LAS VEGAS — UNLV’s first road trip of the season comes with a change in the middle of its offensive line and a much different challenge for its defense.
Austin Boyd is out after leaving the Memphis game in the fourth quarter, and Griffin Scroggs and BJ Tolo are expected to handle most of the work at center Saturday. Scroggs missed the opener, while Tolo replaced Boyd for the final 11 offensive snaps. Troy Stellato is expected back at receiver. Freshman defensive lineman Poe Purcell played 40 snaps in his college debut.
UNLV opens Mountain West play Saturday at Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex, with kickoff scheduled for 4 p.m. Hawai‘i time and 7 p.m. Pacific on The CW. The Rebels plan to travel to Honolulu the day before the game, beginning a September that also includes road trips to North Texas and Akron before they return to Allegiant Stadium on Oct. 3 against Cal.
Scroggs worked at center during spring and fall camp along with Tolo and Joe Metzger, giving offensive line coach Louie Addazio several players who have already practiced the position. Scroggs has experience inside from previous stops at Georgia and Appalachian State, while Tolo received the first game snaps after Boyd went down.
Boyd had become an important part of the protection system after moving to center during the offseason. Addazio praised his ability during camp to identify fronts and organize the middle of the pocket, responsibilities that now have to be divided between players who spent much of the offseason preparing for exactly this type of situation.
“You’re always looking to put the best five on the field,” Addazio said during fall camp. “I’m a big believer in make it work to get the best five guys on the field. So, in order to do that, guys got to play different positions. I just think that’s critical.”
UNLV already used some of that flexibility in the opener. Metzger played 41 snaps without starting, including 32 at left guard and nine at right guard, while Colton Thomasson also rotated at left guard.
The protection around Jackson Arnold will receive most of the attention Saturday. Arnold completed 25 of 37 passes for 291 yards and two touchdowns in his first UNLV start.
His production changed once the pocket became less stable. Arnold threw for 232 yards and both touchdowns when kept clean compared with 59 yards under pressure, according to PFF. Memphis did not sack him before halftime but finished with six, all in the second half.
“You watch them defensively, they’re fast on defense,” UNLV coach Dan Mullen said. “Memphis, very good defense. Memphis big, physical defense. This team, not quite as big, but they’re really fast, quick guys all over the field.”
Stanford averaged 6.5 yards per play in Hawai‘i’s opener. The Rainbow Warriors recorded five tackles for loss and one sack.
The matchup gives UNLV a chance to help its new center rotation by staying out of obvious passing situations. The Rebels rushed for 169 yards in the opener despite losing considerable yardage on sacks, and Jai’Den Thomas and Jaylon Glover give Mullen two backs who can keep Hawai‘i from attacking Arnold on every down.
Stanford’s Micah Ford carried 25 times for 99 yards and three touchdowns, including the go-ahead score in the fourth quarter. The Cardinal finished with 158 net rushing yards on 38 attempts.
Eleven Rebels caught a pass against Memphis. Stellato’s expected return would add another receiver, but UNLV first needs the protection to give Arnold time to use the group.
Alex Orji received only a limited role against Memphis after Mullen had discussed using both quarterbacks, and Mullen said afterward that Arnold’s play led the staff away from the larger rotation it originally planned.
“That was the playing plan, but Jackson Arnold was playing really well,” Mullen said. “I thought he was getting the ball out of his hands, making some quick reads, was accurate, making good decisions out there on the field.”
UNLV ran 33 plays in Memphis territory compared with only 16 Memphis plays on the Rebels’ side of the field. The Rebels still scored only 21 points and finished two of four red-zone trips with touchdowns.
Alejado’s quick game tests the defense
The defensive matchup starts with Micah Alejado’s quick passing. The former Bishop Gorman quarterback completed 31 of 51 passes for 272 yards and two touchdowns at Stanford.
PFF credited Alejado with 19 completions on 24 throws from zero to 9 yards downfield, for 156 yards and a touchdown. Against that quick game, UNLV’s underneath defenders may have to finish the play before the rush reaches him.
Only four attempts traveled at least 20 yards downfield. Alejado averaged 1.95 seconds to throw from a clean pocket.
That brings Kamuela Ka’aihue, Dee Crayton and Cam Santee into the matchup. The Stanford sample puts a premium on closing the short throwing lanes and tackling the catch, rather than assuming pressure alone will get Alejado off schedule.
Jake Pope, Mumu Bin-Wahad and Tre Fulton will also have to limit the gain after the catch. Hawai‘i produced 132 yards after the catch at Stanford, according to PFF.
Tama Uiliata caught eight passes for 62 yards and a touchdown on 10 targets. Kainoa Carvalho had five catches for 72 yards, while DeVon Rice supplied another receiving option from the backfield.
Hawai‘i scored touchdowns on three consecutive fourth-quarter possessions to erase a 23-7 deficit and lead 27-23 with 4:06 left. The last score was a 29-yard pass to Rice on second-and-13.
Rice can release from the backfield, while Uiliata and Carvalho give Alejado receiving production elsewhere. UNLV has to keep track of the back as well as the receivers split away from the line.
The Rainbow Warriors struggled to create much with their conventional running game at Stanford, finishing with 46 yards on 22 attempts. Rice led Hawai‘i with 35 yards on 11 carries, leaving Alejado to account for most of the offense.
PFF charged Boogie Henderson and Judah Kaio with four pressures allowed apiece, and Lipe Moala and Dean Briski with two each. UNLV’s rush will need to exploit those matchups before Alejado gets the ball out.
Alejado’s average time to throw rose from 1.95 seconds on clean-pocket plays to 3.96 when pressured. For UNLV, challenging the first throw is one way to try to buy the rush more time, provided the coverage can stay with the next receiver.
The Rebels did not create many of those situations against Memphis. UNLV finished with one sack and one tackle for loss, while the Tigers consistently stayed away from the negative plays that allow a defense to dictate down and distance.
Hawai‘i averaged 2.1 yards per rush at Stanford. If UNLV limits the run without repeatedly adding a defender to the box, it can keep more coverage help available for the short passing game.
Hawai‘i ran 75 plays at Stanford. Defensive coordinator Paul Guenther needs enough available linemen to keep rotating through those passing snaps.
A short completion still requires a tackle. Hawai‘i’s fourth-quarter comeback, including Rice’s 29-yard touchdown catch, is the warning UNLV carries into Honolulu after allowing 13 explosive plays against Memphis.
“We let up some explosives,” Pope said. “That really is what it came down to, on the defensive side.”
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