UCLA Basketball & Football Meta Thoughts: Kyle Anderson & Brett Hundley
by Nestor on Sep 20, 2011 6:47 AM PDT
in UCLA Athletics
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Well thank you Kyle Anderson for giving us some moments of relief in what has been a surreal, dark and gloomy first quarter of 2011 UCLA football season. I am excited about the latest class Coach Ben Howland and his staff are putting together. The new core of staff highlighted by assistants such as Phil Matthews and Korey McCray (who apparently has still not been listed on the official site) deserve a lot of credit for getting on some of these recruits early, building relationships and put Howland in position to close with commitments. This process had been missing in the world of UCLA basketball for last couple of years.
That said my enthusiasm for hoops related is somewhat contained. I think there are few reasons for that. First, I am still smarting from the Class of 2008. Ironically, the last member of this class - the other Anderson - flashed up in news alerts just hours before Kyle Anderson's commitment. If anything, the other Anderson news, gave me a reminder of how it would be prudent for all of us to stay guarded, and see how these student-athletes handle Howland's commitment to one-on-one defense once they get here, instead of saying all the right things to the press.
Second, while the basketball program has shown signs of life we have not had a conference title in Westwood in almost 1,300 days. I am going to keep myself from being all exuberant about our program until I see how this team performs in what is going to be a crucial bridge year heading into 2011-12 season in the "renovated" Pauley Pavilion.
I fully expect this team to be truly contending for a conference title in a terrible Pac-12 conference. More importantly I expect every member of this team to play up to standards of "Ben Ball," which means defense and fundamentals first (cough***Reeves Nelson***cough). And, if any player, no matter how crucial he is to the success of team is not living up to those standards, be held accountable by Howland.
Lastly, I am not feeling the excitement about hoops and I do think it has lot to do with the dismal state of our football program. Regular readers, who have been with this community from Day 1, know well, how we have repeatedly laid out UCLA is not just a basketball school. Our basketball tradition is second to none and we are proud of that. However, football matters just as much and in reality worth lot more. So when the state of the football program is in such dire straits, it is hard to experience total euphoria about a big time recruiting commitment (which should be the norm not the exception for UCLA hoops in any event).
Now in terms of football, I want to zero in on a macro issue concerning a big time recruit , who lit up the whole Bruin Nation with excitement with his commitment to UCLA little more than a year ago.
Yes, I am talking about Brett Hundley. The chatter is heating up re. whether Rick Neuheisel will be burning his red-shirt during the conference season. Neuheisel's comments on Hundley so far has been vague:
Neuheisel is still considering a package of plays for freshman quarterback Brett Hundley, but didn't sound confident in Hundley's ability to handle a game situation right now. "We'll continue to develop him and see if he can be ready," Neuheisel said. "I'm not going to make any determinations. I want to watch him continue to get better and we'll see if there is a package for him."
And wishy-washy:
``There's still some things that happen in the course of practice that show (for example) he didn't know he'd be hot on that guy or didn't know there was protection required here,'' Neuheisel said. ``It's not a knock on him. Most (new) kids don't. Unfortunately, I have played guys since I've been here that weren't ready.''
And more....
``We'll see where he is as we get to the end of every week. I'm also mindful I don't want to squander a year. If he's not worth the investment with where his maturity is with respect to the offense, we want to be prudent there.''
Well, I have heard from multiple folks I trust that the comment about Hundley having a tough time at practices. However, to be fair to Hundley, the entire football team looks dazes and confused. The way it is going, it is not unreasonable to fathom a scenario that UCLA runs a "Hundley package" only to discover that Hundley is not on the field, and then take a time out, and come back on the field to find out that Hundley still hasn't lined up. After what we have seen in last two weekends at the Rose Bowl, this kind of ridiculous scenario is more than plausible with this team.
I do understand the temptation of playing Hundley though. Achilles envisioned this scenario back in April:
UCLA starts the season on a terrible to mediocre note with record ranging from 1-4 to 2-3 with Kevin Prince/Richard Brehaut as the starters. Brett Hundley comes in, starts the Washington State game and gets a much needed win to inject some life into the team. What do you think will buy Rick at least one more season?
A 7 win season with Brett Hundley leading rest of the way? or
A 7-8 win season still going back and forth with either Prince or Brehaut without a victory over SC?
If I were the AD, neither of those scenarios would buy Rick extra time but we have the elephant in the room ... aka the Dan Guerrero situation festering all over UCLA Athletics.
One would think Rick might consider the factor that getting 7 wins with a true freshman at QB could give him more room to argue for at least one more season. Something to think about ...
Well, we are most likely in position for a terrible start unless the Bruins dramatically turn it around in Corvallis. If there is a team to turn it around against, it would be the Beavers, who arguably could have lost to San Jose State. May be there is a 10-20 percent chance that this team will turn it around with Brehaut as the unquestioned starter and win 5-6 Pac-12 games. Then again Brehaut's track record to date (I believe a 3-9 record as starter) is not all that impressive either.
The Brehaut-Prince situation is reminding me more and more of the Brett Johnson/Jimmy Bond dynamics from 1989 and the Ryan Fien/Rob Walker situation from 1995. Both were terrible situations and in both cases there was an exciting freshman waiting in the case. In the case of Johnson and Bond, Terry Donahue red-shirted Tommy Maddox. In the case of Fien/Walker, Donahue was forced into playing Cade McNown, after Fien went down with a neck injury in the season opener against Miami. Walker at that point had no confidence. Cade came in a true freshman, managed us to a win against the Hurricanes and never looked back.
I think this situation is different though. Even though Donahue was an underachieving, mediocre head coach, at that time he had "stability" as he didn't have to face angry alums and fans. Neuheisel doesn't have that luxury and has been awful to terrible even compared against Donahue's mediocre standards, especially in his later years. May be Neuheisel will be desperate enough to put in Hundley to spark the team. Will that be worth it?
I am not sure. I am not sure because we have zeroed in from all angles there are serious fundamental issues in this program. There are issues with how Neuheisel manages it at Spaulding during weekdays and how he coaches it on Saturdays. I am not confident whether Neuheisel will be able to use Hundley in a way that will optimize his talent. I am saddened that I feel this way about Rick because given his track record with college QBs such as Troy Aikman, Tommy Maddox, Wayne Cook, Kordell Stewart and Marques Tuiassossoppo, never in my wildest imagination, I thought I would have reservations about Neuheisel's development of QBs.
I understand the situation Neuehisel is in and perhaps tempting to let Hundley play. However, my personal preference is to save Hundley's red-shirt, have him fully healthy and ready for a fresh start in 2012. Remember even Hundley himself was open to a red-shirt season back in spring.
Anyway those are some thoughts to chew on this am. I will leave you guys with a poll and let you chime in the comment threads.
GO BRUINS.
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The difference between my enthuasiasm towards Anderson and towards Hundley
I know Howland will develop Kyle Anderson into, at the very least, a very good defensive player and will make sure the offensive system exploits his talents. I have no such faith in anyone who has, is, or will be associated with UCLA football in regards to the development of Hundley.
I also believe in Howland
He has to have learned from his mistakes from the 2008 class and will have better evaluated the attitudes of future players. Kyle Anderson seems like he knows his own skillset and deficiencies, and chose UCLA to help him with that.
As for Hundley…save his redshirt, I am afraid he’ll waste his time learning this offense when the new head coach brings another philosophy
I think the difference between RN and Ben Howland
Is that during his tenure at UCLA, Ben Howland has proven to develop winners. Granted he’s had some misses these past few years, but so far we haven’t seen as much from Rick.
Ironically, I feel as though the state of the football program pushes me to feel more optimistic about basketball then I normally would, as I need some sort of positive outlet. At this point, I will take anything I can get, and if basketball picks up a great recruit I’m going to celebrate whether it’s fully warranted at this point or not.
That is a fair point
However, our hoops program has not won a conference title in 3 years. We have not made it past first weekend of the Madness in 3 years. That needs to change this year.
I agree with what Nestor and with what Bruinmike said
Re basketball: I’m excited about all the new guys, but I can’t help remembering the last time we got excited this way, namely in 2008. That didn’t turn out so well. I feel a bit llike Gen. Turgidson in “Dr. Strangelove” chewing his gum and responding to the president: “Ah, Mr. President, ah, (chomp chomp), I’d like to reserve judgment until all the facts are in.”
Re Hundley, I’m struck by CTSS’s statement: “We’ll continue to develop him and see if he can be ready,” That contains an assumption which I don’t accept. “Continue to develop” implies that there has been any development at all, and I don’t buy that. We have all seen zero developlment in so many players that I simply no longer believe that there is any effort at all made in this direction. Or fastest guy sees no action. You think Tom Landry wasted a lot of time “continuing to develop” Bob Hayes? It was, as I recall, “Bob, you run as fast as you can, and our QB will throw it as far as he can, and you try to catch it.” That’s the way I would “develop” Carroll.
Anyway, I don’t believe what CTSS says about Hundley. That said, I would like to see Hundley play. That might make him less inclined to get homesick after football season and transfer to one of the schools getting ready to come into the Pac 34. I really have that fear. From all I hear, Hundley is a good kid, a character kid, who is looking at the academics of UCLA. He is also a football player, though, and wants to play. He’s not going to want to ride the pine behind guys who he could outplay if given the chance.
The "Hundley" Card
I think the temptation is great for Rick to seriously consider using Hundley.
Let’s say the season muddles along and there is no way to get to six wins. Desperate, Rick plays the Hundley card to show what the future is going to be like next year…if you just give me the chance to get there.
As difficult as the whole situation is for the fans of Bruin football I think the last several days have be doubly difficult for Rick. Admittedly, I’ve never met Rick either personally or professionally. The only thing I know about him comes from my impressions of the public persona. I honestly think he’s a stand-up guy and pretty much a what you see is what you get person. My guess is he has spent a couple of sleepless nights considering everything we have been considering…do I resign? Do I keep at it til the end of the year…can I turn this around? These are tough questions for him with dire professional and personal financial consequences.
He said this is his dream job. I would hope that he would do what is best for the institution and the team…but quitting or getting fired will likely end his college coaching career and put his family in a financial bind. Under those circumstance I could see him the last couple of weeks of the season trotting out a preview of what next year will look like with him at the helm and Hundley behind center…desperate times demand desperate measures as it were. I certainly wouldn’t blame him for doing this, it’s completely understandable.
LOL!
Financial bind? I don’t think so. He’s already made more than most make in a lifetime. And you can be sure that the minute Rick would get fired, he’d be hired instantly by Prime Ticket or Fox Sports as a commentator/analyst, or even ESPN. He does well on TV.
But hey, what do I know. I’m just the 800 lbs bruin in the room.
Yea, please, we cannot forget that this is a man
that is cashing a multi-million dollar every year for his services to our alma mater. Although I definitely feel for the guy on a personal level, I don’t think that he has delivered an acceptable product in light of what he is paid. The cost/benefit analysis just doesn’t add up.
B.F.
Regarding Hundley
If the only problem our team had was at QB, I’d make the change now. However…we have problems across the board: poor tackling, dropped passes, lack of discipliine to name just three.
Not only is Hundley a freshman…he is a YOUNG freshman. I would not rush this kid into a situation like this. I’d redshirt him and then offer him every opportunity to win the job next spring.
Using him in “packages” this season just burns a year in what is shaping up to be a lost season. Would I trade using Hundley now for salvaging what promises to be a mediocre season at BEST? Sure…but that really wouldn’t be fair to his development.
by Nigel on Sep 20, 2011 7:53 AM PDT reply actions 2 recs
Continuing with what we have started versus trying a new direction
We know what we have with Prince and Brehaut. We have won 2 of our last ten games. In the last year, we’ve had one blow-out – our ten point win over SJSU.
I would like to see Hundley in the game (assuming he’s recovered from is injury). He’s fast. Give him 5 or 6 plays. Let the team cncentrate on 5 or 6 plays. No motion. No shifting. Just go to the line of scrimmage, and run the plays. And do it fast, before the defense gets to rest. Maybe concentrating on doing a few things well instead of having such a complicated system that we can’t figure out what to do on 3rd and 1.
At what expense?
If Hundley’s potential is all what we hope it is, we’d be burning an entire season to “see what we have”. I’d rather have him for four FULL years than parts of this one.
I’d be excited to see Hundley as well, but not if we are going to only put him in for a few plays a game. Brehaut doesn’t excite me, but at least he’s not a trainwreck like Prince. I’d give Brehaut the job the rest of the seaon with no looking back over his shoulder and then give Hundley a chance to win the job outright by next season.
Now if Hundley will actually PLAY every game…I’d be all for that. But I can’t see our wishy-washy coaching staff actually committing to any kind of package that would allow for that. I do see them “trying him” in desperation in situations he has no chance to succeed in (kind of like the Washington game last year with Bell and Tunney) and burning his red shirt.
by Nigel on Sep 20, 2011 8:49 AM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
exactly
they need to focus on RB. The Pistol doesn’t demand a running QB…just alter the playcalling/scheme a bit to fit RB’s skills. If RN is hell bent on option reads then focus on that with RB…even if he isn’t a world beater running QB, he’s got enough wheels to get 3-5 yards a pop when he makes the right read and keeps it.
The zone read
would probably work better after RB has gotten used to the defense. I wouldn’t even call if for the first quarter, until he gets a feel for what they do.
And, for the love of all that is pigskin, let our QBs call some audibles. Jeepers creepers, we have seen maybe two since the days of Drew Olson. RN needs to loosen up. It worked when he let John Barnes do it.
But hey, what do I know. I’m just the 800 lbs bruin in the room.
Or at least
have the coaches call them from the sidelines. Why is it teams like Oregon and Auburn are able to call audibles from the sideline before the snap but our coaches can’t even get the right number of players on the field?
The question of playing Hundley is...
Would his talent be compromised by his inexperience and if so for how long? Better players make systems work better. So even though the “Pistol” doesn’t require a fleet footed QB(Which certainly describes Brehaut!!!) to have a rabbit at QB puts additional pressure on a defense that was perfectly illustrated by that Nevada QB last year who WAS a dual threat.(They beat Boise State too!!!)
Unfortunately…the only way to see what Hundlley has…is to play him. I voted “not sure” in poll because i don’t know just how green he is.
NONE of our QB’s have any real substantial time invested with the pistol…it’s just too bad Hundley has next to none.
As Tasser10 and Chris 09 say..“It is what it is” and we are gonna have to deal with it.
by GogetemBruins on Sep 20, 2011 2:32 PM PDT up reply actions
Sorry forgot to put...
;-) next to last sentence.
by GogetemBruins on Sep 20, 2011 2:42 PM PDT up reply actions
There seems to be plenty of young frosh
who are making plays for other teams! We need a play maker at the position. Let him play.
"Success is never final, Failure is never fatal. It's Courage that counts" - John Wooden.
Hundley has to play
At some point this season Hundley will have to get playing time. There is a big difference between practice speed and game speed. Even though these are not the same you can make the association with college and work, You can read all the books you want, however there are some things you can only learn by doing, as I’m sure you know. Classes will give you the foundations, but experience will give you invaluable knowledge you won’t find in a textbook.
He is a top athlete that will adjust to the speed of the game, he will make lots of mistakes, however a winner is a winner.
Crissman?
Are we all agreed that Nick Crissman, an Elite 11 recruit, will never take a snap in a UCLA uniform, and that this is a good thing?
by RWCBruin on Sep 20, 2011 8:26 AM PDT via mobile reply actions
Crissman
severely injured his shoulder and just hasn’t been the same player since. It is not a good thing at all, for him or for the team, he had a lot of potential.
But hey, what do I know. I’m just the 800 lbs bruin in the room.
Crissman
Crissman should be given a chance. He was an exceptional QB at Edison High. I hear that he has healed from his injuries. Try him behind Brehaut and give Hundley a chance to learn the system.
by Forever a Bruin on Sep 20, 2011 10:16 AM PDT up reply actions
He has not healed well
I am sad to say it, but he just has not returned to form. He may have been an exceptional QB, but it appears he cannot throw like he used to.
But hey, what do I know. I’m just the 800 lbs bruin in the room.
Just my opinion....CRN lost the team when he refused to
go by practice play and just chose upper classmen over lower classmen. I suspect the lack of effort, organization, intensity can be traced to dissension over playing time(i.e., playing favorites)….Even when the players are in the same class, it is clear who CRN favors and there is no relationship or accountability to playing time….
RN
needs to pour everything he has…every ounce of coaching ability towards preparing Ricard Brehaut. I don’t care what the problem is between them…fix it. CRN has already mis-managed one QB in RB. He owe’s it to RB (IMO) to prepare him as much as he can. If he goes the Hundley route it will only lead to RB having to split more reps and coaching time with another guy who is even further away from being ready.
by King J77 on Sep 20, 2011 8:42 AM PDT reply actions 1 recs
Is it just me?
Or are those things he’s saying about Hundley sound awfully similar the same wishy-washy stuff he’s been saying about the Prince/Brehaut starting situation. I know that the situations are very different, but he’s rarely given a full vote of confidence to any of our QB’s.
Yup
This is why I’d like to save Hundley’s red shirt year…can’t you just see Rick putting Hundley in against Stanford already down 28-0, having him flail about for a few series, then pulling him and never seeing him play the rest of the season?
I can.
He's almost
as bad as jon Gruden with regards to QB’s….seems like he never likes the one he’s got.
I agree. It should be Brehuat's team to lead as long as he performs well,
with Prince at #2 and Hundley only if absolutely needed. That is if both Brehuat and Prince go out with injuries. Hundley shouldn’t be used just to save RN’s career.
I voted NO
I would like to see Hundley’s four years of eligibility utilized by a real coach and a real coordinator.
by ishXdavid on Sep 20, 2011 8:51 AM PDT reply actions 1 recs
If Texas can do it, we can do it.
Especially if we are staying with the Pistol/Revolver. BH is clearly the only QB we have who fits that running, option system perfectly. If given a chance, he could and most likely would be the starter because he maximizes the QB potential from that formation.
If we dump the Pistol, fine, go with Brehaut, Crissman, even some walk-ons. Then it might make sense to redshirt, maybe. WE JUST NEED TO PLAY THE MOST TALENTED KIDS FOR ONCE.
I am just so tired of wasting players’ talents and waiting for them to develop when they never even get to play. Duh.
Doubt we'll ever see Crissman on the field, except in garbage time, if
we ever put up a big score and wide margin of victory sometime this season. Does he have any kind of arm for passing? Also, anyone know if the junior Neuheisel is even close to being able to fill in if needed, or is he just scout team material for the moment?
We need to give him a chance
He was a good QB at Edison. Let’s see what he can do.
by Forever a Bruin on Sep 20, 2011 10:19 AM PDT up reply actions
Jerry Neuheisel
Jerry is also a good QB. Let’s give him a try, too! The younger players may show “heart” out there.
by Forever a Bruin on Sep 20, 2011 10:20 AM PDT up reply actions
Why am I getting flashes
of the Law Firm against Notre Dame?
But hey, what do I know. I’m just the 800 lbs bruin in the room.
Honestly
It’s not the pistol that is the problem. It’s the coaches obsession with the option read aspect of it. You can do so much out of the pistol formation but for some reason RN only cares about the option read.
Right now I don't trust The Rick to make a right turn with no traffic and a green light.
IIRC, The Rick threw Brehaut in for handful of plays his freshman year, burned his Red Shirt year and never used him again. I agree with Nigel, and ishXdavid; I don’t see any development going on with any of our guys. And QB is supposed to be The Rick’s specialty.
While I recognize that playing BH now would be for the best in the short term; I just want this year, and The Rick era to be over. Let a real coach develop BH. Hopefully Mike Leach.
The best thing you can do for your children is to love their mother. John Wooden
This thread touched on Kyle Anderson, too.
So can I ask what may be a difficult question? Is Kyle Anderson a one and done?
IF
If we win the national title in 2012, I wouldn’t mind him being a one-and-done. I can’t imagine any elite prospect, especially a unique talent like Kyle Anderson, to stay any longer than necessary, which therein lies the caveat. He did state that he came to UCLA to develop the defensive skills necessary to stick in the NBA. Kyle Anderson very well could play “point guard” in the NBA, but he’ll still have to defend 3s on the wing, which means LeBron, Carmelo, Durant, et al. When I think of NBA point-forwards, I think of Scottie Pippen and Lamar Odom (LeBron too, but he’s the most unique physical specimen in the world). Pippen was one of the greatest defenders in NBA history, and Lamar is as versatile on defense as he is on offense. It would be in Kyle Anderson’s best interest to ensure he’s exhausted CBH’s defensive development before jumping to the next level. Considering the tenor of the current NBA lockout, rookies stand to make less coming out the league, which makes that second contact all the more significant. If Kyle Anderson is ready to make that jump after one year with CBH’s blessing, then more power to him.
I think it depends
on how he looks as a FR. Scouting reports are that he lacks NBA lateral quickness and might be a tweener due to this. Not big enough for PF’s but not fast enough for SF’s. It will come down to whether he shows he has the physical tools and also on his defensive development.
Nestor, can you elaborate?
You have this line that I think is missing a few words to clarify meaning?
Well, I have heard from multiple folks I trust that the comment about Hundley having a tough time at practices
Is that supposed to end with, “is true”? What did they say? Thanks!
Rob Walker
The name alone sends shivers up my spine when I think of the debacle against ASU in ’93 in the next to last regular season game before we played (and beat) USC. That damn game still makes me sick when I think about it.
At this point, I just don’t think it would be worth installing Hundley and burning his red-shirt season. Let the kid grow and develop (both physically and mentally). When a new regime is in place next year, then he’ll have his chance.
Los Angeles Rams and the UCLA Bruins!!!!!
by Minnesota Bruinfan on Sep 20, 2011 10:58 AM PDT reply actions
If Hundley Plays
It will make him sit for a year if he should decide to transfer after this season. That might be enough motivation in and of itself .
As it stands, if Rick is let go at the end of the season, Hundley might reconsider if UCLA is the place that he wants to spend his next 4 seasons. I’m not saying he would definitely transfer, but at the very least he would have to consider all of his options.
Wouldn't he have to sit
if he transferred, regardless of receiving any playing time this year?
I don't think players
fresh off a redshirt year can transfer without having to sit out. I’m not 100%, but if this was the case, I’m sure we could all think up tons of examples of kids doing it, and I can’t think of one.
I don't think Willis was eligible to play this season
at UNC, had he stayed.
Do you think
this is what happened with RB?
I think the opposite is true
If Hundley redshirts this year he will not be able to use a redshirt for his sit-out year should he transfer. So, if he redshirts now, his choice will be: 4 years of eligibility remaining at UCLA, or sitting out a year plus only having 3 years left somewhere else.
If he plays this year, he will have 3 years left at UCLA or 3 years left (after sitting out) somewhere else. We reduce the allure of staying if we play him this year.
My cynical side says Rick won't play him this year ... for selfish reasons.
I’d like to think that RN is keeping him out because it is in the best interest of the team and the player. However, if playing Hundley now gives us the best chance to win this year, he should be in there. Even if that is the case, I don’t think RN plays him because it is too big of a risk to RN. By holding him out, RN keeps the allure of Hundley and the fantasy of a dramatic improvement next year. However, if he plays him this year and we continue to struggle, that allure is gone and RN has nothing to justify his return. (Personally, I don’t think at this point, barring a miraculous turnaround, he has provided any reason to be retained.)
The O
hasn’t really been the problem. We’ve Scored 34, 27 and 20 points. We’ve been able to move the ball on the ground with relative ease…The passing has had it’s moments and has shown promise under RB (0 Int’s, 1 sack).
Our main issues are on Defense. We can’t continue to let teams run all over us at will. We can’t make mental mistakes that allow a player to catch a TD pass with nobody within 10 yards…or a RB to break 7 tackes for a huge gain…or a QB to escape 4 tackes (sacks) and scramble for a first down.
+1
I totally agree. The offense isn’t the problem (minus Prince who should never see the field ever again). It is our defense that can’t tackle if their life depended on it and a defensive line that hasn’t produced (I’m look at you Datone).
Go Bruins
Ugh
I don’t like that trend…34, 27, 20…we only score 13 points against Oregon State? Mama mia…
But hey, what do I know. I’m just the 800 lbs bruin in the room.
True...
but we can’t blame the 20 against Texas on 3 quarters of Bre. By that time we were down 21-0 and the Texas D was able to bring an all out assault on the passing game.
Oh you and your facts
I was being facetious. :)
But hey, what do I know. I’m just the 800 lbs bruin in the room.
I do not want Hundley's red shirt to be burnt because
If somehow Brett Hundley takes UCLA to a 7-6 record, it will obviously because of Brett Hundley and not Rick Neuheisel. This means when Hundley leaves, we’re still stuck in the inept coach that is Neuheisel. It also means prolonging Neuheisel’s coaching career…
For some reason, I’m kinda scared Neu is actually going to degress Hundley’s skills. How is it that guys like Randall Carrol, Josh Smith, and Owa are not like “big names” already? It’s because Neu has this natural ability to waste good talent and turn it into smoosh. I’m praying he doesn’t get to turn a talent like Brett Hundley into another Kevin Craft.
Putting myself inside of Rick's head...
…I would have installed Brett Hundley as the new #1 QB from when he first stepped on campus. Reasons? Follow me here:
1. If Brett would have had a great 2011 season, the answer could be “see what we did with this great freshman talent? Let’s stay the course with young Brett and we will be back on top in two years…”
2. If Brett would have had a so-so 2011 season, the answer could be “well, we worked hard to develop the young man and grow the team around him. Let’s stay the course with young Brett and we will be back on top in three years…”
3. If Brett would have had a lousy 2011 season, the answer could be “well, young Brett is a freshman and he made some freshman mistakes and has some growing to do. Let’s stay the course with young Brett and we will be back on top in four years…”
In any of those cases, Rick could have tied his future to “young Brett” and created an opportunity coach UCLA beyond this season. At this point, Rick’s future is tied to a QB he’s not fond of, a defense that isn’t fond of tackling, and a fan base that isn’t fond of showing up at the Rose Bowl (of late).
Maybe it’s time for Rick to update his Linked In profile since he may need to do some enhanced networking in the spring.
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