Discouraging Signs Of Reggie Carter's "Leadership"
by Nestor on Dec 23, 2009 8:34 AM PST
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PrintLet's see after Reggie Carter talking a big game during spring about not letting the team go over the wall, the team went over the wall during this bowl practice week. Then we found out how he was being eligible to practice after having to sit out couple of practices for not taking care his schoolwork. Now we have more drama involving Reggie as apparently he is not to keen on participating during "tackling drills" in practice:
UCLA defensive coordinator Chuck Bullough became angry at Reggie Carter during the opening minutes of Tuesday's practice and ordered the senior linebacker off the field.
Bullough was mad because Carter was not participating in a tackling drill.
Carter did not leave the field as ordered. He remained on the sideline for the duration of the two-hour practice session but did not participate.
A MLB who wasn't interested in "tackling" drills. This in a UCLA football program which has been the laughing stock of college football (while making millions for future NFL running backs) for it's legendary "tackling." Okay then. There is an explanation. From the LA Times:
"It was over a tackling drill," Neuheisel said. "Reggie is trying to get over a sore knee. Chuck thought he could do the drill. They had a disagreement, so Chuck excused him."
Bullough and Carter talked after practice.
We don't really know what took place. However, the story raises few red flags. If Reggie thinks he is too hurt to take part in "tackling" drills than why should he play in the game? Also, given what we have been hearing and reading from last few days, I get the impression Reggie rather be anywhere else than Spaulding getting ready for the bowl game. It is never a good sign to have out of focus and non-interested players around practice field but when that player happens to be your senior captain, that seems to be a problem.
GO BRUINS.
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Reggie...
…has been gutting it out all year on that sore knee. That’s what a leader does. While I have no idea whether he could have actually participated in the drill, I will give Reggie the benefit of the doubt.
The wall thing? That’s not what a leader does.
i think this is blown
way out of proportion. Tackling drills are unnecessary for a senior with a hurting knee. the risk of him hurting his knee far outweighs the potential benefit he could gain from one more tackling drill. throwing the football, thats one thing. Prince needs to be sharp and ready to go. I don’t think Reggie is going to forget how to tackle or get worse in the next week because he sat out one drill to make sure his knee was healthy.
by Captain Leebeard on Dec 23, 2009 8:47 AM PST reply actions
I hope you guys are right
I think hicalliber is right. Reggie has been gutting it out, however there comes a time when a player is trying too much and too hard to be a hero. There were few games this year in which Carter was totally ineffective because of his injury. If he is too hurt or perhaps not focused enough to practice, perhaps for the good of the time, then he should let someone else to step up.
We will not only Prince to be sharp we will need our entire Front-7 ready to go and locked in against a physical Temple team. If Reggie is not mentally and physically ready, then he might not as well play in the game.
You can never do enough tackling drills
And arguing with a coach is never good. Tere should be some serious questions here
Formerly ucla13_usc9
by 03rdn9 on Dec 23, 2009 9:18 AM PST via mobile up reply actions
IMO
He’s a bit injured and doesn’t want to participate in drills that could lead to re-agravating his injury. He’s also got to be thinking about keeping that knee as healthy as possible for the bowl game since it will be his last game and last shot to showcase his skills to NFL scouts in a game (although this won’t look good on his resume). I wish both coach bullough and reggie would have handled the situation better though.
As for the other ineligible players and after practice activities…
Inellible Players – It’s unacceptable, I’m not going to make any excuses because at the end of the day CRN and his staff need to do a better job of monitoring the grades and progress through out the quarter. The players need to take equal blame for this for not seeking the help and guidance of the coaches when they have problems with school.
After practice activities – I’m glad CRN is scheduling these types of events. It does serve as a team building activities but much more importantly it keeps these kids from getting into any trouble around campus. I’ve read comments from alums about the majority of students being gone around this time of year and how the campus can become a bit of a ghost town and this keeps the guys entertained while all their friends are gone.
That’s why
He’s a bit injured and doesn’t want to participate in drills that could lead to re-agravating his injury.
If you can’t practice full speed, how do you plan on playing full speed? The easiest thing to do is suit up and do the drill… if he can’t do that, how does he plan on bringing down Pierce?
Formerly ucla13_usc9
I don't think
it’s about him not being able to…It’s about not wanting to risk an injury on a drill. I disagree that suiting up and doing a drill is the easiet thing. Having played football I can honestly say that practice is the toughest part of playing. Practice is usually where you get banged up the most and where most of the wear and tear on your body happens. The actual game is the easy part…at this point in reggies college career I’d rather he rest up the knee and focus on learning and knowing his assignments and game plan for temple.
?
If he can’t tackle to stay sharp, he shouldn’t be playing in the game. I don’t want a MLB at 75% just as much as having Prince play at 90%. Get him out of there. The game is less than a week away, he better be healthy enough to practice soon at 100% to show he can handle a real game.
These last three weeks aren’t inspiring, almost want to say these kids don’t deserve to be in a bowl game with all the drama.
what drama?
other than the “over the wall” thing everything has been getting blown out of proportion. Even that was taken a little too far at times. He’s been playing through the pain for weeks and as uclafan11 said, it seems like he may be dealing with other personal issues. There was a recent report of him missing practice to take him mom to the hospital. Give the guy a break.
ok
Carter not practicing, Hasiak being sent home, starting center not playing due to grades(big one), the wall, Carter missing practice for not doing homework(back to 3rd grade), lack of senior leadership when it should really count.
Seeing him playing in pain I’ll giv him credit. But, part of me wishes we would have rested him 2-3 weeks to get him healthy again. Seems like we lost those game anyway with our run defense not shining.
I’m not being hard on him for taking his mom to the hospital, but in the end having a fight with your coach over a drill still isn’t ideal.
Bottom line, in the end is how everyone plays next week. Do we leave the field on a positive note or do we regress another 3 years.
I won't argue
that there have been some negative things going on. Obviously playes not making the grades isn’t good but it’s not drama, these things happen at every major program. It is something CRN definitely needs to address in the furure. It is something that should not be acceptable at UCLA.
As for Hasiak, We don’t exactly know what is going on with him…Yes, he’s having problems and had to be sent home but I don’t necessarity understand how this is drama. Don’t know that the staff could have handled it any different.
As for Carter, he definitely shouldn’t get into verbal exchanges with coaches but again, we don’t know what type of personal issues he’s dealing with. Whatever the problem was, it seems like they talked about it after practice and hopefully reselved the problem.
I do agree that we should have rested him…but it’s easy to look back and say that. At the time we we’re trying to get to 6-6 or better and the only game we lost in the last 3 weeks of the season was $C.
Yes
That is what I was referring to but I heard it confidentially and wasn’t sure if it was in the news. His mom was taken to the hospital and they are extremely close. I am sure this is a hard time for him and I hope his mom is doing better. GO BRUINS!!!
"The entire world that bleeds blue and gold ... they have been dying for this." - Coach Rick Neuheisel
Outside Issues
I dont want to get into detail, but from things I have heard this is blown out of proportion. Reggie really is trying to get over a sore knee that he has been playing on all year but also there is a personal situation that could have caused things to get more heated for Reggie. Let’s hope this is all resolved!
GO BRUINS!!!
"The entire world that bleeds blue and gold ... they have been dying for this." - Coach Rick Neuheisel
Carter Deserves Deference, Here
He knows his body and its limitations best.
It’s up to him to tell a coach how far he can go — and the coach should respect that.
Especially when the player is a warrior who played hurt all season and did risk his body, and future NFL career, in GAMES. All he’s trying to do is stay in a position to play in the games.
Reggie Carter deserves the benefit of the doubt when it comes to his body.
If there is residual anger about his grades — so be it. I can understand that. And, the wall, too.
But, let’s separate the issues. On this one, he’s right.
sjh
by Class of 66 on Dec 23, 2009 8:21 PM PST reply actions 1 recs
+1
if a guy says he can’t go, the coach should respect that. You can’t tell me even for a second that we are better without Reggie in there, even if he is playing on a bum knee. The healthier that knee, the better, then. When I read this I immediately thought Bullough was the one who should be criticized, not Reggie. Throw in the personal stuff which I’m sure chuck knows about…
Certainly you could make the case that Chuck is trying to get Reggie fired up for this game, ready to go and all that, but he should know when to back off. A single tackling drill far in advance of a game is probably not critical for a senior nursing a knee injury. Having played sports my whole life, sometimes you just say “I need a play”, take yourself out, recuperate. It’s not necessarily laziness, lack of focus, anything like that. It’s just knowing your body and making sure you are ready to go 100% when you need to.
by Captain Leebeard on Dec 24, 2009 1:24 AM PST up reply actions
ouch
This in a UCLA football program which has been the laughing stock of college football (while making millions for future NFL running backs) for it’s legendary “tackling.”
December 5, 1998. Still hurts like it was yesterday.
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