Navigation: Jump to content areas:


Pro Quality. Fan Perspective.
Login-facebook
Around SBN: Rondo On Slowing Heat: 'They've Got To Hit The Deck, Too'

Prince Perspective: How The Bruin QB Stacks Up In Post Aikman Era & Expectations For Second Season

As we are in the middle of basketball season, I have football on my mind. I have been thinking lot more about upcoming spring football camp than how we are going to finish out rest of this season. We are going to have a long off season to hash out our pre-season expectations heading into next year. While we are going to mostly fly under the radar this spring, I am cautiously optimistic about our team making a splash in terms of getting back to the plus column in our overall conference record.  Well all of this depends on how our redshirt sophomore QB - Kevin Prince - is going to perform his second season as starter in Westwood.

Of course I am sure Richard Brehaut is going to compete hard against Kevin this spring. However, I think for Brehaut this spring and coming fall, is going to be about building on the crash course he had to cram through last year.  For Richard this year will be about being more prepared and confident in executing Norm Chow's offensive scheme when called upon to step in for Kevin. I think the best case scenario for UCLA will be if somehow Kevin can make it through a season without needing backup QB for mop-up time. That will allow coaches to use perhaps like Nick Crissman or the other QBs available on roster, and redshirt Brehaut to space out the QB depth chart.

Going back to Kevin, I have been wondering what we can expect from him in his second season. Well to do that, I wanted to compared his first season with other UCLA quarterbacks who emerged as starters (or got to start a substantial number of games) in their first season at UCLA.  Here is how Kevin stacks up:

Uclaqbspostaikmanrev_medium

Few quick notes about this chart:

  • Bold represents QBs who beat Southern Cal
  • Bold/Italic represents QB who won the Pac-10 and beat Southern Cal
  • Kevin Craft is the only transfer on this chart
  • The chart does not include QBs who transferred out such as Brett Johnson, Ryan Fien, Ryan McGann and Matt Moore (although he did end up beating Southern Cal with Oregon State, go figure). It doesn't also include Jim Bonds, Rob Walker, Scott McEwen, and the Law Firm

So going back to the chart, considering all the circumstances, it appears Prince actually had a really good season in his first year as the starting QB for UCLA. More analysis and perspective after the jump.

Star-divide

Again to reset he started his first game after staying away from the football field for almost two full years as he got injured early in his senior season at high school and then red shirted his first season at UCLA. He then came back and got injured in his second game at UCLA which caused him to miss 2 more games. He also missed half the action against Washington and Southern Cal.  So over all he put up the numbers above despite missing almost 3 games this season.

I am not sure if we can compare Prince to either Cade McNown or Tommy Maddox, but I thought their numbers in their first year was interesting. Maddox with his Tommy Gun arm was a freak of nature. He also had the luxury like Prince to redshirt his first season. McNown was more a pure athlete who played with the mentality of MLB at the QB spot (Prince tries that but he needs to wisen up and work on his sliding skills with his freaking mouthpiece on). Notice though how McNown was sacked only 11 times his first year. I don't have the numbers on Maddox. However, from what I can recall I don't think he had to deal with playing behind a completely rebuilt OL, like Prince has had to this season.

Also, the talent level at UCLA both during McNown and Maddox's era was slightly higher when they took over the offense. Maddox had Sean LaChappelle and Scottie Miller, while Cade was flinging it too Jim McElroy and also had Karim Abdul-Jabbar (a solid and experienced RB) in the backfield. Looking at the numbers, statistically Maddox had the better season than Prince, however Maddox failed to take his team to a bowl game. In Cade's case, he didn't have numbers as good as Prince, but did beat Southern Cal and took us to the bowl game. He didn't win the bowl game though (against Kansas in Aloha Bowl) unlike Prince.

Similarly when Drew Olson came around, he had MJD, Manny White, Tyler Ebell, Craig Bragg, and Marcedes Lewis to throw and hand off to in his first year with substantive playing time as the starting QB for UCLA. Keep in mind Olson's number above was his sophomore season, as he also got called into action the year before as a true freshman when Cory Paus got injured. His numbers were way more mediocre his freshman season when he was pressed into action (threw for 702 yards, completing 53 for 104 passes (51%), 3tds and 4 picks).  I would rank Prince's season ahead of where Olson was in his initial years. His numbers were easily better than what we got from Cory Paus in his first year at UCLA.

Prince's number looks slight better than Patrick Cowan from 2006, who basically took over the team 5th game into the season when Olson went down against Arizona. He didn't give up the starting job since that game and went on to win that memorable game against Southern Cal, before blowing it against Florida State. One has to wonder what would have happened with Cowan at UCLA if he had a competent head coach, offensive coordinator and a serviceable offensive line (same goes with Ben Olson,  who was beaten to a pulp in blue and gold).

Wayne Cook's numbers are the most interesting ones to me.  Except in the TD department, Wayne's numbers look very similar to Kevin's first season. Guess that happens when Wayne had a Heisman candidate like JJ Stokes at his disposal. Wayne also had Skip Hicks (at least early in the season), Sharmon Shah (hadn't changed his name yet), Kevin Jordan, and a legendary OL that was anchored by Jonathan Ogden and Vaughn Parker (as upperclassmen). 

Still putting all those numbers in context, I am (cautiously) optimistic about Prince.  I don't think we need dramatic improvement from him to make steady progress as a football program. We need him to keep developing at a steady rate.  I am sure he will be reminded over and over again about the need to slide and using that mouthpiece. Hopefully the off-season conditioning will make him stronger. 

Once Prince gets even more acclimated to Chow's scheme, I think he should be able to cut down the number of interceptions and get to the end zone lot more. We can also hope our OL will continue to improve even without XSF as rest of the starting unit anchored by Kai Maiavia come back with more experience under their belt. Add to that if we can get our young receivers including Nelson Rosario who showed signs of breaking through take another step, it could get really interesting.  Hopefully Randall Carroll, Morrell Pressley will be more comfortable with the playbook. Ricky Marvray will be looking to make his contributions. In the backfield perhaps we will have a more confident JetSki teaming up with Malcolm Jones, Milton Knox, Damien Thigpen, Derrick Coleman and Jordon James.

Despite the frustrating games we had against Stanford, Oregon, California, and Arizona, our offense seemed to take another step starting with that fourth quarter against Oregon State.  Again, at this point we don't need Prince to take a dramatic step in his second year in Westwood. If he builds on his first year, which stacks up pretty well against the other UCLA QBs in the post Aikman era, I feel good about our program taking another step forward.  Again to put in perspective Kevin Prince, I believe is the first UCLA quarterback in Post-Aikman era to finish his football season on a winning note as a first year starter. Not too shabby for someone who came back in action after two years on the sidelines. Can't wait till spring.

GO BRUINS.

Comment 66 comments  |  0 recs  | 

Do you like this story?

Comments

Display:

Didn't he get

a big first down by scrambling on third and something? I think Prince was out at the time, and this was before mop-up time. But, I may not be remembering correctly.

by Bruinut on Feb 12, 2010 4:50 PM PST up reply actions  

who is the law firm

the only way Prince gets better is if we can get better on the offensive line.. He has the talent to be a good one…

"Success is never final, Failure is never fatal. It's Courage that count's"
John Wooden.....

by TheUclan on Feb 12, 2010 8:34 AM PST reply actions  

Thanks, N

This really puts things in perspective for me. I tend to have rose-colored nostalgia when I compare our former players to the present.

by ishXdavid on Feb 12, 2010 8:41 AM PST reply actions  

Optimistic

KP will make steady progress towards being a complete QB. The question that intrigues me is whether he’ll make a BIG jump. My intrigue isn’t based on just KP. I believe our offense has the potential to make a sizeable jump. The OL still is a worry but I think the combination of Fauria and Harkey will help both the pass & run game. We can’t do worse penalty wise from this position if you get my drift. I’m very excited to see what happens with our offense. Defense….worried since our Front 7 will be very inexperienced. But that is a question for another day.

by BlueReign on Feb 12, 2010 8:44 AM PST reply actions  

Should be interesting

How Josh Smith can help the offense as well.

by Nestor on Feb 12, 2010 8:49 AM PST up reply actions  

A question for the panel..........

  Not to demean KP in any way but I’ve often wondered over the years why it is that UCLA can’t recruit the stud QB’s. Cade was the last one that I remember.
  So Cal is a hot bed of great QB’s and yet we can’t seem to recruit any. We have one of the nations great if not greatest QB coaches in NC.
   I remember a time when we had a succession of great QB’s, Kilmer, Beban, Harmon, Neuheisel and then a gift from the gods Aikmen, even Maddox and then bubkis.
   What are we doing wrong recruiting wise?

by Twothphry on Feb 12, 2010 9:24 AM PST reply actions  

We haven't had problems with recruiting higly ranked QBs

Drew Olson and Matt Moore were highly recruited "stud" recruits. Olson panned out and did well. Moore transferred and did really well with Oregon State. Ben Olson was a "stud" recruit. He was just abused behind a pathetic OL built by Dorrell.

Richard Brehaut is a ‘stud’ recruit. He has enough time to develop. I have no doubt CRN and Chow will get good signal callers next year and the year after.

Dorrell’s staff also did a terrible job of QB evaluation. They brought in Osaar Rasshan and the Law Firm. Neither of them were UCLA caliber QBs. Dorrell went after Chris Forcier, who was a bust, when he could have pressed harder for Aaron Corps. He also recruited Nick Crissman and the jury is really out on him.

We also had JP Losman, who didn’t stick. We haven’t had problem recruiting highly ranked high school recruits. We just have been snakebitten and also handicapped with incompetent coaching before Neuheisel’s arrival in Westwood. BTW Cory Paus was a highly rated recruit coming out of high school as well.

by Nestor on Feb 12, 2010 9:32 AM PST up reply actions  

+1

Losman really hurt and started the snakebitten pattern. Hurt us bad for a couople of years.

by uclahy on Feb 12, 2010 9:33 AM PST up reply actions  

Thanks for the reminder

  I do remember Losman left after Spring training and left us holding the bag since it was to late to recruit a replacement. I seem to remember an incident with a QB that went to Cal over us that hurt also.
  I moved away from So. Cal after Toledo’s departure so the cluster F…. that was Dorrell is just a blur. So glad when CRN returned to Westwood.

by Twothphry on Feb 12, 2010 9:37 AM PST up reply actions  

Kyle Boller

wanted to come to UCLA but we Toledo took Losman over Boller.

by BlueReign on Feb 12, 2010 9:48 AM PST up reply actions  

don't forget

we offered Ryan McCann instead of Carson Palmer.

by ishXdavid on Feb 12, 2010 10:22 AM PST up reply actions  

craft was rated pretty highly too

but of course he was a JC transfer. prince would have been a stud recruit but the injury really left questions in many people’s minds- like was mentioned before he didn’t play his whole senior season. i liked both these signings at the time, and i still do.

crissman would be a serviceable backup, and brehaut is definitely a stud. if brehaut can redshirt, and we get a good sign next year, we’ll be set at QB for years. and CNC wouldn’t go anywhere either…

"Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are." --John Wooden

by avtwvi on Feb 12, 2010 10:37 AM PST up reply actions  

i left out specifics

because they’re always skewed too high or too low. especially scout. the point is, we’ve had a few highly regarded QBs.

"Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are." --John Wooden

by avtwvi on Feb 12, 2010 12:52 PM PST up reply actions  

Olson was the top recruit before his mission

"We should have a banner up there: the only team to make the tournament without a coach." -- Baron Davis, remembering his "coach" at UCLA

by inhowlandwetrust on Feb 12, 2010 2:36 PM PST up reply actions  

#3

according to Scout in 2002, right behind Vince Young and Trent Edwards.

Interestingly, we also nabbed the #11 QB (Matt Moore) and #16 (Drew Olson) in the country that same year. With maybe the exception of Drew, you could say we pretty much whiffed that year.

"I don't forget very much" Rick Neuheisel, 11/28/09

by Blue Me on Feb 13, 2010 8:49 AM PST up reply actions  

IIRC Cade didn't get really good until

his Junior year. My hope is that KP learns to protect himself so he doesn’t get injured, cuts down on his interceptions [especially on quick passes on the slant or flat] and learns to look off his primary recievers.

In other words, my goal is he get incrementally better in these three, concrete areas which could translate into him being an effective, efficient, D1 QB. If he can do that next year, then we can hope he takes a dramatic leap to Aikman, McNown or even Cook performance levels his junior year.

Even without XSF I expect our OL line to be better because of Palcic’s influence and our continued improved strength conditioning. Our backs should be better, especially with the newbies who are monsters. I expect our receivers to be better also. I hope we throw more to our fullback, too, but that would be cherry on the cake.

Realistically, our goal should be for this offense to improve to consistently scoring 3 touchdowns a game and 1 or 2 FG. I think we could have approached this last year, but CRN played too conservatively IMO in the red zone, especially on fourth down. But 24-27 points a game on average is realistic.

So we need a good defense, right? Ironically, for some reason I think we will be fine there. The accumulation of speed that CRN has brought in after three recruting classes is starting to make a difference. Look at Akers and Rahim, for example. I think our LBs are going to be unbelievable. That can make up for a lot.

I would be thrilled if we started winning games playing solid defense and efficient, sometimes explosive offense with strong running, and won “routinely” by 24-17. Duh. Who wouldn’t?

I was there for the 4th quarter at Oregon State. We can do it IMO.

Long time to wait and see.

GO BRUINS!

by uclahy on Feb 12, 2010 9:26 AM PST reply actions  

Here is a good recruiting story ...

Matt Leinart’s first season at USC was 2001. So, his final high school season was 2000. (He redshirted in ’01).

Pete Carroll was hired after SC’s ’00 football season. But, if you remember correctly, SC had a hard time replacing Paul Hackett. So, there was this rocky period for them after they fired Paul Hackett and before they hired Carroll — who no one wanted to hire anyway.

Well, Leinart was an SC commit (Mater Dei — of course he was an SC commit) but he wasn’t crazy. The story goes that during this period (and I’m not sure if it was before or after Carroll was hired, but it was post-Hackett’s firing) his dad called Bob Toledo and asked Toledo if he was interested in recruiting Matt Leinart. Remember, this wasn’t too long after Toledo had won 20 games with Cade McNown, was still considered something of an offensive guru and SC was still struggling, even thought they had snapped the 8 game winning streak.

So Toledo tells Leinart’s dad that he had no interest in recruiting him. Not sure why, but the story is he just didn’t think he was good enough.

That says something about something, but I’m not sure what.

by Achilles on Feb 12, 2010 10:45 AM PST reply actions  

Just so it's clear ...

I’m not suggesting that Leinart was ready to flip to UCLA. But he was open to being recruited by UCLA.

Imagine if that had happened now. Imagine if Jesse Scoggins, SC’s qb commit in their current class had called or had his dad call Rick Neuheisel and asked him to recruit him. Do you doubt that RN would be all over him, putting on the full court press, doing everything to convince him to come to UCLA?

by Achilles on Feb 12, 2010 1:53 PM PST up reply actions  

No kidding, CRN would be all over any top recruit......

Well, that would have a chance at getting into UCLA…

by Bruin'96 on Feb 12, 2010 3:06 PM PST up reply actions  

matt stevens

how did Matt stack up his first year starting?

"Success is never final, Failure is never fatal. It's Courage that count's"
John Wooden.....

by TheUclan on Feb 12, 2010 10:48 AM PST reply actions  

I like Kevin Prince

But, Richard Brehaut has the “IT” factor. Kevin Prince has done a great job. He is a tremendous competitor. I believe it will be his job to lose. Kevin, I know because he was young at the QB position, but he lacks pocket awareness, and speed to play with a young offensive line and with the speed of the Pac-10 in general. I am not saying he doesn’t have the ability to grow in to his abilities. It’s like every thing learn on the fly, in the shortest amount of time!!
Richard Brehaut although who has not had a lot of playing experience has that “IT” factor that CRN has said he see’s in him. I watched him make mistakes in the games he was in last year,(the whole team made a bunch of mistakes) but he carries himself with the moxie you need from the QB position. He has speed to run when the pocket breaks down, and can throw on the run.
I like having this problem where we have two great QB’s at UCLA. The competition will only make our players better.

by jaybru777 on Feb 12, 2010 10:53 AM PST reply actions  

good analysis, thanks

Time to throw means so much. If the big uglies can give Prince a little time, he’ll be good.

by RealisticBruinFan on Feb 12, 2010 11:29 AM PST reply actions  

Nice comparison, but I think the more important thing

Is measuring him up against fellow freshman QBs in the present, particularly in our conference, whom he’ll be competing against. I realize there are other considerations — injury at some point stops becoming an excuse and starts becoming a weakness — but one of my concerns was that of all the freshman QBs last year Prince was clearly behind Foles, Luck, and Barkley. Add Masoli and Locker, and that puts Prince in sixth place for next year, at least (without knowing how the new guys at Cal and OSU will be).

In other words, and given what we lost on defense, I think Prince’s improvement WILL have to be considerable for us to have a good year. Or at least the appearance of it, aided by all around him. If he’s our future, he needs to make the case that he isn’t clearly the 4th qb in his class.

by bluebland on Feb 12, 2010 11:55 AM PST reply actions  

Foles was a redshirt sophomore last year

so he’s not in that class of Pac-10 freshman QBs. I think you’re right though in that it will be how he compares with the rest of the QBs that matters.

What he will need though is a competent running game to help him out. Luck had Gerhart and Barkley had McKnight, taking some of the heat off of both of them. Remember the USC/Ohio St. game and on that last drive, it was keyed by the running game with Barkley just making a few throws in play action and with the defense keeping eight in the box. If Prince had to lead a long drive late, he’d be going up against eight defensive backs and still wouldn’t have a ton of time to throw. I think as long as we get a decent running game, Prince will come through fine.

For everything UCLA baseball, visit my UCLA baseball twitter.

by Ryan Rosenblatt on Feb 12, 2010 12:05 PM PST up reply actions  

Good point

About the running game. Now do you think Brehaut should have a chance to win the job in spring?

by bluebland on Feb 12, 2010 12:09 PM PST up reply actions  

Absolutely

No player on the roster is ever exempt from competition. Prince is our starter and should enter the spring as the starter, but if Brehaut goes out there and outplays him, he should take the job.

For everything UCLA baseball, visit my UCLA baseball twitter.

by Ryan Rosenblatt on Feb 12, 2010 12:24 PM PST up reply actions  

Barkley

I think Prince’s number hold up against Mr. 4 Heisman pretty well considering the kind of talent the Trogans stockpiled at OL and at skill positions over the years. Should be interesting for him next season.

I think the accurate comparison for Prince if you were to look at other teams from the conference is Sean Canfield. Look up Canfield’s numbers his first season he started on a regular basis.

by Nestor on Feb 12, 2010 1:10 PM PST up reply actions  

Also, Barkley was a true frosh

So it’s tough to tell by numbers. I think the most important thing for freshman qbs is potential and a feel for the game. We knew McNown had it. It sure looks like Barkley has it. Prince hasn’t really shown it yet — to anyone but Norm Chow — though he did show great physical courage and toughness.

by bluebland on Feb 12, 2010 2:52 PM PST up reply actions  

Barkley has "it"?

Sorry we are going to disagree. Not all that impressed by some one who can prance around throwing a bomb in garbage time. He has better physical tools, but I don’t see a QB who has “it.”

by Nestor on Feb 12, 2010 3:40 PM PST up reply actions  

Also

Honestly I am not going to care much about getting into a debate of Barkely game by game. He had big moment against tOSU but the huge chunk yardage in that last drive came because of the YACs racked up by McKnight. Any kid who has freaks (by college standards) like McKnight and Damien Williams and other SC bluechippers to use is going to look good. Yet he also had many mediocre games. I am glad you are impressed by him, but save the fawning over him somewhere else.

by Nestor on Feb 12, 2010 3:43 PM PST up reply actions  

"It" being potential (obvious) and feel for the game

Not fawning here. I’m just talking about the objective tools to be an elite quarterback — as he was expected to be by everyone out of high school — which he pretty clearly showed as a true freshman. Just making an objective assessment vis Prince. I don’t get boners for players in cardinal. Also, blaming him for the sins of the father (Carroll) doesn’t take away from his abilities, which is all I’m talking about.

by bluebland on Feb 12, 2010 10:25 PM PST up reply actions  

You might have seen his ability "clearly"

I didn’t. He seemed like the overhyped senior from high school who threw boatload of interceptions in his senior year and didn’t improve much in his first year in college. We have to disagree on what he has shown in terms of “it” potential and feel for the game.

by Nestor on Feb 13, 2010 9:36 AM PST up reply actions  

canfield

2009 303/446 67.9% 3271YDS 21TD 7INT 26SACK
2008 56/84 66.7% 703YDS 6TD 2INT 2SACK
2007 165/286 57.7% 1661YDS 9TD 15INT 26 SACK
2006 28/45 62.2% 335YDS 2TD 2INT 2SACK

from tWWL- there had to be a reason for the ‘08 season? injury? i forget… i’d definitely take the td/int ratio for prince, but the sacks are way too many…

"Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are." --John Wooden

by avtwvi on Feb 12, 2010 3:28 PM PST up reply actions  

He was replaced by another QB

Can’t remember the other guy’s name at the moment, but he got injured and Canfield got the spot back.

by SuperBruinMan on Feb 12, 2010 4:17 PM PST up reply actions  

I partly agree..

When player’s have that “IT” factor. It doesn’t even matter who are the other QB’S in the conference because they are always working to be the best. Great players will “Will” their teams to be better…even if the player’s are not as talented. I also agree with Ryan R. you have to have a good running game to take pressure off the QB.
If we look at last year Kevin Prince clearly could not make throws on the run.

by jaybru777 on Feb 12, 2010 12:19 PM PST up reply actions  

To be fair though

Post signing day happiness is relatively new around here. Not a whole lot of that happened under a certain previous regime. In fact, it didn’t happen at all.

by Tydides on Feb 12, 2010 12:57 PM PST up reply actions  

True

Seems like it took a break between the CBT and CRN eras.

by BruinDan01 on Feb 12, 2010 1:10 PM PST up reply actions  

Great Improvement Needed

I am certainly not convinced that Prince is the guy to take us to the next level. I especially recall how un-prepared he looked during the SC game. I just hope he makes a big improvement in the off-season along with the O-line. I also hope Brehaut gives him a hell ofa time competing for the position so we can have the best possible QB. That will be the key to our season and it should be an interesting Spring.

by Keptycho on Feb 12, 2010 1:10 PM PST reply actions  

sc game

no running game, drops, a bad pass – bad game all around on offense…

"Success is never final, Failure is never fatal. It's Courage that count's"
John Wooden.....

by TheUclan on Feb 12, 2010 2:45 PM PST up reply actions  

Kevin Craft 32 sacks

Ay yay yay! He is indestructible.

by Sideout11 on Feb 12, 2010 1:52 PM PST reply actions  

Someone must be smok'n the funny stuff again

Did you watch the same team that I did this past season. I am sure Chow was happy with the anemic passing attack this past season…LOL>>>He was furious that no one could throw the ball or make a decent read!! Prince was No Prince and as far as Breu being the" IT" factor for next year you are pretty close but Chow called it the "SH(&*(T factor not the “IT” factor. Chow said he couldn’t trust the kid because every time he came in the game he turned the ball over, he looked clueless at times. After living through the season with Kraft two years ago Chow and Neuy said no matter what we do we will never have another season with Kraft at the QB. (I don’t blame them) However even when Prince was hurt this past season they put Kraft in the game long before the" IT" factor was put in. Let’s face it we still have a long way to go from having someone that can have at least a 2 TD ration vs INT for the season. Chow likes the ratio to be 3 to 1. So stop smoking the funny stuff>>>oh and I forgot, I am sure the OL will be much improved over ly

by lifeofabruin on Feb 12, 2010 7:35 PM PST reply actions  

Wow

Your comment is so stupid, I think you have made everyone else who has read this dumber.

This is so lame, it doesn’t deserve a response. However, I won’t delete it so other people can come by and see how incredibly dumb you are.

by Bellerophon on Feb 12, 2010 10:53 PM PST up reply actions  

Uh...

since when did >>> become a punctuation mark? Did I miss an update to the Style Guide?

by CAJason80 on Feb 13, 2010 12:13 AM PST up reply actions  

Deep threat?

Not sure if there is a more universally accepted statistic to help a discussion on how much of a deep threat each QB was in the first year, but here is a “yards per completion” breakdown for each QB. (I realize this is subject to many objections as a stat, so would be happy to hear a better one)

Prince———-11.8
Craft————-10.1
Cowan———-12.3
Olson(B)——-10.4
Olson(D)——-11.9
Paus————-14.1
McNown———13.9
Cook—————12.5
Maddox————14.7

The reason I bring this up is because of interdependency of the run and the pass – if you can’t run the ball it makes it hard to pass effectively (often used as a defense of a QB with poor numbers), but the corollary is that if you are not a deep threat team the opposition can load up the box to stop the run (less often cited).

On yards-per-completion, Prince rates higher than only KCraft and Ben Olson.

by britishbruin on Feb 13, 2010 8:51 AM PST reply actions  

Read the full post carefully

Prince didn’t have the weapons Maddox, Cook, or (Drew) Olson did in his first year at UCLA. The post wasn’t meant to advance the point that Prince is better than those QBs, just putting the year in perspective.

by Nestor on Feb 13, 2010 9:39 AM PST up reply actions  

I did read the full post carefully

just trying to add some additional perspective to the year, particularly given the frustration expressed on BN over the last couple of years about an unwillingness to call deep pass plays and how that affected our whole offense. No real way of separating the impact of the QB from the impact of the weapons surrounding him whichever stat one uses; I was just trying to bring up something not mentioned above to further the discussion.

by britishbruin on Feb 13, 2010 11:31 AM PST up reply actions  

No one has more hope for Brehaut than me.

My biggest disappointment last year is that he did not get more playing time. When he did, he made some spectacular throws. When he did, he also fumbled a lot.

Face it, folks. We have NC and CRN evaluating both of these guys. For whatever reason, they went back to KP over and over again, as soon as he could recover from injury, and in the SC game, even after he was injured, and even then, they put in KC not RB.

There must have been something fundamentally wrong with RB for them to substitute this way. I have no idea what it was. We can only hope that RB has developed where whatever it was no longer applies.

Yet for all we know at this point they may even be planning to redshirt RB this year.

I think we just have to hope for the best with KP. Anything we can get from RB at this point is probably just bonus points.

Time will tell.

by uclahy on Feb 13, 2010 9:59 AM PST reply actions  

?

He made a few good throws, mainly in the san diego st game. After that, how could you tell? The kid was stripped everytime he dropped back to pass. Not saying that KP looked much better, his timing was off after the injuries.

If KB wishes to get playing time, he needs to read the coverage and throw much quicker. As it stands the kid isn’t even close to being a starter.

by Bruin'96 on Feb 13, 2010 6:27 PM PST up reply actions   1 recs

Prince

Prince has the the arm and mentality. I think he’ll be the best since Drew Olson. No real analysis just the fact that I don’t get a pit in my stomach every time he drops back. It was painful to watch the last several QBs (Craft, The Law Firm, Ben Olson – he made the O-line bad as much as the O-line made him bad, Rashann, et al. )

I agree with trying to redshirt Brehaut. To me he is more of an unknown so let’s try to save him for later. He seems to be skilled and I loved his HS tape but I got a bit of the pit…

Tinman

by Tinman17 on Feb 13, 2010 10:18 AM PST reply actions  

I think we have been tough on KP. Not saying RB won’t be or isn’t great either but: name a qb who did thrive behind a weak line or one qb that put up great numbers out of a pro set offense with not a esolid running threat. Look at the Pac 10 for instance. Luck had Gerhart, Canfield had Rodgers, Barkley had a stable, yet I think that’s a bad example since he had a sub par year. It is a little different with a spread but even still Masoli had James, Foles ran a spread and locker may be the best qb in the country yet locker still couldn’t will UW to 6 wins.
Than look at games when Prince had success. We usually had a solid run game as well. So I think we need to support KP and if he can stay healthy Iam cautiously optimistic that we can have a great season next year.

by Marine bruin on Feb 13, 2010 2:40 PM PST reply actions  

+1

Lets provide KP some stabilty and see how he does.

by Bruin'96 on Feb 13, 2010 6:29 PM PST up reply actions  

and lots

of extra padding… maybe a double flak jacket, huge shoulder pads and giant sized knee braces.

by captainqtp on Feb 16, 2010 4:31 PM PST up reply actions  

Comments For This Post Are Closed


User Tools

Welcome to Bruins Nation, an unofficial daily online scrap book covering the greatest collegiate athletic program in the nation. Established June 16, 2005. GO BRUINS.

Managers

Uclabear1_small Nestor

Arron_afflalo1_small Tydides

Brad_pitt_as_achilles_small Achilles

377011_2642084725867_1068030137_32302525_1166539782_n_small Ryan Rosenblatt

Telemachus_small Telemachus

Licenseplate_small gbruin

2761_small tasser10

Blue_bellerophon_small Bellerophon

Img_0052_2_small Patroclus

Small DCBruins

Of Counsels

094_small Ajax

Menelaus2_small Menelaus

Small Meriones

Small Odysseus

Associates

Eee_small freesia39

Uclabruins_small AHMB