Aug. 15, 2006

With just one practice scheduled for Tuesday, the UNLV football team turned up the heat during a morning boasting cool breezes.

On what was termed Turnover Tuesday, it was the Rebel defense that ultimately won the overall matchups and watched the offense run post-practice gassers.

The defense was charged with getting at least three turnovers during the practice in order to not have to run. It got four.

Later, in an intense goal-line matchup, the offense scored during three of its first four drives from the five-yard line before the defense rose up to snuff the next three attempts and win the end-zone war 4-3.

Tempers flared, balls were stripped, whistles blew -- and UNLV turned in its most intense practice of the preseason.

"I was very pleased with today's effort." Head Coach Mike Sanford said. "We had the right attitude out there as far as competing. We saw a lot of emotion on the field."

The team enjoyed a pizza lunch before heading for some rest and a lifting session.

POSITION UPDATE: RUNNING BACKS

Everyone knows that senior Erick Jackson will most likely be back in the starting role out of the backfield this fall, so it is the rest of the running roster that is being sorted out during daily drills.

Second-year RB coach Reggie Davis says he has a lot of capable bodies that are short on experience but long on talent.

"We've been improving day to day in camp," says Davis. "We have a group of running backs that will all contribute one way or another this season."

After Jackson, who led the team with 673 yards on the ground in '05, Las Vegas product David Peeples is turning heads with some tough runs around the goal line. Lafayette Fletcher is a redshirt that turned in a big spring game. Former Nebraska transfer Ronnie Smith showed off his speed by going 61 yards on one of his two carries last fall. Also, young Ryan Worthen and Chris Brogdon will make up the U-back spot, which is primarily a blocking position.

"It's tough on me as a coach because we only have one football and a lot of guys wanting to run with it," says Davis. "I think we have a nice mix of scat backs, physical runners and receiving-type backs on this team. We need to improve our pass protection and ball skills but I feel good about this group."