New defensive coordinator Baer says UNLV can’t dwell on past

Kent Baer would be smart to remind those UNLV football players he now coaches that you can't begin the next chapter of your life by continuing to read the last one.

One can only take so many horror stories.

Baer has a resume for defense trumped by few nationally, having served as a coordinator for almost three decades at Notre Dame, Stanford, Washington, California, Arizona State, Utah State, Idaho, San Jose State and Colorado.

The man is a walking, talking, book store of college gear.

He also has accepted the massive challenge of turning UNLV's defense into something opponents might not necessarily fear weekly but at least respect.

Or, well, at least feel a need on which to watch film.

The Rebels last allowed an average of fewer than 30 points in 2007.

Last season, they allowed an average of 38.4.

Over the past 10 seasons, they have surrendered at least 40 points in a game 47 times.

Forty-seven.

They also have handed out yards lately — a staggeringly inept average of 513.5 last year — like Costco does samples, more a defense you might find on a video game screen being directed by a novice gamer than an actual field.

They haven't tackled well in an eternity.

"I don't think you can forget the past," Baer said Friday after the team's final scrimmage before opening the season at Northern Illinois on Sept. 5. "I don't think you can dwell on it. There are certain learning aspects from it that you can use and then you move on.

"I don't look at the history of a program. I really don't. You come in and you build it the way you think it needs to be built and the way you believe in and go from there. This is a heck of a challenge, but that's exciting. There are just so many checks and alignments and keys now defending all these spread offenses. You need to learn it all in a hurry. Can these guys play with a fanatical effort? How tough are they?

"This could be a big-time place, too."

He came here for the same reason other UNLV assistants with career stops at major college powers did, because they believe in the vision coach Tony Sanchez has for the Rebels.

They all want to work for him.

They all preach that things can be turned around.

They also know better players at almost every position are needed, that recruiting at a high level the next few years will be as important as building that planned on-campus facility. You can't win consistently without talent, and the Rebels probably won't get enough of it without a fancy new building and weight room. That's the reality of college football in 2015.

Bells and whistles matter to all players, never mind the best ones.

"I don't care if you're interviewing me or (Southern California coach) Steve Sarkisian or (South Carolina coach) Steve Spurrier, we're all going to say the same thing," Sanchez said. "Talent trumps everything. I love our kids. They're playing their guts out for us, and I'm not saying we don't have some talent, but we need to continue upgrading that part of it.

"(Baer) is a great leader and teacher. That's what we need most in our program right now, really good teachers. We need to keep recruiting, but in the meantime, if we aren't great teachers, we don't have a chance."

First things first. They need to get lined up right on defense.

Fact: You have to be pretty darn woeful not to move the ball between the 20s in today's game if the talent level a specific week is fairly even between teams, and even when it's not. UNLV isn't at any time this season likely to offer a defense that continues to execute three-and-outs for 60 minutes.

It's not happening.

But if the Rebels can be smart enough to recognize where everyone should be before the snap more often than not, then things such as effort and physicality matter. They can't allow an opposing third-down success rate of 43 percent like last season, and they absolutely can't rank 10th again in turnover margin within the Mountain West.

They need to create their own breaks to stay in most games. Lots of them.

"We have to use the past as motivation," senior defensive lineman Sonny Sanitoa said. "We knew how much improvement was needed, and I do think we have come a long way this training camp. These coaches have very, very high expectations for us, and when we aren't executing or giving 110 percent, they definitely let us know. They push us to go beyond our limits."

To not forget the past, but also not dwell on it.

To embrace reading a new chapter.

Old ones can get depressing.

Not to mention scary.

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. On Twitter: @edgraney.