The "E" Word: Can UCLA Muster up Determined Emotion for Oregon’s Coronation Night?
by Nestor on Oct 17, 2010 10:30 AM PDT
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Well, we are going to leave it to 03rdn9, rich87 and anyone else with thirst for XandOs to break down all the technical angles leading up to Thursday night's game. Suffice to say it looks like we are going to be well versed on Oregon's dynamic and explosive blur offense and will be in a realistic frame mind heading into Thursday night. Given what transpired through another amazing college football Saturday, it appears Thursday night will be an official coronation for the Oregon Ducks celebrating their first ever number 1 ranking in program's history.
Bruins are of course going through little more than rough patch. Heading into today's practice it is unclear what exactly our QB situation is. Kevin Prince has been mostly ineffective and not 100 percent this season. It is extremely unclear whether Richard Brehaut has an average grasp on our revolver offense (notwithstanding his average performance against Washington State team which has been playing inspired by their standards). Can't really count on Darius Bell. Our WRs look extremely poor coached and underdeveloped. Our OL while giving us some hope, is getting back in line with reality at least in the department of pass protection. The defense except for couple of games hasn't provided much glimmer of hope. The secondary play has been undisciplined and the scheming as discussed ad nauseum has been totally vanilla.
So with that discouraging backdrop if anyone wants to think with their brain he or she should mentally prepare for an ugly Bruin slaughter in Eugene. Yet, there is this one little thing in college football that plays often becomes huge factor in every game. It is the "E" word. We saw yesterday what happens when Texas played with (determined & focused) emotion against a top-5 Nebraska team in front of a sea of red in Lincoln. It was the lack of emotion and fight that resulted in California Golden Bears, looking totally different and flat, after looking fantastic against the Bruins during their first half performance in Berkeley. It was the presence of emotion and urgency that was evident in the Washington Huskies taking it to the Beavers right out of the gates in Seattle.
You will drive yourself if you ever try to view college football world through transitive properties. It is not going to work. What is going to work if you appreciate how much emotion plays a part in college football. This is what makes the game so epic, beautiful and heart-wrenching to watch. It's feeling you got if you saw Urban Meyer and Florida kicker on the sidelines right after the Gators missed a potential game tying kick against Mississippi State Bulldogs, or what USC choke it all away against Kentucky down the stretch despite building up a big lead and being heavy favorites.
The question becomes whether the Bruins can play with any sense of urgency and determined emotion on Thursday night in Eugene. If you live in a world of reality, you'd know better and you'd agree with the analysis doled out by 03rdn9. It is shaping up to be an epic night for the Ducks in what looks like a march through a dream season. The news just got better for them this weekend.
Not only the Ducks are going to finish this weekend as the overall number 1 team in the nation (they are already ranked number in coaches' poll) it looks like their stud sophomore QB is ready to go for UCLA. Per the Oregonian he now appears to be "in perfect health" - "firing passes with accuracy and authority" - after sustaining a shoulder injury against the Cougars:
"I'm ready to go,'' Thomas said after the crisp practice at the Moshofsky Center, pronouncing himself 100 percent.
Ducks coach Chip Kelly wasn't about to put any percentages on it, but he has seen enough to be convinced of Thomas' recovery from a sprained AC joint suffered when he fell on his right throwing shoulder in last week's win at Washington State.
"He's good to go if we played tonight,'' Kelly said.
Even on the deep out patterns, Thomas delivered the ball with some sizzle. Afterward, he planned on going in for ice and treatment, but nothing out of the ordinary.
"It's going to be a little sore, but it's going to be all right,'' Thomas said.
If you want an idea what Thomas can do you should read through this (with more to come).
As for their other injured star - backup tailback/return specialist Kenjon Barner - he is still "day to day":
The status of backup tailback Kenjon Barner, who suffered a concussion in the WSU game, is unclear. He made an appearance at practice Saturday but did not participate.
Barner has been listed as day to day.
"I know he's OK," said tailback LaMichael James, who leads the nation in rushing. "He's being mobile and he's communicating with everybody . Everything's great for Kenjon right now. He's gonna get healthy."
The Ducks over all are in great shape:
Only Barner, offensive lineman Everett Benyard III (ankle) and tight end Clint Sager (head, shoulder) were the only players listed on Oregon's injury report Saturday.
"It's very encouraging," Kelly said of the team's overall health. "The big thing of trying to sustain this thing - because it's a long season - is can you keep your playmakers healthy, and on every position?
"And, knock on wood, we're relatively healthy at this point and time."
I have a feeling Barner will be fine by the time Thursday rolls out. He is not going to miss an opportunity to get it going on national TV playing for the number 1 ranked team in the nation.
So really how can we really have any sense of optimism heading into Thursday night. Even Coach Rick Neuheisel has been on the record saying "hope isn't a very good strategy." If the Bruins were to have any shot on Thursday night, they are going to have to bring it - with determined emotion, courage and focus - in Eugene. The problem for UCLA is their counterparts the Ducks will likely be even more fired up to "prove" themselves worthy of their number 1 ranking at the expense of Bruins on national TV.
This place has never been about moral victory. We are not going to start on Thursday night either. However, we are going to watch very closely how the Bruins come out and deal with adversity starting today and through rest of the week leading up to Thursday night.
GO BRUINS.
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agree on no moral "victories"
but even if we get beaten I want to see some glimmer that we are moving in the right direction. Losing to Cal is one thing; getting blown out and looking clueless is another. Hopefully we shouldn’t have comments in the game threads such as “the coaches should be ashamed” – and if we bring “determined emotion, courage and focus” as you suggest above, it could at least give us a reason to hope for another 3 wins this season. Another embarrassing blowout and it’ll be all the more difficult for CRN to get things back on track.
To rehash one point – our schedule is HORRIBLE. Watching UW playing at home against OSU last night, I am even more fearful of our Thursday road game there than I was before; Thursday at Autzen is clearly a nightmare; and even the Thanksgiving Friday game makes it look like someone somewhere doesn’t want us to do too well….
Agree
I still don’t understand why UCLA scheduled a Thursday night appearance with Washington. I made that point (IIRC) when the announcement came out. It was a bad idea on the part of Gurrerro and Neuheisel when they agreed to it. I am all for exposure but not in a way when the other team is operating from a position of clear advantage.
Nestor it has to be about the money Espn will pay UCLA...
don’t you think?…win or loose we get a healthy pay check…and i guess they feel a national tv audience is better than just crummy FSN/Prime Ticket whether we win or loose…i personally like all the exposure we can get natinowide no matter the outcome…CRN recruits by telling high schoolers they can be on Espn if they come to UCLA….
by BRUINCLASSOF72 on Oct 17, 2010 11:12 AM PDT up reply actions
Yeah, money/exposure plays a factor
However, I think UCLA needs to be a little more strategic in terms of kind of “exposure” it position itself for on TV. Getting exposure is a big factor in terms of keeping recruiting going. Still the program also needs to be realistic about its talent potential (project its development in a realistic manner) when scheduling such dates on national TV.
who is it who does this stuff?
Is this Scott pushing Thursday and Friday Pac-10 games? It was something the Big East did to get more exposure when they had a new commissioner a few years ago, IIRC. Do you know how this stuff works? Is it conference related, or just teams and network, or…? The whole TV situation confuses me a lot.
by britishbruin on Oct 17, 2010 11:24 AM PDT up reply actions
also, am I right in thinking
that we will NEVER have a Thursday night home game? So this move to scheduling games on Thursday is entirely a disadvantage to us?
by britishbruin on Oct 17, 2010 12:00 PM PDT up reply actions
At Least It's Not Fox
Since I have Dish Network, I’ll actually be able to watch this game! That’s the upside for me!
if I may say
there is a distinct difference between getting exposure and getting exposed… but we are likely to get both on Thursday.
by britishbruin on Oct 17, 2010 1:20 PM PDT up reply actions
We get more money - eventually
All TV money goes to the conference, and we get our share per the formula in place. So yeah, we’ll get more dollars as a result of playing on a national ESPN game than a regional FSN game…but not all of the extra money; not even a quarter of it.
Roses are red, violets are blue...f*** $C.
Pac-10 national TV.
The good news is all the other teams are also getting more national exposure and revenue also. It may hurt right now, but hopefully not too much until the program returns to full strenght.
I'll be there
Have tix to the UW game, first time there. After watching UW/OSU yesterday, I might invest in a noise canceling headset
Thursday nights game.
This game can have ( in my mind) a direct influence on the type of recruits UCLA will be getting next year since everyone will be watching this game. If Oregon absolutely destroys us, do we honestly think that the better recruits will want to come & play for us? Only the die hard loyal Bruins will continue to come, but some will rather go to a team with a winning program. UCLA needs to step up big time Thursday night or it can have a ripple effect. We will be on national television this week & our coaches need to do everything to prepare our team to be competitive in every aspect of the game. To be destroyed & embarrassed on local television is one thing, to do it on national tv is another.Exposure for our program is awesome, but not if we are getting our butts kicked every time. Lets hope our team is up for the challenge. GO BRUINS!!!
by Splat Shot Sal on Oct 17, 2010 11:36 AM PDT reply actions
It depends
If we just get outplayed by the #1 team in the nation but show promise and good coaching we may still be able to attract good players. They won’t come for coaches who don’t know how to win or develop talent.
by KnudsenRockne on Oct 17, 2010 10:22 PM PDT up reply actions
True -
if there are five or six strong QB prospects in a year who want to play in the Pac-whatever, they can’t all play at Oregon. Even if the top one or two go there, prospects three through six may strongly consider UCLA if they see a growing program with coaches that will develop them further.
Roses are red, violets are blue...f*** $C.
The Coaches Must Lead By Example
If we want our players to leave it all on the field on Thursday, then our coaches have to do the same. For the last decade, it seems that our coaching strategy against superior competition is to play it safe – forget playing not to lose, they’ve been playing not to get embarrassed.
My strategy for Thursday: empty the playbook. I want to see blitzes from all angles, double-reverse passes . . . I want to see Chow and Bullough drawing up plays in the proverbial dirt and sending them down to the field. I want to see fake punts, onside kicks – whatever it takes! If the coaches aren’t willing to do anything they can to try and win, how can they expect their players to do the same???
I would also like the coaches to lead by example
except I would like it to be with smart, disciplined decision-making, carried out to the fullest. I want to see coaches doing what they think gives us the best chance to win – this often involves punting, playing it safe on 3rd and long rather than calling for some hail mary, using deception and variety but not resorting to trickeration unless there is an obvious tendency to exploit, etc.
As far as possible, I would like our coaches to avoid giving the team the perception that they are panicked or desperate and have no faith in their players’ ability to execute their best gameplan against the players of Oregon.
by britishbruin on Oct 17, 2010 12:54 PM PDT up reply actions
Yes but we need more 'trickery'
I think one of our biggest weaknesses is deception. We never fool our opponents. They know exactly who will run where on offense and where each defender will go. Bullough cannot seem to disguise or deceive ***t! We have superior talent but we telegraph everything to them which takes away that advantage.
That said, I think you are talking about more gimmicks and crazy stuff and I agree – today. A week ago I would have said “Let’s go for gimmicks and crazy stuff – what have we got to lose?” and I think your last sentence pretty much answers that.
by KnudsenRockne on Oct 17, 2010 10:28 PM PDT up reply actions
Ever notice our QBs take weeks
to come back from a little swelling, but Thomas has come back from a sprained AC joint in a little over a week.
RESCUING DANCE MUSIC FROM THE BLAHS
UCLA Medical Center
Uhhh…You might have a point there “UCLA Medical Center rated one of top three hospitals in the U.S.”
But for sports medicine?
LOL. Just kidding.
by KnudsenRockne on Oct 17, 2010 10:29 PM PDT up reply actions
No I'm just messing around
I think there’s been a curse cast on UCLA QBs ever since Losman spurned us. I remember when Prince’s oblique injury was a day-to-day thing but it ballooned to 3 and half weeks.
RESCUING DANCE MUSIC FROM THE BLAHS
That I don't understand
We’ve had one QB having one good year in 2005. Meanwhile, other Pac-10 teams have had studs here and there. We even had one QB who transferred and ended up in the NFL (Matt Moore)! Totally jinxed.
But hey, what do I know. I’m just the 800 lbs bruin in the room.
I'm Just Asking For Aggressiveness
I agree that my post is a little over the top. You’re absolutely right – I don’t want our coaches to call a stupid game and I don’t want our players to lose faith in themselves. But I do think that our coaches tend to respond to stiff competition by getting more conservative and I really strongly believe that the more aggressive team is typically the team that wins.
Contrary to the moniker here for the past few weeks
Over-Agressiveness could get us killed this week, just because of how Oregon plans on running things
by Josh Schlichter on Oct 17, 2010 1:12 PM PDT up reply actions
Intelligent aggresiveness based on scouting is what we need.
I hope we actually scout/disrupt the other teams tendencies this time with the extra bye week.
so you're saying we have the ideal man as DC?
by britishbruin on Oct 17, 2010 1:41 PM PDT up reply actions
In philosophy, yes
But does that mean that we have the ideal guy to have game-time adjustments, substitutions, correct scouting capabilities, and all the other little bells and whistles for a defense to go out there and get off of blocks and make tackles? No, I don’t believe we have the ideal defensive coordinator
by Josh Schlichter on Oct 17, 2010 1:46 PM PDT up reply actions
It all comes down to the qb, as usual
When our qbs can either run the option or throw ten yards down the field, forcing the defense to play honest, we can beat anybody.
Duh. Let’s hope whoever starts the coaches play to win, are aggressive and don’t stick with a qb who cannot option or pass.
by uclahy on Oct 17, 2010 1:55 PM PDT via mobile reply actions
Remember the Miami game...
When we were set to play TN for the Champ game. Miami came out and played with abandon.
They overcame a 17 pt deficit in the 4th quarter to win and knocked us out. BTW, our DC was none other than N. Alioti. He’s done better at OU. I believe that was the start of our slow progression down. The point here is this: We have to play like they did to have a chance at OU. If not, well, you know the rest.
It's karma time for Aliotti
He owes UCLA a victory.
But hey, what do I know. I’m just the 800 lbs bruin in the room.
I agree..
That was the worst D coaching I can ever remember here. It was like he wanted to lose or something. To this day, I cannot believe he let that happen without doing something to stop the bleeding. Hasn’t happened at OU. We did it at TX. Lightening can strike twice.
UCLA's best bowl game this week!!
Great insight 1970. Instead of thinking about another 3 wins gets us bowl eligible, play to win this game against the #1 team in the country like it’s the Champ game!
I’m sure the not-bowl-eligible downtowners are going to treat the December 4th game like it’s their Rose Bowl Game…
N, your second paragraph had me laughing out loud!
Why would such a bleak paragraph make me laugh? I guess reality, well stated, can be great comedy. Unfortunately for our team, that was very real. Before the Texas game I was pretty resigned to not winning, but I had some hope and a good feeling about this year’s team. Now, it’s just resignation, at least for this game. I guess that’s why I laughed, it mirrored my sentiments exactly.
As for emotion, even if we are at 200%, I think Oregon will easily match that. And being the better team right now, they’ve got our number. I can’t imagine them having a let down, or not coming out firing on all cylinders. They have so much to fight for, so much more than we will. I just wish that when we got our by, our opposition had not also gotten their by. No advantage for us (unlike Cal). Anyway, wonderful post, unfortunate post, and thanks for the good laugh. I’ve been working too much today.
Go Bruins!
incidentally and OT
today is the last day for the Alumni presale of tickets for the $c game. Just got mine as an added commitment device to get myself to move back to California by Dec 4th :-)
$80 + Ticketmaster inconvenience fees for bench seats with no backs in the corner of the stadium, but I think this is our year to start a new win streak.
Tickets on sale to the general public tomorrow.
Cool
Venice has had a revival of sorts. Santa Monica has suddenly become expensive. I won’t talk about traffice if your heart is set on moving :)
Then again, you’re coming from DC so nothing should scare you.
But hey, what do I know. I’m just the 800 lbs bruin in the room.
Precautions
Hides knives, sharp objects and sleeping pills from Bruins Nation
by DevilishTrojan21 on Oct 17, 2010 6:30 PM PDT reply actions
no need
by the time we are finished analyzing things, it’ll take a 100+ point shellacking to be a surprisingly high margin of defeat
by britishbruin on Oct 17, 2010 6:46 PM PDT up reply actions
We can hang with the Ducks if Brehaut plays.
We always seem to stay with Oregon, so I believe as long as Brehaut gets the start we’ll be fine. I can’t believe the endless chances Prince gets. Anyone who looks at Prince objectively knows he’ll never be more than a 2nd string QB. It’s not his fault, I question the coaches decision to continually stay with him. Brehaut has the better arm, awareness and savvy to keep us in the game versus Oregon.
Hm
Sounds like a plan. It’s all up to our backup QB now. Not our defense, not them at all. I’ll trust Brehaut in Autzen against Kenny Rowe and Paysinger
by Josh Schlichter on Oct 17, 2010 8:25 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions
Brehaut potential
if Brehaut was thought to be a better QB out of high school, is he not teachable? Supporting your experienced QB is great, but isn’t it about who comes through in the clutch
Some learn faster than others
Some learn better from one teacher (coach) than another.
by KnudsenRockne on Oct 17, 2010 10:34 PM PDT up reply actions
junx?
“Oregon will try to avoid becoming the third straight No. 1 (AP) team to lose when it plays at home against UCLA on Thursday night.”
Let’s make the #1 jinx continue…
quote of the day....
“The quarterback in the ‘pistol’ offense doesn’t just drop back and throw,” Prince said. “If that was the case, I would be fine. The fact of the matter is we’ve got to run the ball.”
ha ha… the irony in that quote is almost palpable.
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