Frustration: Staying Level Headed After Second Heart Wrenching Loss
by ucla13_usc9 on Oct 11, 2009 9:05 AM PDT
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PrintRebumped. While we are all frustrated after two tough losses, no need to get carried away with ridiculous arguments based on unreasonable expectations. GO BRUINS.
(AP Photo/Chris Carlson)
I don't think I have ever been so frustrated coming out of the Rose Bowl. Today, the Bruins delayed the inevitable, but kept on challenging their limits, but showed weakness, but showed strengths, but, but, but...
The Bruins outplayed a much more talented team around 50 minutes today. Shocker right? They drove on the ducks, they stopped the ducks, they even "outkicked" the Ducks. But in those 10 minutes, UCLA proved to the world that they aren't ready to win consistently. I've heard a lot of negative words flying around this site, but everyone just needs to keep a level head, and maybe even shake themselves. More after the jump.
Let's get on top of things first. When I came out of the Rose Bowl, here is what I heard through ear, and on BN
- Chow is overrated
- Our offensive line is abysmal
- Brehaut is just flat out dominant compared to Craft
- Our defense is horrible
I will respect your opinion, but I'll try to play the counter argument right here:
1. Alright this is a "hands-on" description. First I want you to read this next sentence, then come back after you read it. SHAKE YOURSELF. Ok, now I want you to step back from your internet browser of choice, and actually do it. I'm serious, it feels good too. Let's ask some questions if you are indeed right. Alright, who isn't overrated then? Who has as many results? Who do you trust with a below average offense, without enough prospects at key positions to truly shake a stick at? And who would come to UCLA instead of a head coaching job? Name all four, and I will, on Bruins Nation, eat big, juicy crow. Just name it.
Now, let's analyze the goal line situation. Well first, the Iso run can't really be challenged. Then, the outside run can't be challenged either. After that, UCLA hurries up to the line, and shoves it up the middle while in the double wing unsuccessfully. It doesn't make sense to dispute it while you are on the 1 inch line. Then UCLA calls a time out, to use another QB Sneak with some good motion in the backfield. It wasn't successful, and probably ended up costing the Bruins the game, but look at the risk/gain ratio! I guess you could argue for a rollout/PA, but then again, if the Sneak worked, you wouldn't complain, and if the roll out didn't work, you would complain for a sneak. It's the difference between a goat and a horse. It wasn't play-calling as much as it was just good defense.
While Brehaut was at the helm, UCLA had a 1st and 10 at Oregon's 15 yard line. Incomplete, incomplete, bobbled..INT. All three of those plays were designed to either go to the end-zone, or get another set of downs. Stop it guys, come one, what do you really believe he thinks? That he is going to infiltrate UCLA to plant internal bombs to help his good friend Pete? I seriously doubt that.
2. Of any unit today on offense, you shouldn't blame the line. This Oregon defensive line might be slightly overrated, but they are great none-the-less. This offensive line only gave up a seemingly excessive amount of sacks because Brehaut just isn't ready to start yet, but more on that later. These guys held their own, even taking it to them on some run plays.
3. Alright, here's that juicy nugget. Richard Brehaut vs. Kevin Prince now? Have the coaches been wrong for a good 6 months about who their starter would be? Nope. Not a bit. This is the point where I think everyone here is going to click back, but if you want to get my opinion press on my friends. Everyone has said that Brehaut is the greatest thing to ever smack UCLA in the head since Drew Olson was reborn. I'm sorry, but that's just plain old not true! I mean, you look at what he did today, and now look at what would have happened with Prince in there. I mean sure, you could say that Brehaut's mechanics are better, but do the likes of Taylor Potts and Tim Tebow have amazing mechanics? Nope. Mechanics can only impress scouts in between levels, which is why Tebow is receiving doubts for Pro ball, and why Texas Tech's QB's are not known for NFL legacies. Now lets look at his Pocket Presence... just about none? I don't think he is even aware, to a proper degree, of a pass rush. Unlike Prince, Brehaut would do his steps, then just stand there... waiting? I think? Then this happened:
(AP Photo/Chris Carlson)
Ouchbang. That was a bad way to start a college career. Now on to the play-calling differences. Not that it was supposed to open up, but there was never really a jolt, or boost, in my opinion in bringing in a 2nd/3rd string QB. They didn't change anything up from Prince-Brehaut. Again, I'll eat Crow if you can prove me wrong. Show me a play that wasn't put in with Prince in there, but WAS put in while Brehaut was in, and I'll eat crow. Just show me.
4. Let's just look at some stats, minus a few plays/drives set up by offensive turnovers:
(Drives via Turnovers:via downs/fumble/interception omitted)
Rushing yards: 147
Passing yards: 56
TDs: 0
What's that vs. their averages?
Rushing: 199 (vs. UCLA: 147)
Passing: 172 (vs. UCLA: 56)
PPG: 34.2 (vs. UCLA: 3)
Ya, you can't argue with that.
Just take away some bogus special-teams/offensive blunders, we won the game!
In conclusion now,
I really think everyone needs to stop drinking the True Blue Kool-Aid. Again, shake yourselves, and be happy, you're a Bruin! I can't wait to see how the two QB's battle it out. So, let's get back to basics, and prepare for the collapsing Bears! It's almost as if it is a novelty toy! Join us WEDNESDAY for our Podcast!
GO BRUINS
This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of BruinsNation's (BN) editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan though, which is as important as the views of BN's editors.
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Good Points
The Sneaks — if we can’t make a few inches up the middle, including on a play where they were not completely lined up, we don’t deserve to score. Had we gone wide or thrown, people would be screaming for the sneaks.
Bobbled Interceptions — have haunted us for two years. Our WR’s are just not that good — or at least the starters aren’t. Many of Craft’s Int’s last year were off bobbles.
We are where our talent level puts us. We have great potential but are playing two freshmen QB’s and a bunch of young players. We all know that we expected to be good next year and very good the year after. I still believe that to be true.
That said, I think CRN should chat with Ganz.
sjh
Ganz?
Seriously? Ganz? I hope you’re not referencing the coordinator!
There's no one in the world that wants to beat UCLA more than _______.
he means the special teams coach
"when you've seen how big the world is, how can you make due with this?"
by silverlakebruin on Oct 11, 2009 7:14 AM PDT up reply actions
Agreed
I think Prince was more mobile than Craft at the very least. We learned that. He has long ball potential, that will help stretch the defense. I was impressed with Prince up until he melted-down. That’s just a question of mental toughness. He will learn from it or we will have a waiting back-up Brehaut.
The defense did a great job. They held them scoreless with one lapse: That was after the Prince fumble. Coming after a kickoff return to the house and a pick-6, then a fumble, and our defense was momentarily demoralized. I couldn’t even watch, but these kids stayed in the game and Oregon did not score 6 again.
So I ask you, after witnessing a meltdown like that, would you have the fortitude do what our defense did in this game? I couldn’t. I’m proud of them and I think they are great. We need to do something on offense. It is killing us otherwise.
Troy will fall...AGAIN!
Disagree, respectfully, on almost all counts
I don’t see how this game proved Prince’s mobility superior to Craft’s and I don’t understand where that misperception ever originated. If anything, I think Craft is more mobile than Prince. He is certainly fleeter of foot. I hope that we’re not basing the mobility argument on Craft behind last year’s O-line vs. Prince behind this year’s O-line, because that dog just won’t hunt.
I was unimpressed with Prince from the outset. He missed several wide open receivers early and didn’t improve much as the game progressed. I don’t blame the kid, he’d been out three weeks, but it was evident early on that he was extremely rusty. From the short term perspective of giving ourselves the best shot at winning this game, we’d have been much better off starting Kevin Craft – I think Prince needed another week. Just hope his knee injury isn’t serious and he’s able to make it back.
I wouldn’t categorize our defense this game as great. There was a lot of room for improvement. Against a team who’s passing offense was even more anemic than ours, we should have been able to load up the box and stuff their running game. But too often, we let them off the hook. And when we needed our D to step up most, down 14-3 and having just fumbled away the ball, Oregon seemingly met very little resistance getting into the end zone.
Finally, after we scored the TD (kudos to Akeem Ayers – awesome play!) , rather than stuff the Oregon offense at the next opportunity, our D let the Ducks march all the way down to their final FG and we lost whatever momentum we might have had.
Does the offense need to improve also? No doubt. But there is plenty of room for improvement in all facets of our game.
by snorkeldorf on Oct 10, 2009 11:13 PM PDT up reply actions
Yeah, I was trying to be a little upbeat
Defense is good but when compared with the offense, it is great. Descriptors that help me keep positive I suppose.
Prince to me, looks more fleet of foot than Craft. Craft has been in a 3 games this season, and correct me if I’m wrong, has never took off he way Prince did.
Honestly, waking up this morning, I don’t feel very upbeat anymore. I don’t think Craft, Prince, or Brehaut are any good right now. We have so many other problems, it’s not even funny. So to answer your question and because I feel pressed because of my views, I don’t have very much faith in this team moving ahead. I hope they can change my opinion. Do not confuse this with blaming the kids because I do not. I am willing to give the coaches one more year to improve or they will lose my support.
So that’s it in a nutshell. Hard to make a quarterback argument either way if you ask me. At this point I really don’t care. I’ll always cheer the Bruins. At this point, I really don’t have any hope for this season until they show me something that brings that hope back.
Troy will fall...AGAIN!
by Bruins102NCAA on Oct 11, 2009 9:51 AM PDT up reply actions
I don't feel comfortable leaving the argument like this
Relentlessly positive
We must acknowledge that our coaches want to win. We must acknowledge that we will give CRN his shot at redemption and a chance to build this football program. Two years is not enough in my opinion. Lastly we must not blame these kids, period. These are my basic presumptions heading into my next point. To me, this is the baseline from where we start our discussion.
Given this, some questions remain and we should discuss these questions. I think we can do this with everyone remaining civil. That’s what I want to discuss here. We are Bruins and I would like to think we are different from any other fans. But from what I have seen in last few hours from everyone is that same sort of pointing of fingers and casting of blame that clearly puts us among the human animals we all our.
Here is my dream. We ask so much of our players and coaches to perform at the highest level they can for us. Why should we not reciprocate for them? Why can’t we perform at the highest level of fandom? I think that we can agree to start a new culture of football fan, one where all opinions are respected and no player or coach is blamed for conjectured failings. We can support our kids and encourage our coaches through a healthy debate that lacks any animosity towards anyone in particular.
This doesn’t mean we have to put up with mediocrity. However we should provide our players and coaches with a fanbase that will let them flourish just as our university has provided them with all of those tools to succeed. We are different here, in fact I believe that we are noble in that respect. We can grant other views their appropriate place in this debate and do so in the spirit of brotherhood and sisterhood we have come to expect as being part of the Bruin family.
This post is in response to no one in particular but is something that I will, from now on, use to measure my responses in the future.
Troy will fall...AGAIN!
by Bruins102NCAA on Oct 11, 2009 10:22 AM PDT up reply actions 2 recs
well said
this made me reevaluate my opinions as a fan. not only of the Bruins, but of other professional sports as well as my high school teams.
This is absurd
But you are bringing up straw man arguments:
1. Chow is overrated
2. Our offensive line is abysmal
3. Brehaut is just flat out dominant compared to Craft
4. Our defense is horrible
Folks are not saying Chow is over-rated. People have concerns about some of the playcalls. So that’s completely inaccurate frame on your part.
Offensive line is an issue still. Not surprising given the talent level from last few years. However, we are not saying it abysma.
Your point number 3 is just ridiculous. Again the the discussion is here whether Brehaut has better tools. I think many feel that he does. Is the argument centers on whether he is dominant of course not.
As for our defense being horrible that is just silly. Our defense has issues with tackling and personnel use (See S. Price).
The way you set up this post with those strawman is just absurd and is the kind of discussion that belongs on a talk radio. Not here.
Want me to show you the comments?
The rest were heard by yours truly. #3 was of course drawn out, but I literally heard that walking out of the stadium. I didn’t exaggerate anything in my explanations.
I’ll also show you the comments where Norm Chow was called out in the open thread should you want me to.
What is wrong with that Nes? Did you read the explanations?
There's no one in the world that wants to beat UCLA more than _______.
I don't really care much about comments
made during open game threads during heat of the battle our pure emotion. I just don’t care much for “analysis” done to refute obviously stupid assertions.
Actually I take my comment above back
You should call out the people who made the absurd arguments above.
It's mostly just a matter
I think you are just misinterpreting the diction here. Of course, commoners who don’t come here all the time and are really into the analysis of football will not be very apt to properly wording their questions. That’s the angle I directly wanted to approach. But certainly, all of these different questions or arguments are up for grabs in YOUR head N. Just a little more intelligent :)
There's no one in the world that wants to beat UCLA more than _______.
aside from
the defensive one. all others are just exaggerated for a reason
There's no one in the world that wants to beat UCLA more than _______.
Re Brehaut
I think there will be genuine disagreement on the QB issue. It’s part of football I guess. I just hope both Prince and Brehaut get equal shots to compete. I love the heart and courage Prince showed today. But I liked what I saw from Brehaut a little better. He looked more comfortable.
under my breath
I like Brehaut too… don’t tell Ryan ;)
Just not yet though. Prince has been alive longer too remember
There's no one in the world that wants to beat UCLA more than _______.
As I said
I want both of them to get equal shots to win the starting prize for next 3-4 years. Let them battle it out.
I think both could do well
once the parts around them improve. I was actually impressed with
Prince at times today, and I haven’t seen enough of Brehaut to convince me that the better QB is on the sidelines. Maybe he is, I honestly don’t know.
Presumably, the better QB was the one that won the battle in practice. That’s usually how it works.
by godblesstyus95 on Oct 10, 2009 9:43 PM PDT up reply actions
Competition in position is awesome
It keeps you on track, which is most likely why we saw a more-or-less, more focused group today. It also magnifies flaws though…
There's no one in the world that wants to beat UCLA more than _______.
Haha it's okay if you like Brehaut
It’s more fun when people disagree with me slash are wrong ; ).
I can see the appeal of Brehaut, just like I saw the appeal of him last week. I also see the same issues with Brehaut that I saw last week and think 60 minutes of him will be a disaster. Either we have to go max protect with him, which gives us no options or he gets killed 10 times next week and we pray he can hang onto the ball as he’s getting punished.
by Ryan Rosenblatt on Oct 10, 2009 9:32 PM PDT up reply actions
+1
Again, Brehaut is shaping up to be that golden boy… but just not yet
There's no one in the world that wants to beat UCLA more than _______.
Underlying your assumption of "disaster" is
that he doen’t learn (even the hard way) to progress through the reads and get rid of the ball quicker. that’s what Barkley did against San Jose state – remember the first quarter of that game? And yeah, I don’t think its a misnomer to mention Brehaut and Cheatey’s Anointed One in the same breath. It is hard to completely simulate game situations in practice – particularly the speed of a pass rush, so cut the freshman some slack. Next week looms as a good opportunity to continue to get him some reps against a pretty porous Cal Defense. Brehaut’s mechanics are far better, and his arm strength appears to be at least the same as Prince’s. Both are better than craft, and as rotten as it sounds, why not build on the future at this point, when your optimal outcome has been reduced to Christmas at Qualcomm, and your realistic one is Yuletide in Vegas?
The Mad Bruin
The problem is
that Brehaut had the exact same problems in practice. It’s not like he has it down in practice, but needs game time to adjust to game speed. He doesn’t have it down at practice speed and he hasn’t even faced a gameplan geared to stop him with anything complicated yet. Even in that first San Jose St. game, Barkley used his hot routes and improvised some roll outs when he read blitzes. I haven’t sen the recognition of the need to do so from Brehaut yet, let alone actually doing it.
by Ryan Rosenblatt on Oct 11, 2009 10:27 AM PDT up reply actions
I Heard the Same
from fans around me during the game and from fans around me as we were leaving the stadium. Whether or not these are educated opinions being voiced, they reflect the perception of a large percentage (if not the vast majority) of Bruin fan-dom. I don’t think we can just dismiss this reality out of hand.
by snorkeldorf on Oct 10, 2009 10:18 PM PDT up reply actions
And there are similar comments online
particularly at Bruin Gold. Here’s an example though from Bruinzone:
3. Chow has definitely lost it. He was afraid and refused to call for a run in the fourth quarter and acted like we were down by 35 instead of 14. I have not reviewed the DVR but I don’t remember one run in the fourth quarter. If the other team knows you stubbornly won’t call a run, won’t they play the pass and make it hard to pass? Duh. …
Our coaches are being consistenly outcoached. And that includes the games we won.
by SuperBruinMan on Oct 10, 2009 11:08 PM PDT up reply actions
Oh ya
That’s what I’m talking about
There's no one in the world that wants to beat UCLA more than _______.
by ucla13_usc9 on Oct 10, 2009 11:12 PM PDT up reply actions
I think the mobility
was in reference to a few runs he had
There's no one in the world that wants to beat UCLA more than _______.
by ucla13_usc9 on Oct 10, 2009 11:15 PM PDT up reply actions
And the point of those arguments
Was to prove that they were… indeed “Straw-men” arguments. Sorry if you misread it
There's no one in the world that wants to beat UCLA more than _______.
On a positive note
three guys whose play was definitely NOT frustrating today were Mr. Price, Mr. Locke, and Mr. Forbath.
Back to frustrating: It’s just too bad that 2 out of our 3 best players are kickers.
lol
punting is winning right?
There's no one in the world that wants to beat UCLA more than _______.
welcome my friend
to the world of Aaron Perez
There's no one in the world that wants to beat UCLA more than _______.
by ucla13_usc9 on Oct 10, 2009 10:09 PM PDT up reply actions
UCLA = Kicker U.
Has anyone noticed that the quality of a program’s kicking game seems to be inversely proportional to that program’s offensive prowess?
by godblesstyus95 on Oct 11, 2009 8:55 AM PDT up reply actions
I would
Much rather have a 5 star QB than a beastly kicker, but that’s just me
There's no one in the world that wants to beat UCLA more than _______.
Chris Sailer?
Wasn’t he an All-American in the late 90’s?
by SuperBruinMan on Oct 11, 2009 5:09 PM PDT up reply actions
Gotta agree that Brehaut didn't prove he should start
If you can’t pick up blitzes, a few sharp throws won’t make up for it.
What we saw from Prince were typical, typical freshman mistakes — much like those Cade had in his first two years, although Cade never had to shake off 3 weeks of rust because he never got hurt. The QB situation is not the most frustrating. That would have to go to the rather pathetic receiving corp, especially in the upperclassmen. I’m still waiting to see why Terrence Austin is our number 1 receiver, and where all the Logan Paulsen hype ever came from. Our receivers are not getting open. They’re giving up on their routes. They’re playing like crap.
and if I have to see Austin return another kickoff
I’ll castrate myself, and anyone within swinging distance. Can somebody please explain a SINGLE thing Austin does well as a returner? His speed is poor (else he would’ve scored on that one today). He can’t find the holes. His decision-making is putrid and regularly kills our field position.
Same
As Craig Bragg if you remember right. But you can’t argue the fact that he can find the hole and hit it.
There's no one in the world that wants to beat UCLA more than _______.
by ucla13_usc9 on Oct 10, 2009 11:04 PM PDT up reply actions
He's caught the ball
Some of the younger guys that I’ve heard Bruin fans clamoring for (Carroll, Thigpen) had some issues with it during fall practice. Austin hasn’t been very good and he’s a much more adept punt returner than kick returner, but our more explosive options had issues catching the kick, which is worse than Austin.
by Ryan Rosenblatt on Oct 10, 2009 11:06 PM PDT up reply actions
Wow
How much practice to you watch!
There's no one in the world that wants to beat UCLA more than _______.
by ucla13_usc9 on Oct 10, 2009 11:13 PM PDT up reply actions
Not as much now because they're closed
so if I’m to see any of it, I have to be stealth. I’m also far busier now, but I was able to make it out to 10 practices (give or take) over the 3 weeks or so of fall practice.
by Ryan Rosenblatt on Oct 10, 2009 11:17 PM PDT up reply actions
But Austin has trouble catching the ball
so I just can’t see how much worse it can get.
As for Bragg…at least he was superfast. Austin is not. And I don’t know about Austin “finding the hole.” To me, it seems like he runs smack into the pile more often than not (I’m talking about kickoffs here).
When was the last time Austin dropped a kick?
by Ryan Rosenblatt on Oct 11, 2009 12:12 AM PDT up reply actions
Did he not drop several punts last year?
and he’s come way too close so far this year, in particular on that last possession against Stanford when he hesitated and ended up making a diving catch.
I’m fine being conservative and sticking with him on the punts, if the young guys aren’t secure enough yet. But there’s reason to have him return the kickoffs.
Austin made two bad reads on punts yesterday
Let them bounce in front of him and one got all the way tot he one-yard line. He has to field those.
That's not a dropped kick
I’m not arguing that Austin is an awesome returner and in no way should be challenged, but he’s holding onto the ball so at least we have possession. Some of our other guys had issues catching the ball during fall practice, making it less than a competition because they were giving the ball away. If one of our other guys works on it and can start catching the ball consistently then I’m all for giving them a chance, but at my last check, Austin was our only returner who could be depended on to catch the kick.
by Ryan Rosenblatt on Oct 11, 2009 12:17 PM PDT up reply actions
I WOULD NEVER 'SCREAM' FOR SNEAKS
it was just BAD PLAY CALLING…plain and simple…miss. state tried it 4 times last week and they lost!…why do all OC’S think a quarterback sneak will work when the other team loads the box against them…CHOW WAS BAD!~
by bruincheerleader on Oct 11, 2009 6:57 AM PDT reply actions
like I said
It was a gamble. You would have been complaining if Prince threw an Interception off of a rollout.
There's no one in the world that wants to beat UCLA more than _______.
You should take your distain for Chow and post it on Conquest Chronicles
I’m sure that Paragon would love to hear it. Every year they lose a game they have to suffer through all the people saying that cheatey’s program hasn’t been the same and they haven’t won a NC since Chow left. I know it drives Paragon crazy. I am sure it would bring a smile on his face that you want to hang this “L” on Chow’s playcalling.
We SHOULD
have called a long count on 4th and 1 to draw them offsides! That way, we would have been .5 inches closer.
I have given up criticizing play calling
because it seems to the refuge of the most ill-informed football fans. Its one thing to criticize the general play book or offensive philosophy, but criticizing individual play calls is silly because the play itself is only criticized when it doesn’t work.
I was glad that we didn’t settle for a field goal on 4th and 1, even if we didn’t punch it in. I think going for it was the right call.
"when you've seen how big the world is, how can you make due with this?"
by silverlakebruin on Oct 11, 2009 7:18 AM PDT reply actions
Maybe, He should not have been playing.
I admit, I was concerned when he was announced. First, I worried about whether he was sufficiently healed; for that, I trusted the doctors. Then, I was concerned that he wasn’t ready to come back in a big game against a very good D; for that I trusted the coaches.
My second guessing: I’m not sure he was ready to play — he looked a bit rusty. But, it’s hard to second guess because only the coaches know whether a slightly rusty Prince was better than the alternatives.
Nestor, I too, wondered about running him so soon after the injury — but, to me, that means he shouldn’t have been playing at all. He took a couple of hits that were equally dangerous to those that were taken on the sneaks. I understand your concern — and might be willing to modify the play book to protect a player; but it can’t be modified for the unexpected things that happen in a game (like the play that busted his jaw), so my bottom line: fit to play all the plays or not fit to play at all.
My day after, in complete hindsight, unfair second guess: I don’t think he should have played, at all.
PS. I was hoping for a “Fridge” play. Bring in Price and let him try to make the yard. Let everyone in the world know he is going to carry. Two or three guys can’t block him — maybe they won’t be able to tackle him, either.
sjh
Re Price
I wish they would put that set back in! He never got the ball though!
There's no one in the world that wants to beat UCLA more than _______.
Game Ready
If he couldn’t carry EVERY Play out, there’s no way he would have played. Unless your Tim Tebow, that basically is sustained everywhere. There’s no point in digging another hole for your already shackled offense to climb out of
There's no one in the world that wants to beat UCLA more than _______.
QB sneaks
Questionable call on 3rd down. If you remember, we tried to sneak on a quick count and didn’t move forward an inch. Not a great call here, all things considered, but not horrible.
Absolutely horrible call on 4th down. If we hadn’t budged an inch on a quick count the play before, what’s with the idea of trying the same play on a normal count? With a QB who one week ago was sucking meals out of a straw? I believe you’ve got to hand the ball off to Coleman on that play, let him try to get in with some momentum behind him.
by godblesstyus95 on Oct 11, 2009 9:05 AM PDT up reply actions
would this even be a topic if we would have gotten in?
No. Nobody would be complaining it was the wrong call. That’s my point.
Its easy to second guess a play that doesn’t work, even it if it has the highest chance of success.
I am critical of the time out being called, as that shows a lack of preparation, but the calls themselves I am neutral on.
"when you've seen how big the world is, how can you make due with this?"
by silverlakebruin on Oct 11, 2009 4:58 PM PDT up reply actions
Me thinks
people are venting their frustration by mentioning the QB sneaks. However, I think the frustration (especially me) lies in the playcalling in general and especially in the Red Zone. Time after time we have settled for FG’s instead of getting 7. We’ve largely got away with it but teams that don’t get TD’s on a consistent basis do not win.
It's tough
When you don’t have power or finesse. We’re kind of in the middle of it all right now, give it time we’re still working
There's no one in the world that wants to beat UCLA more than _______.
The Elephant in the Room
Instead of focusing on the players, who are just trying to do their best, what about the coaches?
For the last two games the biggest thing that stands out is the fact that we weren’t ready to play a good and complete game. I’m not so sure that coach Rick has gotten the team to buy in to him and his philosophy. He does not seem to be a player’s coach; i.e. a guy the players like to play for. I know this comment is not going to help recruiting, but it is what I sense. Just the fact that we don’t even have a consistent offensive approach going into week seven of the season tells me that there are questions as to whether or not CRN knows how to coach a football team! I am having serious doubts. No I would not focus on any other player or coach as the problem right now. CRN needs to prove he can coach and lead the team back to respectability.
More like the furniture in the room
Seeing as how I don’t see anyone ignoring any aspect of what they didn’t like around here; including coaching decisions.
If that’s what stood out to you the past two games then so be it. What stood out to me was that this team, with a different set of players than last year, doesn’t let the adversity that occurs over the course of the game continue to snowball, like what happened most notably in the BYU game last year. The past two weeks we’ve gotten punched in the mouth and still came back to right the ship, in one case with a final drive with the opportunity to tie.
As far as whether he’s a “players coach” or not, that seems rather irrelevant. CRN isn’t there to be their friend. He’s there to provide guidance. Any positive personal feelings they have after that are a bonus. These guys should be playing for each other. The guys they stand next to in practice and sweat with. I also flatly reject the notion that players don’t like to play for CRN. If that were true, our recruiting classes would consistently suck, and to date I’ve seen two great classes and this one is shaping up to be a great one too with the two latest commits. I mean seriously, if he has the mojo to convince someone with tons of options (4/5 star guys) to dedicate four years of their life to UCLA as well as the lifelong commitments that come from being an alum, then I’m not all that concerned about him having the juice to get those same guys to want to play football.
Yep, read above
SHAKE YOURSELF. Neuheisel has obviously got them into his philosophy, they have never given up (relentless) and they have improved in some aspect of the game week after week. It was just a shame that the opponents are exponentially better week after week. Neuheisel isn’t Kiffin and he won’t stand up for his players in the media, he’ll stand up to them on the field
There's no one in the world that wants to beat UCLA more than _______.
Player's Coach lol
A player’s coach in college football? Every time I hear that I think of all the great college football coaches who were considered “player’s coaches”. There have been – zero.
Oh UCLA you sweet bitch, you've BRUINed me for anything else.
I find it highly ironic that...
…the coaches called a rollout at TN when they should have called a sneak. Prince (and possibly the O as a whole) lost three weeks because of that, but yesterday
…we run multiple sneaks when giving one rollout or similar play wide from the 2 or 1 foot line on any of the downs would have been worth a shot.
Many of you already argued the call at TN but I still believe that it was a bad call on many levels given a) inexperience of QB, b) team speed of TN defense and c) likelihood that an incomplete pass or safety would enable TN to conserve another 30 seconds + of the clock.
Of course, the TN call didn’t end up costing us the game, but as many have argued it might have cost us the game yesterday, we’ll never know for sure.
by bruin4life1993 on Oct 11, 2009 11:34 AM PDT reply actions
Well written!
I see UCLA13_USC9 merely pointing out that as fans we need to keep things in unemotional perspective. He is responding to criticisms that he heard fans make, which I too agree are asinine.
I believe that you can teach from experience, but can’t teach experience. Coach Wooden often speaks about teaching a game (as in he teached a game rather than coached it – improper English my own, as I am certain that Coach Wooden would never use such awful grammer). And I have no doubt that Coach Wooden made his fair share of coaching or teaching errors during his term as HC.
There is a reason that pilots start at the airlines as a First Officer then upgrade to Captain – there is valuable experience to be gained in the right seat (OK, and the union contract dictates that as well). There is a reason our auto insurance goes down when we get older. I can assure anyone that the volume of mistakes I made at 18 to 22 was significant in spite of people around me trying to teach or coach me into better decisions. As a parent I still make some parenting/coaching errors. The point is it seems that we need to lighten up and enjoy the effort of this team as much as the outcome. I fear that a few Bruin fans are acting somewhat like the fans from across town where game outcome is more important than the measures taken to achieve that outcome.
Perhaps there isn’t yet a culture of winning the big games, but we will all dislike the bandwagons that climb on board when the attitude is in place. We as fans will have watched and supported through the rebuilding, and it will make the eventual success that much more satisfying. No one likes losing, but I feel we should start with losing with class so we can win that way, as opposed to across town.
Regards.
by sam_in_hb on Oct 11, 2009 12:41 PM PDT reply actions 4 recs
Thanks man
Great write up as well
There's no one in the world that wants to beat UCLA more than _______.
I Agree
We fought the good fight !
Win or loose, I like our coaches and our players. And I like to watch them play football.
Go Bruins !
by northbaybruin on Oct 11, 2009 2:39 PM PDT up reply actions
Agreed
Nowhere in Coach Wooden’s Pyramid of Success does he mention the final score resulting in a win. Wins do not show Competitive Greatness (although those who do not truly pay attention to the game might disagree).
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