LAS VEGAS — Jackson Arnold did much of his best work against Memphis beyond the short passing game. UNLV found throws in the intermediate part of the field, took a couple of shots over the top and moved the ball consistently before the protection began to come apart after halftime.
Arnold completed 25 of 37 passes for 291 yards and two touchdowns in his UNLV debut. PFF had 216 of those yards coming on throws at least 10 yards downfield, including 145 yards and a touchdown on nine completions between 10 and 19 yards.
He did not need many deep attempts to add to it. Arnold went 2 for 2 for 71 yards and a touchdown on throws at least 20 yards downfield, with both completions coming through the middle. He was also perfect on four intermediate throws between the numbers for 67 yards and completed five of nine to the intermediate left for 78 yards and a score.
Stanford found room against Hawai‘i in many of the same areas. The Cardinal threw for 310 yards on 34 attempts in a 37-27 win, averaging 9.1 yards per attempt while finishing with 483 total yards.
Eight Stanford completions gained at least 15 yards, accounting for 221 of its 310 passing yards. Davis Warren hit JonAnthony Hall for 57 yards in the first quarter and Zion Robinson for 48 in the third, then completed passes of 16, 13 and 18 yards on Stanford’s fourth-quarter touchdown drive after Hawai‘i had taken a 27-23 lead.
Hawai‘i gave up several of those larger completions in the secondary. Cornerback Jaylon Edmond allowed two catches for 81 yards on four targets, according to PFF, including the 57-yard gain. Safety Elijah Palmer allowed three catches for 49 yards, while Elijah Gipson was targeted once and gave up the 48-yard completion to Robinson.
Dan Mullen came away from the film with Hawai‘i’s speed standing out more than its size.
“You watch them defensively, they’re fast on defense,” 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.”
UNLV spread the ball around against Memphis. Eleven players caught a pass, with Jai’Den Thomas leading the Rebels with six receptions for 54 yards. Kayden McGee caught three for 48 yards and a touchdown, Taz Reddicks had three for 45 and Tavian McNair scored on a 38-yard reception.
The group could be different Saturday. Reddicks and Taeshaun Lyons were listed as questionable on the Mountain West’s initial availability report, while Troy Stellato is expected back after missing the opener. UNLV still had enough receivers involved against Memphis that Arnold was able to work wherever the coverage gave him room.
His numbers changed much more when Memphis began getting to him. Arnold threw for 232 yards and both touchdowns from a clean pocket, according to PFF, compared with 59 yards when pressured. His average time to throw went from 2.70 seconds when clean to 3.84 under pressure.
Most of the damage came before halftime. Arnold completed 17 of 21 passes for 203 yards in the first two quarters, when Memphis did not record a sack and UNLV took a 14-7 lead into the locker room. The Tigers recorded all six of their sacks in the second half.
UNLV will have a change in the middle of the line Saturday. Starting center Austin Boyd is out after leaving the Memphis game in the fourth quarter, with Griffin Scroggs, BJ Tolo and Joe Metzger among the players who worked at center during the offseason. Tolo finished the Memphis game there after Boyd went down.
Hawai‘i finished with one sack against Stanford. PFF credited defensive tackle Luther McCoy with four pressures on 22 pass-rush snaps, including two hits and two hurries.
Stanford was still able to keep its offense out of obvious passing situations for much of the game. The Cardinal ran 38 times for 173 yards, with Micah Ford carrying 25 times for 99 yards and three touchdowns. Warren also broke a 25-yard scramble in the second quarter.
UNLV had 169 rushing yards against Memphis despite losing 47 yards on sacks. Jaylon Glover gained 49 yards on seven carries, Thomas added 44 on 12 and Arnold broke a 54-yard run.
Arnold also handled extra pressure well in the opener. He completed six of seven passes for 102 yards and both touchdowns when Memphis blitzed, according to PFF, with the ball coming out in an average of 2.14 seconds. Against four or fewer rushers, he completed 19 of 31 for 189 yards.
That gives Hawai‘i another problem if it decides it needs more rushers to get to him. Memphis brought pressure and Arnold got the ball out quickly enough to punish it, including both of his touchdown passes.
The alternative did not always work against Stanford. Warren was sacked once and still completed 22 of 34 passes for 310 yards, with most of Stanford’s passing production coming on larger gains rather than a steady stream of short completions.
UNLV had those throws available against Memphis before the protection changed the game. With Boyd out Saturday, getting back to them will depend on whether the Rebels can keep Arnold clean long enough to work the intermediate and deep parts of Hawai‘i’s coverage.
See an error? Report a correction.
