A total of 23 players (13 offensive - WR Jerry Johnson, OL Xavier Su'a-Filo, OL Stan Hasiak, OL Kai Maiava, OL Eddie Williams, TE Morrell Presley, QB Kevin Prince, QB Richard Brehaut, RB Johnathan Franklin, RB Milton Knox, RB Damien Thigpen, WR Randall Carroll, OL Ryan Taylor; eight defensive - DL Damien Holmes, DL Sean Sheller, LB Donovan Carter, LB Patrick Larimore, DB Andrew Abbott, DB Aaron Hester, DB Dalton Hilliard, DB Sheldon Price) saw their first action as a Bruin during the season-opening game against San Diego State. In addition, punter Jeff Locke and holder Danny Rees also appeared in their first games last week.
Here is the breakdown by class:
Eight true freshmen - OL Xavier Su'a-Filo, OL Stan Hasiak, TE Morrell Presley, RB Damien Thigpen, WR Randall Carroll, QB Richard Brehaut; DB Dalton Hilliard, DB Sheldon Price;Ten redshirt freshmen - P Jeff Locke, WR Jerry Johnson, QB Kevin Prince, RB Johnathan Franklin, RB Milton Knox, DL Damien Holmes, LB Donovan Carter, LB Patrick Larimore, DB Andrew Abbott, DB Aaron Hester;
One redshirt sophomore - OL Kai Maiava;
Four juniors - OL Eddie Williams, holder Danny Rees, DL Sean Sheller, OL Ryan Taylor.
over 2 years ago
Nestor
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Wow
So eight true freshmen and ten redshirt freshmen, plus JC transfer Eddie WIlliams had to play on Saturday? Is anyone still willing to argue that Dorrell left this program in good shape or was a good recuriter/talent evaluator?
Talk about a bare cupboard.
I read this post as a positive,
not just as an expression of necessity.
Under KD, young talent was underutilized. In his zeal not to lose (to win, in his eyes), he overplayed his upperclassmen. In not giving his younger players much or any Division 1 experience before he deemed them ready, they were unprepared for the reality when they did get in, if they did at all.
KD, IMO, didn’t have the courage to let his young players fail, thereby depriving them of the opportunity to learn and succeed. Moreover, he deprived the team of a much greater we’re-all-in-this-together camaraderie than one can achieve with a team of 22 and a few substitutes.
I think we are somewhere in the middle
I do see the stats as positive datapoints b/c they demonstrate a discernible infusion of talent. On the other hand they do show how the talent level really cratered under the previous regime. We were in the exact situation when lot of underclassmen were taking over during Coach Howland’s early years. Same dynamic was in play at that time.
I see what you mean.
It’s a good point, which I didn’t mean to argue.
It’s an unprovable assumption on my part, but I think that, if KD were still coach and had the same players as CRN has, there would have been far fewer freshmen minutes played.
Reminds me of a quote from KD...
right near the end of his tenure, Dorrell did an interview with the Daily Bruin where he basically tried to make his case for more time as head coach. At one point KD pointed to talent in the progam, stating that the team’s best linebacker and tight end were redshirting. That, of course, begged the question, “Why?! Why wouldn’t you play your best players if they could help the team win games?!”
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