen wideouts Phillip Payne of Western High and Michael Johnson. UNLV's offensive line also has another year of experience.

The defensive line, led by tackles Hales and sophomore Malo Taumua, appears to be that side of the ball's strength. Talent also exists among the starting linebackers and with some promising players in the secondary.

There are concerns, though. Depth is a problem at most positions, and the many young and inexperienced defensive backs could suffer growing pains.

UNLV fans have experienced groan-induced pains themselves watching this program over many years.

The Rebels hope that begins to change this season.

"Going into the season, I would say the leadership is the best it's been since I've been here, the quality of players and attitude is the best it's been since I've been here," Sanford said. "I think the rest of it, you've got to prove on the field."