Never too high, never too low - it was on full display during UNLV's 9-5 season in Odom's first year. Gone were the Rebels who unravelled after an untimely turnover or costly avoidable penalty. Third and long became a punt return as opposed to one yard beyond the sticks.
It's a philosophy that the Rebels need to hold onto moving forward. That poised approach is the clear demeanor of head coach Barry Odom. Mistakes are teaching points, not overly punitive. Successes are met with smiles and high fives instead of unbridled celebration.
With the 3-0 start, national recognition and a top 25 spot, the Rebels have a lot to celebrate right now. But with a group of 5 play off spot wide open, you won't see celebrations.
Instead, with a bye week before hosting Fresno State at Allegiant, it will be focus and work.
Where the Rebels have struggled the most is in the passing game. It's not a talent thing, quarterback Matt Sluka can sling it. And he has the top receiving corps in the conference with Mr. Everything Ricky White, Jacob De Jesus, Kaleo Ballungay, Casey Cain (Texas) and couple other notables. But to say the air attack has been ineffective would be an understatement. White has only 10 catches for 123 yards through three games. Last year, White had six separate games with more than 130 reception yards.
It must be said that UNLV hasn't thrown the ball much through three games. In dominating Houston and Utah Tech the first two weeks, the Rebels took the air out of the ball, even though White had three touchdown receptions in the first quarter vs Tech. Both games were well under control and UNLV went into early cruise control. In week three against Kansas, Sluka only completed seven passes, one of them a beautiful wheel route touchdown to Jai'Den Thomas to give the Rebels momentum against the Jayhawks heading into halftime. With little success through the air, the Rebels were forced to the ground and Sluka went crazy legs with 143 yards.
This is more than not many passing attempts. Sluka, who was a later arrival to camp, has plenty of experience, but at this point, the chemistry isn't quite right with the receivers. Some tough to catch balls, some poor routes, a little too much zip, a little too much air - the passing game has yet to be a threat. In fairness to Sluka, the receivers haven't helped him out too much. Too many drops, the type that should have been caught, have stalled the offense, too.
It's a well timed bye week for the Rebels. Having a couple of weeks to work out these issues, the Rebels should be able to open up the offense. Like last season, UNLV's offensive strength figures to be the running game - but being a threat through the air will open up the ground game, just like success with the ground game will open up the passing game. The two go hand in hand and when they're clicking, the Go Go offense will be at its best and will be tough for anybody remaining on the schedule to stop.
Fortunately for the Rebels, the revamped defense has done more than hold their own. Kansas owned the first half against the Rebel defense, seemingly scoring at will, but in the second half, the Rebels were able to win the line and stop with the arm tackles, holding the Jayhawks to only three second half points and enabling the last drive heroics of Sluka in the upset victory.
There's room for improvement on the defensive side, as well, but there's a whole lot of room for improvement on the offensive side. If things come together for the Rebels, wouldn't it be a pleasant surprise to watch a UNLV game near Christmas Day?
