Spaulding Roundup - Giving Stanford a Run For Their Money
by freesia39 on Sep 27, 2011 5:01 AM PDT
in Football
Email
PrintIn Rick Neuheisel's press conference this week (which, by the way, has horrible audio - it cuts out after the two minute mark) he mentioned the strategy we will need to employ in order to beat Stanford:
"We're going to have to score a lot of points."
Let's see. Stanford beat SJSU by 54 points. We beat SJSU by 10 points. I'm a North Campus major... but I think we might have a little problem scoring a lot of points. Will we consider throwing the ball?
"Would I like to throw more? Absolutely," Neuheisel said. But "everything in a game plan is based on situations."
Meaning "we'll just run the ball and hope we don't fumble." But I hope that Richard Brehaut gets a chance to showcase himself against Stanford.
Who else is hoping to give Stanford a run for their money?
That would be offensive coordinator Mike Johnson. When Jonathan Franklin went down with an injury on Saturday, Derrick Coleman stepped into his role and flourished. We also got to see Malcolm Jones pick up significant yardage, and Jordon James had two spectacular runs.
"I don’t worry about who is back there running," offensive coordinator Mike Johnson said. "You just call the runs and let those guys go. We’ve got a couple big backs and a couple of scat backs. We’ve got guys who can go in there and handle the load. If Johnathan is out, you definitely miss him, but I think the other guys are capable."
Jonathan Franklin felt that he could get back into the game, but he said all the right things about sitting and letting the other RBs get a chance to play.
"I was happy and excited to see Malcolm run the ball and Jordon being able to run the ball and Derrick showing what he can do," Franklin said. "We knew the run game wouldn't suffer just because one of us got hurt. The whole team has confidence is all of us. If it’s me, if it’s Derrick, if it’s Jordon James or Malcolm, we all believe in all of us."
As mentioned earlier, Rick Nehueisel would like to throw more this season. His quarterback for Stanford will be Richard Brehaut, but Neuheisel did not name Brehaut the starter for the remainder of the season.
"When you have good quarterbacks, or you feel like you have good quarterbacks, Richard's got the job, but I don't want to say the competition is over,' Neuheisel said. "Richard's in a great position to keep the job."
On the injury front, Damien Thigpen will probably redshirt this season due to a hamstring issue. Tony Dye, Andrew Abbott, and Kip Smith should return on Saturday. Jonathan Franklin, Sheldon Price, and Dalton Hilliard, who were injured in the OSU game, should also play on Saturday.
To end this on a lighter note, my favorite football player tweet of the day:
I Love Mondays! Cuz it's the day before Tuesday which is close to Wednesday which is before Thursday, then TGIF, all leading to GAMEDAY!
If a big man is excited, don't get in his way.
GO BRUINS.
45 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
"or you feel like you have good quarterbacks"
or I felt like we hired a good head coach
wanting to be able we certainly wished,
... but being allowed to try we didn`t dare
We were projected to be 4-0 heading to Stanford
but based on a solid defense anchored by an unstoppable Datone Jones. This offense is serviceable (remember how we could not even gain 2 yards per play just a couple of years ago?), paired with a solid defense, but the latter has proven to be a bust. An ugly defense translates into an ugly season.
Stanford is going to score a lot of points Saturday. Our only chance is to score a lot of points ourselves — but that is not going to happen because Stanford’s defense is not like Houston’s.
Neuheisel should just pull out all the stops in this game, both on defense and offense regardless of outcome. Use this game as a 3-hour scrimmage to prepare for the post-Stanford part of the season. He’s got to get 4 more wins somehow to save his skin.
It's a fair projection.
In my mind 3-1 was not to objectionable, since either Texas or Houston were toss ups. Either team capable of beating us; while at the same time being very beatable themselves. It just goes to show the incredible drop off between 4-0;3-1; and 2-2. Also shows the incredible drop off between coaching abilities
The best thing you can do for your children is to love their mother. John Wooden
Yeah
I had us at 3-1. Really, our only loss should have been Texas so far. I thought it would be OSU, since we never lose to Texas schools. Ah well.
But hey, what do I know. I’m just the 800 lbs bruin in the room.
We should have beaten Texas IMO
We should have beaten a Longhorn team starting freshmen QBs and TBs. If we started Brehaut, I think we would have won the game.
Houston loss I can actually understand. I think we should have beaten the Horns.
I meant
with the way things turned out, it would have been too hard to win the Texas game, i.e. overcoming a 21-pt deficit is just too hard for this team. The Houston game on the other hand, was there for our taking, even with all the things that went wrong. In the heat of each game, the Houston one was the winnable one.
Otherwise, yes, 4-0 was really not far-fetched and pretty reasonable. I didn’t think OSU would be this bad.
But hey, what do I know. I’m just the 800 lbs bruin in the room.
Oh I agree with you
I think if Brehaut would have started Bruins probably wouldn’t have found themselves in that 0-21 hole. Considering the circumstances Brehaut did well and almost gave us an opportunity to get back into the game.
If he had started, I think we could have seen a different half and results at the Rose Bowl. Houston IMO was always going to be a tough game for us. In my notes, I had that pegged as a loss to start the season. I had us at 3-1 heading into Stanford game. However, I didn’t think we’d look as horrible as we have defensively so far and disorganized as a “team” during most of the time in our first 4 games.
I totally agree
If RB started we would have never been playing from a 3 TD hole. He has had no int yet, so it’s a good bet he would not have had any then. Esp not 3. He wanted KP be there to run, but it was a costly mistake. If all the players play to their potential, it could be a game. I see a much closer game than people expect because i think they will take us lightly.
I agree
Even though our defense has been soft and/or nonexistent at times.
Brehaut has been way above average when allowed to play. The failure to play RB, and others, has to have a significant, negative effect, not only on the offense, but the defense, too. If he started every game we may very well have bee 4-0.
It is even more mind-boggling that PNTL still publicly says there remains an open QB competition. Pigheaded and boneheaded, at the least. RB should have the job unless he screws the pooch, and then the alternative should be anybody but KP who has already had two plus years to prove he is not the answer, thank you.
Come to think of it, if Paul Wulff were our coach, we would have been 4-0. Almost any other D1 coach with these players would have been. Sad.
I pray PNTL gets it right this weekend and proves me wrong, but past performance says no.
Freesia, another good analysis
We need to throw 20-30 times in this game, depending on how the game plays out. That’s almost exactly a 50-50 mix. But, if we are being effective at running the ball then keeping our defense off the field will be really important.
I’m looking for our defense to step up a bit this weekend. Agree that the playbook needs to be opened up more too, esp. on defense. We need a mix of blitzes, man2man, and only bits of zone.
I don't understand why we don't play up their faces more
For one, Hester (reportedly) thrives playing up at the LOS, and Price seems like he can hang with anyone in man on man. The only time Price gets beat is when he bounces balls off his chest to the other team (sorry for the snark). I’m ok with taking that risk. If you are certainly going to die the death of a thousand cuts by underneath pass after underneath pass, might as well take a risk and try to stop them.
Playing up closer to the receivers will give up more big plays, but it will also create more opportunities for pics, take longer for receivers to get open (resulting in more sacks), and get our defense off the field more quickly, whether the opposing offense scores or not. With our power running strategy, that means we get more time and opportunity to wear out the opposing defense (if that is indeed our plan).
No passes to Rosario please
The Stanford defense hits hard. Which means Nelson won’t try very hard to catch balls.
But hey, what do I know. I’m just the 800 lbs bruin in the room.
Our zone d is putrid
And has been carved up be everyone, even SJSU. Imagine what luck will do against our zone?
Hopefully, we only use it sparingly to throw them off.
by bornagainbruin on Sep 27, 2011 12:49 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions
Everything to GAIN and Nothing to Lose
Bruin footballers, throw caution to the wind and give it your all. Yes coaches this includes you. Be fierce in your game plan, attack attack attack ATTACK! Yes run and throw not in that order. Be unpredictable.
Defense, relentless pursuit to the ball once you know where it is, otherwise hold down your position and tackle the ball carrier. Whatever you do TACKLE THE BALL CARRIER. Force fumbles only on the way to the ground with the ball carrier surely in your grip.
You can shock the football world by thumping the Cardinal, whatever a Cardinal is.
Go Bruins! We of faith will win in the end.
'CaptainJack65'
Jack Metcalf
That's absolutely true
This is sort of like a Furd team who played Cheatie Petey’s team as a 94 point underdog at the Crapaseum and pulled off the upset. Why not us? Nestor, I think it’s time to pull out all the reverse Karma you’ve got.
Well, here's my plan for the game,
I’ll be in Mammoth this weekend with family, a regular thing this time of year, arriving in plenty of time to watch the game with my brother in law as we’ve usually done. Here’s the the thing, every time I’ve tuned in and watched the Bruins play that weekend, they’ve lost. The one time they didn’t, I think it was an OT win against the Ducks, I had to be out on a bike ride with family and couldn’t see the game.
This weekend I will not watch the game. I will not allow myself to be tempted by my brother in law to watch (a dyed in the wool football fanatic, a casual UCLA fan and lifetime ’SC hater). I will refrain from finding anything out about the game until Sunday morning.
Going to be happy if we don't get destroyed and actually compete for a win.
After last year, not expecting much.
It can be done
but not with runs up the middle…even if those are used to “set up” the pass and plays on the edge. Man that is so Donahue.
But hey, what do I know. I’m just the 800 lbs bruin in the room.
Runs up the middle aren't bad.
They’re just bad when the defense brings an extra safety or two into the box, which teams will continue to do against us until we beat them over the top.
I know Rosario and Embree are supposedly good downfield blockers, but Embree doesn’t scare any one over the top. The simple act of subbing him out for Carroll or Smith may keep one safety deep, and a deep completion on a running down will probably keep the defense honest.
Our running game works. We just need to balance our play calling and use our threats.
Formerly AllHailMightyBruins
Also...
Not targeting Fauria over the middle is a huge mistake. We have such a dynamic offense when it’s used properly. It drives me crazy to hear tweets from Brehaut that no play was called with Fauria on the read progression. We had a 6’8 decoy in Corvallis.
Formerly AllHailMightyBruins
Yeah, need to be dynamic and attack when we can.
I don’t mind runs, IF the box isn’t stacked. I don’t mind passing once they start stacking and giving us 1v1 coverage. Love to see the OL perform well against Stanford’s D, should be a good test.
Now on the defensive side, low expectations, time to be pleasantly surprised? Taking after Fox 71 0-4 predictions on the season, expecting them to score 30+ on us again.
Defense against Stanford is tough, but doable.
We actually started well last year before the wheels came off. First, our DB’s have to beat their WR’s one on one. We have to defend the whole field and blitz occasionally, which means our DB’s will be on some islands. Our athletes are better at those spots, so it can be done. Second, we have to rush with contain. We got beat up by Luck’s back breaking scrambles this year, and we need to maintain better lane integrity. Third, we have to pick our blitzes better. We didn’t blitz at all last year, and this year’s blitz schemes have been vanilla, at best. Hopefully Tresey can dial something up to get some heat on Luck. Finally, we have to tackle. Luck is going to find open targets, and we just have to make the tackles.
Formerly AllHailMightyBruins
Well of course
runs up the middle are ok. But not 3 times in a row!
As for Luck, where he excels is escaping pressing and going through his reads. We suck at chasing down QBs (let alone mobile ones) and at playing man-to-man. So basically we are screwed. Also, Luck loves to throw to his tight ends. Our linebackers, I don’t really know what they do during a game.
The only way we’ll win is if we cause fumbles, somehow disguise coverage to pick Luck, and have long drives on offense. We only do one of those 3 things well…
But hey, what do I know. I’m just the 800 lbs bruin in the room.
Please no runs up the middle
During Coach Donahue’s tenure, we were behind 28-24 with only seconds remaining and no time outs. Coach Terry decides to run a play to our best player, Theotis “Big Foot” Brown. The basic premise was obviously sound. The implementation sucked. Coach Terry sent Big Foot up the middle for 9 yards, and we never got another play off.
After the game, the theory was revealed. Coach Donahue thought Big Foot would get ten yards, and we would get the clock stopped to move the yard markers. That would mean instead of ten seconds to go 50 yards, we would only have 2 seconds to go 40 yards. That was one of the times I was a bit disappointed with Coach Terry.
But the moral of the story is DON’T RUN THE BALL UP THE FREAKIN’ MIDDLE. Thank you, and I’ll take the answer off the air.
I'd like to see us throw to our backs once in a while
Every team leaves a 10-yard cushion over the middle like we do, right?
Through four games our RBs/F-backs have 8 catches. Stanford’s RBs through three games have 19.
As others have mentioned, we’ve igorned our tight ends since Houston. Fauria (the only TE with a catch) has 9 receptions; Stanford’s TEs have 18.
Obviously the schemes and skill at the QB position are vastly different but our lack of creativity and balance gives opposing defenses fewer things to worry about when facing us, like a running back going out for a short pass in space.
Me winning the lottery tonight or...
the BRUINS pulling out a victory in Palo Alto?
Beating them would not be luck
Over the last 3-4 years UCLA’s recruiting has been better, or on average slightly better than Stanford’s.
Obviously the coaching has been worlds apart, but even beating this Stanford team should not be treated as some miraculous, David vs. Goliath type of victory.
But hey, what do I know. I’m just the 800 lbs bruin in the room.
"Would not be LUCK"
It’s funny you should phrase it that way. I see what you mean about recruiting classes being relatively close in ratings…however not in the QB department. Unfortunately it’s one area of disparity that matters greatly. All the difference in the world some might say not considering coaching.
ADD in the coaching and world of difference offensive lines and our current edition of defense which just hasn’t found a 3rd a long they won’t stop and we have what is called34-0 last year(At home!) to who knows what this year.
Still… these young men aren’t going up there to lose. I am sure it’s not in there DNA. Stranger things have happened for sure.
As a Paul Rodgers fan…I hope things will turn out to be “All Right Now”this Saturday night.
GO BRUINS!!!
by GogetemBruins on Sep 27, 2011 2:54 PM PDT up reply actions
We'll be ok if we force him into 3rd and long
and we close the passing lanes. I mean, it isn’t like he’s likely to scramble for first downs…
The preceeding is an EXCELLENT
example of sarcasm.
Nicely done capitain!!!
by GogetemBruins on Sep 27, 2011 5:02 PM PDT up reply actions
Either way...
I’ll be there rooting my tail feathers off for em.
Television
I am new to this blog but have been following the commentary for at least two years. Great posts and thanks to all of you I am still somewhat a sane Bruin. I will be in Mexico for the Stanford game and could use advise on how to access the game on the internet. The hotel room has an ethernet connection and I will be taking my laptop.
Stay tuned
Someone usually puts up a link to a live feed on the internet, right before the game, usually in the game thread.
But hey, what do I know. I’m just the 800 lbs bruin in the room.
the bigs and screen pass
Coleman paid dividends, Fauria can too. Also, ASU killed the trogans with simple screen passes. That is definitely something we can try. It’s not that complicated.
by Strathmore&Gayley on Sep 27, 2011 1:12 PM PDT via iPhone app reply actions
Couldn't agree more!!!
You and Minspa are absolutely dead on IMO. I just wonder if we don’t throw more to our backs because every time we do it becomes a lob pass up for grabs or it’s just not in the game plan. I don’t know if it’s because both KP & RB are about 6’2" but the few times they thrown screen passes or even dump off’s over the middle it looks like they have to lob it and it stays in the air way too long to be effective.
We also need to incorporate the TE more. With so many weapons at our disposal we should be unstoppable on offense. This could also be a product of sharing snaps in practice through fall camp. With any luck RB will be able work on the aspects of the game we haven’t utilized thus far during practice and employ them during the coming games. We have to be able to utilize the entire package to pull guys out of the box and give us the opportunity to have an even better run game. Cat and mouse, every other team is doing it to us, we should be able to do the same with our weapons. I really hope it’s just a matter of reps in practice and we’ll see a more diverse offense moving forward.
Beating the Spread
It seems to me that the Bruins have a good track record of beating the spread rather the favorite or the underdog. I don’t have research but I have had success with the few bets I made on the Bruins. Stanford is favored by 21 and it would seem like a good bet to take the Bruins. We have made sufficient progress to stay with the Cardinal but with our special teams issues I would stay away from this bet. Its costing us points not to have a special teams coach. In a game like Stanford it could be as many as eleven points or more.
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Related FanPosts on Bruins Nation
Related FanShots on Bruins Nation
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
