UCLA Pregame Guesses: @Kansas State
by Achilles on Sep 3, 2010 11:00 AM PDT
in Football
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PrintHow about this for the first Pregame Guesses of the regular season?
Who will start at quarterback for the Bruins?
I don’t know either – it’s a "game time decision."
The element of the unknown hangs over the program right now like early morning fog over Santa Monica in June. But unlike the fog, it’s not clear that the unknown hanging over Westwood anytime soon.
In a way it’s fitting to start the season with a Guesses column because at the outset, the UCLA football team has so many questions to answer it’s really unclear what type of season we’re in for.
I was about to apologize for my inability to be more articulate about the state of things, but maybe it’s not me. Maybe it’s the fact that there is so much we don’t know about this team we don’t know, that an inarticulate ramble is actually an accurate depiction of the state of things. (It’s also possible that this is an inarticulate ramble because I’m playing a drinking game while writing it – every time Hawaii misses a receiver or tackle I do a shot and every time ESPN shows a close-up of Lane Kiffin I down a beer … let’s just say I’ve been above the legal limit since the four minute mark of the first quarter.)
(more after the jump)
In the scrimmage Guesses column, I alluded to a few of the knowns. If I recall correctly, they were Rahim Moore, Akeem Ayers and Kai Forbath. Well whaddya know? The list of knowns has dropped by 50% as – can you believe it – our All-American kicker is injured and we might have to go with punter Jeff Locke.
So, we’re down to two.
I fear that’s not enough and as a result, I’m having a hard time getting excited about the season. Oh, sure I’m looking forward to the ritual of going to and/or just watching the games, but I’m having trouble getting a sense of this team. Other than the fact the season is here, I’m just not sure what to latch on to.
Listening to a podcast today about the NFL, they were discussing the Seattle Seahawks. And one of the experts just asked "what are they good at? what’s in their wheelhouse?" And while they were describing the Seahawks as one of the worst teams in the league – and we’re not the worst team in the league – you could ask the same thing about UCLA?
Unlike the NFL’s Seahawks, we’re potentially good at quite a few things. We have a corps of potentially good receivers, we have a trio or maybe even four backs with potential and we’ve got a couple of qbs capable of coming through and having a good or even a very good season. The problem is that no one has emerged yet. Sometimes Nelson Rosario looks like J.J. Stokes, sometimes he seems to never get open. Taylor Embree is everywhere one week and invisible the next. Jonathan Franklin and Derrick Coleman have had their moments, but not put enough together to assemble a clear picture of what we’re actually going to get from them.
The same is true for quarterbacks Richard Brehaut and Kevin Prince. Prince, the ostensible starter, has been hurt all camp. Brehaut, the ostensible back up has looked good in practice, but not good enough to definitely supplant Prince. And it’s not like Prince is a sure thing, even when healthy because even if Prince had taken every single snap this fall, he’d still be somewhat of an unknown going into the season.
Defensively … ahhhh … who am I kidding. There’s no reason to go through the same exercise for the defense where other than one safety and one linebacker we really don’t know what we’re going to get from anyone.
As for the game tomorrow, from where I sit Kansas State looks like a team with a good coach, a crowd capable of giving them a home field advantage and a roster that looks to still be rebuilding a bit. If we’re a good team, they’re beatable. If we’re not, we could start the year 0-1.
Early on, I noted my own sense of confusion about this column and this season and decided that this vagueness serves as a bit of a metaphor for the season. There could also be another reason, my own trepidation about facing the reality of the next four months.
The simple fact is, I see a team capable of winning eight games if everything breaks right, if the answers to all the questions break our way. But I also see a team capable of regressing to five wins and a program that won’t really turn the corner until 2011, when the injuries have healed, the grades have been brought up and the schedule breaks our way.
What’s really going to happen? Your guess is as good as mine …
With that, here are your Pregame Guesses for Kansas State:
- Who will be under center -- check that -- who will take the first snap for the Bruins at quarterback against Kansas State?
- How many touchdowns will UCLA score in the first half against Kansas State?
- The over/under for the game is 44.5. Do you like the over or the under?
- Bonus question: How many true freshman will play for UCLA in the opener?
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Prince, 2, over, 3
Final score 31-17 Bruins on top. Our squad will show wh has the superior heart and talent.
Prince, 4, over, 3
UCLA wins with a score of 42-24. I feel like this is the game where UCLA makes a statement and crushes the BSPN pundits. We are ready for a big game.
"If you don't have the time to do it right the first time, where will you find the time to do it again the second time?"-Wooden
Malcolm Jones, 3, Way Over, 3
After all the ‘pistol or not’ and ‘Prince or Brehaut’ smokescreen, we come out in a wildcat formation to start the game with a direct snap to Jones and score a touchdown on the first drive of the game. To save Jake Locke’s leg strength for punting we go for two on every touchdown of the game, leading to an eventually huge score.
First half is fairly even as our defensive coaching staff use KSU’s first few drives to gather information on how they like to score touchdowns, but in the second half Ayers and Moore decide to run with a hurry-up defense, lock it down and recover a fumble and snag a pick.
Final score UCLA 48, KSU 24
Kinda reminds me of Broncos/Vikings
After all the Tebow hype, Tebow instantly fumbled his first snap, but it got scooped up by Henderson for a quick Bronco TD. Wildcat on accident!
Prince, 2, over, 4.
Even before reading british’s great comments, I was thinking that three if not four people will take at least one snap tomorrow. I think both Prince and Brehaut will get some reps – though hopefully not from KP making a boneheaded decision.
Roses are red, violets are blue...f*** $C.
Prince, 3, Over, 6
Of the true frosh with the most significant chances of playing, I think between Jones, Barr, Riley, Ward, Marsh, James, Yandall, Zumwalt, Owa and Epenesa that 6 will see the field, with the order going from most to least likely.
Six of the above are listed in the two-deep, and that’s not counting Malcolm Jones who I think is guaranteed to at least get on the field.
Prince, 2, Over, 7
We’ll start slow, and turn the corner with power/ play action in the second half.
by AllHailMightyBruins on Sep 3, 2010 12:01 PM PDT reply actions
Ditto
And I totally agree, “I see a team capable of winning eight games if everything breaks right.” And that’s through the conclusion of the southern cal game.
Prince, 1, Under, 5
I see Bullough going super vanilla and Kstate having problems throwing the ball.
Brehaut, 2, Under, 6
Gaming with my QB pick….think it will be Prince but everyone else seems to be picking him so it would not allow me to win!
2 scores in the first half would be great.
Scoring TD;s is going to be hard for both teams
by Bruin Dad and Grad on Sep 3, 2010 12:46 PM PDT reply actions
Prince, Two, Over and 3
Go Bruins!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Brehaut, 1 (but more in 2nd half), over, 4
I think we will chip in a couple of field goals to have 13 if not 16 points by half.
OT hope your feeling okay today N. Damn, that must have been a lot of shots.
Should we start an over under on that?
Go Bruins!
Prince, 3, Over, 4
"The entire world that bleeds blue and gold ... they have been dying for this." - Coach Rick Neuheisel
Brehuat,1, under, 4
Since it is the first week and I have not been following as close as I should I will add a wild prediction. The key to the game for UCLA on offense will be Malcolm Jones. He is our best RB regardless of depth chart and should get some serious action. And Achilles, your guess would be better than mine.
depends what you mean by best...
two things about our O-line being a little thin: 1) we could do with having a RB who can shed tackles and make extra yards after first contact 2) we could do with having a RB who can make good blocks in pass protection and give the QB an extra split second if the protection up front breaks down. The first counts in Jones’ favour, the second probably counts against him at this point in his development as a player. Could mean we see a decent amount of Jones on 1st down but less on other downs…
Fair enough
I was thinking running the ball. And Jones seem to the best after contact. The last 2 years we have stunk at running and I see Jones (from the reviews) as our best hope there.
right
from all the talk, it sounds like he may be the best back for making yardage without much help from the O-line.
Brehuat, 2, under, 4
Regardless of our pistol offense that we will run (nobody knows how much we will run it) I think our defense is too good to let them score more than twenty and I dont see UCLA scoring more than 25
prince,2,over,4
espn ticker just announced that hundley will make his choice monday at 1: 30 et. keep your fingers crossed.
by bruinbornandraised on Sep 3, 2010 3:27 PM PDT reply actions
Prince, 2, Under, 5
Nobody has chosen this combo so I can be the lone winner. Tyus Edney was in my PIC1 class. Cheers!
Prince, 1, under, 4
Defense will have to step up and win this one while the offense is still finding itself. GO BRUINS!!!
Prince, 1, under, 6
There is so much excitement and so much unknown for the first game. If we could just escape with a 24- 21 victory and start looking to the home opener?
Prince?, 1, under (barely), 5
I’m really excited to see the young guns hit the field especially riley, barr and jones who certainly held my attention through camp.
I see us escaping with a 24-20 win.
Go bruins!
by DoubleTroubleBruin on Sep 3, 2010 4:06 PM PDT via mobile reply actions
Prince, 2 under, 6
Not to put down Franklin or Coleman, but I would really like to see Jones start. Would also love to see what Marsh and Odigitty can do
Prince, 2, under, 4
I have no idea what I’m doing but, much like lots of lottery winner, I think my picks are-a-winner!
Prince. 2. Under. 7.
Thinking about the number of freshmen who’ll take a rep, I was surprised. Barr, Malcolm Jones, Ward, Riley, Owa, Marsh.
I have just returned in my time machine. Spoiler alert.
It’s gonna be 28-0 Bruins at halftime. Each team will score a TD and XP in the second half. And you know who and you know who are each goving to have an interception.
Bleeding powderkeg blue and gold for 55 years. Go Bruins!
Prince; 3; over; 6
And we win the game 37 – 12
Easy money and faithless women, red-eye whiskey for the pain...
Prince, 1, Under (by a lot), 5
I don’t see their vanilla offense (with the same mediocre QB) putting up many points on us, or our untried, injured-line offense scoring much on them. I’d call it 17-13, good guys. Jones, Riley, Marsh, Owa, and Barr play
Prince, 2, Under, 8
Prince will get the starting nod. I’m actually willing to bet Brehaut plays very little this game. Also, my 8 freshmen count includes special teams (haha, bet a lot of you didn’t think about that, huh).
I’m thinking the following brand-new faces see the field:
Jones
Barr
Marsh
Owa
Riley
Ward (maybe in light of our line injuries, I wouldn’t be shocked if someone else got hurt tomorrow)
Zumwalt
Koster
Jefferson (another maybe)
All-in-all, 7 guys I’m confident will make the field (including special teams play) and 2 maybes, so I’m going to hedge the bet and go with 8.
Prince, 1, Under, 4
Los Angeles Rams and the UCLA Bruins!!!!!
by Minnesota Bruinfan on Sep 3, 2010 9:08 PM PDT reply actions
Ucla vs Kansas State
Bruin 96, I am with you on your prediction for a Bruin victory and I like your score prediction 31-17. I have been thinking 35-14, so close enough. Go BRUINS!
CaptainJack65
'CaptainJack65'
Jack Metcalf
Crown Prince of Westwood, 2, Over, 8
by Markpav44 on Sep 4, 2010 5:46 AM PDT via mobile reply actions
Prince, 2, over, 4
We win big with our second half adjustments, and our lines show everybody that they’re a force to reckon with! Chandler has a HUGE game!
Bruin for life!!!!
You can't let praise or criticism get to you. It's a weakness to get caught up in either one. - John Wooden
Prince, 2, Under, 5
The best thing you can do for your children is to love their mother. John Wooden
Prince, 2, over, 5
It’s game day! GO BRUINS!!!
Prince,2,over,5
Go Bruins!
"Make each day your masterpiece."--JRW
by Give me a B... on Sep 4, 2010 10:22 AM PDT via mobile reply actions
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