Looking back on the spring and looking ahead, too

Jason Beauchamp

Tuesday, April 28, 2009 | 2:38 p.m.

So I'm going to rename this blog this season.

Last year, it was titled 'Judgement Days,' for reasons which were explained last fall. Now, we're going to call it 'Now or Never.'

As far as explaining that one, I'll get into it next time.

As for spring ball ...

I think the best part of the spring were those Friday scrimmages, because everyone had something to prove. There weren't guys standing off to the side. Everyone was involved, whether it was the ones, twos or threes.

Those Fridays, we played like it was a game. The effort was definitely there.

Just seeing the effort and the drive that guys had, I had a good time. I enjoyed seeing hard work, seeing big hits and seeing guys do their jobs right. Everyone jumped in and everyone tried to make something happen.

I think Rodelin Anthony, he's become a go-to guy. A lot of guys established themselves. You've got a guy like Marquel Martin that hadn't played in four years, really, with injuries and different trials and tribulations. He came out and is fighting for a starting spot with Travis Dixon.

Travis Dixon is another example, from quarterback to safety. We've come a long way. Guys understand where we're at now. Things are more different than they've ever been.

Leadership this year ...

The leaders this year, the separation is huge. The respect on the team now for older players and leaders is a lot more evident than it's been in the past, and people aren't fighting as far as the leaders go. The leaders are established now.

A team that's not arguing, a team that accepts leaders is going to be successful. Everyone's a leader in their own way. But you've heard the saying 'Too many chiefs and not enough indians?' We've gotten that accomplished.

We need to continue that, because leaders really need to build credibility beforehand. Before the game, before you're on the game and bullets are flying. You need to become vocal and become a leader when it really doesn't matter. When we're running or in the weight room.

Overall, we added another coach with coach Stugart. Coach Smith is at running backs. Coach Patterson had Leon Lett helping the d-line. He'll be around for awhile. We've talked with him.

We're really on the up and up. This is when hard work pays off, and this is when we really win the games -- in the offseason.

That's what helped us last year, was having everyone show up during the summertime for 7-on-7, which was different from the past years I'd been here.

A new attitude ...

I definitely think that last year, it was Judgement Day. Now, this year, it's gonna be more of an introduction to UNLV football. We've made our mark, but this year will be the stepping stone for coach Sanford and what he's done for UNLV.

As far as guys just buying in, it's not like we're trying to just change a 2-10 team anymore.

It's that we're gonna keep progressing and be proactive. No one is comfortable where they're at.

From last year, the difference is that we're a lot more confident now. We honestly all believe we should have won more games than we did even last year. Just games like BYU, losing by a touchdown, games like Utah where we're up by two touchdowns and they come back and they beat us after two big injuries, we had them on their backs in Utah. Then, coming out and being Mountain West Conference and Sugar Bowl champions, all the success they had, it sent a message. It hit us hard.

Everyone on our team knows and understands that we're doing nothing but getting better. Coach Sanford used to always say -- and it's true -- hop on the train or get run over by the train. Buy in or get out.

Guys are trying to get in. That's why you're seeing the difference in recruits. We're getting better recruits now. There's more competition on defense, especially in the secondary. Guys are approaching UNLV football with a new seriousness that hasn't been applied in the past.

As for myself ...

The biggest thing for me was just making that transition to be playing the 'Bucs' spot more often. You've seen a lot of guys lately called the 'hybrid' or 'tweener.' More of like a rush-type end that sometimes drops.

I've been getting comfortable with that. I'm a linebacker, and I find myself doing things just like a linebacker. At my new position, sometimes things are different, with technique and responsibilities.

Things like that are just things I have to focus on, getting my footwork right and getting off the ball with my hand on the ground. I've never really been in that position before. I think I've grown and I've shown I can play multiple positions.

I see it as a compliment for them to move me around like that, because they think I can handle the change.

All I can do is respond, and I think this offseason, the main things is just getting in the playbook and becoming a student of the game playing this new position. I want to affect everyone. I want to help the linebackers, help the safeties, because that's what a leader is.

My whole thing for the summer is just to maintain, stay healthy and I'll probably want to put on a little weight. Nothing major. Maybe 10 more pounds. Keep the speed, keep the agility.

We will talk again next week, when I'll explain the new blog title.