Osaar Rasshan moving to WR (for now)

by bucknellbruin on Apr 20, 2009 5:59 PM PDT Comment 26 comments

Bumped. Osaar puts on the white jersey. GO BRUINS. -N

Photo Credit: E. Corpuz

*Interestingly, early this morning Dohn reported that OR had no plans to switch positions:

Rasshan said the coaching staff asked him to play special teams, and he declined.

...

Rasshan, who started three games at quarterback in 2007, said he wants to stick it out.

But now this is from Dohn's blog this afternoon:

[Rasshan] showed up today wearing a white No. 11, and is now giving his hand a try at receiver

Even though we have an abundance of talent at WR as well, the majority of it is unproven and young. Osaar obvoiusly knows the playbook and he's clearly a great athlete. And obviously, more WRs get playing time than QBs. I hope this works out for him.

It's unfortunate that he never gave receiver a shot before now, as he could very easily have cracked the rotation by now. Regardless, I'm glad to see he's giving this a shot. I know how important playing QB was to him.

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.

1 recs | Comment 26 comments

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

I always wondered

whether we can use OR as a slash (ala Kordell). Same goes for Chris Forcier.

by Nestor on Apr 20, 2009 6:04 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

yep

especially last year…it would’ve potentially opened up our offense if we could’ve used one of them in that way

by bucknellbruin on Apr 20, 2009 6:20 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

We can definitely use OR that way

I’ve seen him catch the ball and we’ve seen his athleticism at QB. The guy has so much talent at the WR position that if he commits to it, I think he’d have a shot in the NFL. Throw in his ability to toss the ball a bit and he could be very dangerous.

by Ryan Rosenblatt on Apr 20, 2009 6:20 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah

That’s what I have thought all along. I actually wrote about this in our fall camp QB notes as early as 2006 I think.

by Nestor on Apr 20, 2009 6:39 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

all along??

clearly, nestor, the few games he played in in the last few years are the only times you have ever seen this guy play. he dominated throwing down field and scrambling in high school. why would he have switched to WR in ’06? i predict he will get a ligitimate look at QB in the NFL despite playing sparingly for UCLA ala a certain Trojan QB that never played & backed up Tom Brady.

by persuasion on Apr 22, 2009 5:11 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

So because he could throw the ball in high school, he can get a shot in the NFL?

OR has ZERO shot of playing QB in the NFL and unless four guys get hurt this year, he won’t play QB at UCLA again. OR does not have an accurate arm and his touch is questionable at best. He’s an exceptional athlete and I firmly believe that if he commits to play WR then he can get a shot in the NFL at the position, but he’s no QB. I’ve seen him in practices and he’s just not a Pac 10 quality QB.

by Ryan Rosenblatt on Apr 22, 2009 5:29 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Also, he play move to WR before

It was clear even back then that OR was not a Pac 10 quality QB and would only play the position if a few QB’s got hurt. Well, that happened so OR got a shot, but he has a better shot a WR. He dominated throwing the ball downfield and scrambling in high school, but he’s not in high school anymore. His QB play isn’t even mediocre in COLLEGE practice and it wasn’t very good in the game. He has a lot of potential at WR though.

by Ryan Rosenblatt on Apr 22, 2009 5:33 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Also, he did move to WR before***

What’s going on with me tonight?

by Ryan Rosenblatt on Apr 22, 2009 5:33 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

lol

Looks like you came on here to hammer on a single agenda. The few games I have seen were enough for me to feel comfortable with coaches’ decision in this instance. I think you are better served finding NFL forums to push your future client’s case (that’s what one would infer the way you have come out on BN to “persuade” folks). Good luck.

by Nestor on Apr 23, 2009 4:30 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I’m pretty sure he did give receiver a shot, but he didn’t get playtime, and then we lost all our quarterbacks and the walk-on law firm had to take over since OR wasn’t practiced in the position. Was a pretty crappy situation for him really.

by ranelar on Apr 20, 2009 7:17 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Was it 2007 that OR gave WR a chance? I’m glad he’s at least being flexible. He’s NOT going to be a QB at the next level. Does his athleticism give him an outside chance at the next level as a WR? If so, playing WR and trying to crack the rotation would be the best for him and UCLA.

by impaulv on Apr 20, 2009 7:21 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

He was wearing the white non QB jersey at Friday’s scrimmage. That was the first time I saw him change from the black QB jersey.

by DaBruins19 on Apr 20, 2009 7:29 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

i remember when he did try out wr one of the big reasons for it was scouts had him projected as an nfl receiver, possibly a first rounder if he played and produced at the position.
i understand one of the biggest reason for his reticence to switch positions was his father. given the historical legacy of talented black qb’s switched to other positions because of a systematic misconception (to put it diplomatically) that blacks couldn’t play qb, his son playing qb was a statement, one that in the end may hinder OR’s future prospects. i understand OR’s dad’s viewpoint and can sympathize, but OR is not a qb, he’s a wr with a decent arm. and that scenario of non-white qb’s being moved doesn’t seem to hold much weight anymore. seems like his dad was fighting ghosts which makes OR’s situation even more sad.
anywho, i like the kid’s attitude and bruin pride. plus he is really talented and i won’t be shocked to see him playing on sundays someday

Across The Face

by rb bruin on Apr 21, 2009 12:26 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

hey...rb bruin...

a decent arm??? are you crazy? what are you basing this argument on? i have followed this guy all through high school. the FACT is that he was never given a fair shot to get better. when beienemy ( the guy who recruited him) left and NORVELL took over, NORVELL wanted his guy (bethel-thompson) to get a chance to play.

As for his dad chasing ghosts…you are clearly a caucasion with no true understanding of american racism. lots of programs (and alumni associations) dont want to allow the progression of the black qb. its true & is extreemly prevelant in our society…and yes even at our precious UCLA.

good thing you aren’t a scout, btw.

by persuasion on Apr 22, 2009 5:19 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

actually the FACT is

that he isn’t an accurate passer. And that he doesn’t have much touch with the short passes, as rye said. You said yourself that he dominated in high school by throwing the deep ball and scrambling. Well, unfortunately, there’s a hell of a lot more to playing QB in the Pac 10 than there is in high school. He has a rocket for an arm – I agree with you. But if he can’t put the ball where he needs to, then he’s not going to be successful under center.

And can we please leave race out of this? What rb said was fact. OR hasn’t changed positions because he and his family wanted him to be a black QB in major college football. There’s nothing wrong with that…but there’s nothing racist about the fact that he simply WASN’T GOOD ENOUGH. Race has nothing to do with this move. Talent and what’s best for the team are the reasons why this happened.

And as for your Matt Cassel comparison upthread…Cassel was a blue chip high school prospect that BARELY lost the SC job to a future Heisman Trophy winner. Osaar was a 3 star prospect who hasn’t been able to beat out, among others: Craft, Forcier, Bethel-Thompson, Ben Olson, Cowan, and Prince. None of whom have sniffed the Heisman Trophy. There’s quite a difference between our QB’s for the last 4 years and Matt Leinart.

by bucknellbruin on Apr 22, 2009 9:08 PM PDT up reply actions 2 recs

to answer your questions

i think the fellows below accurately expanded on what i meant by a decent arm, definitely strong but not accurate at all. call me crazy but that is decent in my book.
don’t you find it kinda telling about OR’s skill set that he was recruited by the rb’s coach? and you may be stretching it by calling the law firm norvell’s guy. i dont think any oc would consider the walk-on qb their guy.
and finally, nope i’m not caucasian if that even matters. i’m a person of color. i understand racism is prevalent in our society because i’ve lived it and spent a good amount of my academic career studying it. and if you are going to state that indeed the historic marginalization still exists today please illuminate me because the evidence is stacked against you. and if you’re going to hurl charges like that against ucla in particular which i take some offense to, again please be more specific. i will be interested in hearing how karl dorrell, a black head coach and jay norvell a black oc couldn’t see a black qb at ucla. or maybe it was the latino ad? or maybe it was the boosters and administration that ok’d the hiring of those people of color to prominent positions in the program, not to mention dewayne walker at dc… illuminate me please

Across The Face

by rb bruin on Apr 23, 2009 1:09 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

historic marginalization of black quarterbacks

sorry about that omission

Across The Face

by rb bruin on Apr 23, 2009 1:12 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Well done rb

Using “racism” to attack all decisions one does not like weakens the moral power of making the argument against decisions that are truly racist.

The attack on UCLA which has, forever, been in the forefront of the battle for equality was simply unfounded and unfair.

persuasion, if you don’t know what I’m talking about, do some reading here. Many of us have written about the great pride we have in our alma mater based upon the stands and acts it has taken to fight discrimination in all walks of life.

sjh

by Class of 66 on Apr 23, 2009 5:33 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

simply a good decision

no doubt the kid is a talented athlete and pretty obvious he was not going to play very much at qb. i think for the team and his own personal benefit the change to wr is a smart decision.

curious to hear if rb bruin has spoken with or’s father or just offering his opinion?

by dabruins on Apr 21, 2009 1:14 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

i agree...but...

he was no going to play much at qb. but lets all remember, CRAFT was the JUCO college player of the year last year and couldn’t suceed…yet. so i ask the question, will PRINCE give us a better chance to win. and how is our depth after PRINCE? ill tell you… its dismal, when it comes to experience. OR should be made into a slash type at the very least…or be prepared for another tough season at the QB position.

by persuasion on Apr 22, 2009 5:25 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Persuasion, I regret to say that you haven't persuaded me.

I think we all agree that Peyton Manning would not have had a particularly good year working behind our offensive line last year. That said, Rasshan was given an opportunity in 2007 and he was frankly the worst of our four quarterbacks. He was 17 for 45 for 259 yards, zero TD’s and 2 interceptions. I have the misfortune to live away from California, so I don’t see the press clippings of high school kids who go to UCLA. I do happen to go to high school games here in Tampa, and I can tell you that the greatest QB I have ever seen at any level (Robert Marve of Plant High, then Miami, and now some unknown school) has fundamentally done nothing in college. What a kid did in high school obviously has some relevance, but it is anything but a guaranteed predictor of achievements in college.

Persuasion, with respect, I suspect that you have allowed your own off the field encounters with racism to color (word used intentionally) your perception of Rasshan’s skills as a QB. I am sure you did not buy into the notion that those who presided over the Reign of Error (Coach Toledo’s successor and Jay Norvill) were competent simply because they were Black. You should guard against using that sort of measuring rod to guage Rasshan’s productivity.

This has nothing to do with Rasshan’s heart or his persistence or anything else. He seems to have all the attributes that any coach would want in a football player. I just disagree with you about his performance at the college level and the significance of his performance at the high school level.

More to the point, though, is that I value the opinions of Coach Neuheisel and Coach Chow over anyone here in the BN when it comes to personnel decisions. And it is clear that neither of them share your opinion as to the likelihood that Rasshan would maximize the Bruins’ chances of winning by staying at QB.

by Fox 71 on Apr 22, 2009 7:13 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

neither

i read it in an article somewhere, i’ll see if i can find a link for it. but i agree with you it is the best decision for him and the program

Across The Face

by rb bruin on Apr 21, 2009 1:59 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

actually nestor posted sections of the article in 06

http://www.bruinsnation.com/story/2007/8/24/7424/06271

Across The Face

by rb bruin on Apr 21, 2009 2:09 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Persuasian, how much have you seen OR since high school?

How many times have you been out to practice or spring ball or fall practice or any sort of UCLA practice? Frankly, I can’t imagine someone supporting OR to be our QB if they’ve seen him play in practice like I have.

by Ryan Rosenblatt on Apr 22, 2009 9:36 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

BTW -- Many of us here applauding his decision to move to wr ...

were the same people arguing for KD to give him a chance at QB.

And, then he did. And we shut up.

sjh

by Class of 66 on Apr 23, 2009 5:35 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I loved when he stepped in at qb

The season wasn’t going anywhere, and because of injuries he was apparently the best choice available. It was clear that he was not a premier or even average Pac-10 qb, but there was an excitement when he had the ball and a bit of open field to work with.

So while it was obvious that he was no permanent answer for our qb situation, and I would only want to see him under center as a last resort, I hoped that there would be some way to get him the ball – I’m hoping this will work well for him (and me as a fan).

by haywood nighttrain on Apr 23, 2009 5:49 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs