Rebels must shore up ability to make tackles

Now listen lads, I'm not happy with our tackling. We're hurting them, but they keep getting up.

-- John B. Keane

OK, so Keane was referring to rugby, but if it meant his UNLV football players would tackle better against visiting Hawaii come Saturday night, I figure Mike Sanford would do a little binding and looping himself, given how often he's on the field during games.

(On this point, if there was a more classic and funnier image in college football last week than Sanford on the field yet again, zealously signaling for first downs late in his team's loss to Oregon State, I haven't seen it. I am concerned, however, Sanford might require rotator cuff surgery.)

The Rebels lost 23-21 because they didn't have one final stop in them, but there were instances before a game-winning field goal with seven seconds remaining where Oregon State drives could have been shortened and points denied had UNLV players not thought tackling meant striking first above the shoulder pads and often above the helmet.

The e-mails and voice messages began arriving within seconds of the loss. Lots of people noticed. It wasn't difficult. UNLV tackles way too high.

This isn't like studying for an upper level biology course. There are no big secrets, no intricate formulas to solve. The same technique taught by UNLV coaches is being preached today on Pop Warner fields across the valley and inside NFL film rooms.

Somewhere, tykes and professionals alike are hearing about squaring up and breaking down and changing direction and taking a side of the field away and targeting a spot between the hips and jersey number of a runner because, well, doesn't it make sense that when the hips turn, so does the entire body?

"We didn't tackle as well as we should have and can," Sanford said. "We work on it every day. We worked on it every day in training camp. It's like speed -- you can work on it and become better at it, but there are just some guys who are natural at it and some guys who aren't.

"You can always improve. A guy who starts off as a poor tackler has a different ceiling than one who starts off great at it. I'm not going to say what happened (against Oregon State) was all about our tackling, but we can improve on it, and we will improve on it."

Tackling is tough enough. Tackling a water bug can seem impossible.

Jacquizz Rodgers might be 5 feet 7 inches tall in orange stilettos, and the Oregon State sophomore didn't rush 26 times for 166 yards and a touchdown solely because UNLV missed tackles. Rodgers is really fast and really good and really, really elusive.

Elite backs know about running with their pads low and offering a defender little, if any, target to hit. Even the best defenders will miss against a player such as Rodgers, who owns every vital skill for evading contact.

Forget about bringing the guy down on some plays. It's difficult enough finding him.

But good tackling technique can overcome weak instinctual skill, the latter of which too many UNLV defenders own. Starr Fuimaono and Jason Beauchamp are terrific tacklers at linebacker spots. Most others on defense need to get better.

It seems senior Marquel Martin is now the team's starting free safety over junior Travis Dixon, who made the switch from quarterback to defense on the first day of fall camp last year. Talk about a challenge.

Brian Russell was a quarterback at San Diego State when he, too, lost the starting spot and switched to safety during his junior season. He is now in his eighth NFL season and is the exception. Stories like his just aren't told that often.

"It's amazing when they are," Sanford said.

Mostly, guys who can tackle do, and guys who can't hope to become serviceable through drills and practice. UNLV needed more than serviceable to beat Oregon State and wasn't close to it.

We will see what is required against Hawaii, not nearly as talented an opponent as Oregon State and yet one that in its first two games has averaged almost 35 passes and more than 520 yards. Its offense will get the ball in the hands of people who can run. It's on UNLV to tackle better.

"(The Oregon State loss) is not what we wanted," Sanford said. "It is not what we expected. But it happened, and we have to move on. (Hawaii) is a great opportunity."

It can be. It should be.

And yet Jack Tatum isn't running out of that UNLV locker room Saturday night. Someone on the field has to step up and make a tackle when it is needed most.

And we're not talking about Sanford.

Besides, his shoulder must be killing him.

Las Vegas Review-Journal sports columnist Ed Graney can be reached at egraney@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-4618. He also can be heard weeknights from 11 p.m. to 1 a.m. on "The Sports Scribes" on KDWN-AM (720) and www.infernosportsradio.com.