Football Roundup

by Nestor on Aug 7, 2007 4:39 AM PDT in Football Comment 23 comments

You can say we are officially into the football season now that we are going to have football related stories coming from beat reporters every day. So let’s right get to our first roundup.

More pre season happy talk from Christian Taylor:

Taylor said he noticed a difference throughout this offseason, when more guys put in extra work than his three previous offseasons. And they did so, he said, without prodding from the coaching staff or teammates.

"I'm talking about pretty much the whole team doing that type of stuff," Taylor said. "It changes the whole mentality. It changes the whole spirit of the team. I think coach is right. Guys are excited for camp. Guys are excited to get in here and do double-days, which is kind of a contradiction. How can that be? But it really is."

Well that’s nice. Let’s hope the results of all the excitement and hard work pays off on the field. We have gone through the same routine last four years only to be let down every season.

Speaking of being let down from pre-season expectations, you’ve got to listen to the radio interview of LA Times beat reporter Chris Foster done by Wizard of Odds. It’s pretty interesting. Chris basically says that UCLA has all the makings of an 10-11 win team and that he should go to at least the Holiday Bowl if not the Rose Bowl. Chris hits all the right notes (including mentioning how Scott saga is not going away), however kind of blows it saying that Dorrell may be able to survive an 8 win season. He also slipped up a little trudging out the old lines of assistant coaches having to deal with high living costs in Southern California, failing to note that UCLA coaches now make more money than ever and are competitive with rest of their colleagues in the Pac-10. But he acknowledges that Dorrell is under pressure to produce this season. So far Foster doesn’t seem all that bad. He seems a little better informed than a Trojan wanker like Lonnie White. Foster reiterated that this is Dorrell’s "watershed year," and uttered the BN refrain "if not now, then when?" (listen in around 25 min mark of the interview)

Foster zeroed in on the WRs in his LAT UCLA report today:

All the pressing questions about UCLA's football team are about the offense. Mostly, whether the Bruins would do things differently from last season, when they appeared to use a run-and-shoot-run-again offense.

That seems to be changing, judging from spring practice and the first day of training camp Monday.

UCLA fans had to rub their eyes and hope it wasn't a mirage: Bruins receivers went up field and got the ball.

"We're going to work the field," first-year offensive coordinator Jay Norvell said.

Dominique Johnson beat a point-A-to-point-B path past a defender, looking back in time to snag a deep pass. Terrence Austin found a seam on the sideline, then played Twister to keep his feet in bounds on another big gain. Marcus Everett flung himself forward with such velocity he left one of his cleats behind while he cradled the ball.

"You're going to see us be more aggressive this year," Everett said.

Again guys all this is great guys. But show us that aggressiveness on Saturdays. Meanwhile the receivers apparently are not missing Scott all that much. From the OC Register:

[T]he Bruins are down a receivers coach, with Eric Scott on a paid administrative leave following an arrest on a residential burglary charge two weeks ago.

The impact, the players involved said, will be negligible.

Dorrell worked the receivers during the first practice, and the group has a lot of experience in seniors Brandon Breazell, Marcus Everett and Joe Cowan.

The younger receivers, including converted quarterback Osaar Rasshan, are not concerned about missing anything on the field or in the classroom.

Why would they be concerned about missing anything from the absence of a former high school assistant coach?

It’s not like they have been coached up last few seasons.

GO BRUINS.

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If the team hasn't missed a beat

by not having Scott around, doesn't that mean that Scott was/is just baggage?

Ooops, I forgot -- he's a good recruiter. Which only reinforces the speculation that Scott was hired mainly, if not solely, to get access to the inner city high school athlete because KD himself could not establish that connection. Which means that if it were not for Scott, no inner city athletes would even consider playing for KD.

by bluegold on Aug 7, 2007 6:53 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

bingo

which means that since Dorrell needs that recruiting class to help him keep his job Scott's arrest and conviction record will be overlooked to give him another "second chance." He will be on the sidelines this year.

editor, DumpDorrell.com ... formerly posted as DumpDorrell

by BruinCore on Aug 7, 2007 7:02 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Happy Talk

I am all for players being optimistic about the upcoming season. It is certainly better than the "you can't win every game" line of thinking.

But what troubles me is that we hear the same happy talk from the players and the coaches every year. And we all know the results.

The nightmare scenario is still KD winning 8-9 games, going to another crappy bowl, and then staying on for another year. I know that would not satisfy the great majority of the Nation, but we don't run the show. If we did, heads would have rolled a long time ago.

Come on, Karl. The happy talk by everyone is nice, but let's see some results. Let's see a couple of blowouts. Let's beat Notre Dame in our house. Let's blow everyone's expectations out of the water and beat SuC in THEIR house. Let's go to a real bowl game and beat someone good.

Do I ask for the world here? Yes, I do. And, so what?

by Barnes2JJ on Aug 7, 2007 8:02 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I still say

the nightmare scenario is Dorrell winning anything more than 7 games. If he wins 11 games, it is a great season. I wish I could be proud of that. But in reality, it means Dorrell gets to stick around for another 5-7 likely-to-be very average seasons. Short term glory, long term pain. Our only hope is to promote him to the NFL.

by Koach Karl I on Aug 7, 2007 9:20 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Polyanna Speaks Again

I am moved by the optimistic spitit of Training Camp to look at the cup as half full. If we have a very successful season 11 or 12 wins, beat $C and go to a BCS Bowl Game, Dorrell should look good to the pros. That would be a win-win for Bruin fans. With this team and schedule, a mediocre season (8 to 10 wins) makes Dorrell less attractive to the pros and difficult for DG to send him packing because that record will still most likely result in a top 25 rating. Of course, anything less, and Dorrell puts the nail in his own coffin.

As a long time fan, I put my energy into cheering for the first scenario. Also, I think if Dorrell goes out a winner, it will be easier to find a top coach willing to step in rather than a wanna be willing to take on a mediocre program.

by Bruin77 on Aug 7, 2007 12:59 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

A quality coach

would welcome the challenge of turning around a faltering program. I don't think finding a coach to replace KD would be a problem. It's not exactly like KD is leaving big shoes to fill. The kind of shoes KD leaves behind, they hang them on rear-view mirrors.

by bluegold on Aug 7, 2007 2:34 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

call it (and me) what you want

but that won't stop it from happening.

by Koach Karl I on Aug 7, 2007 4:23 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Coaching Blunders

According to the Daily News

http://www.dailynews.com/ucla/ci_6560766

one of the receivers might have lost a year of eligibility, due to having been inserted into a few 4th quarter plays against Utah last year.
If he wasn't supposed to play, why in the world was he suited up? Where was the CEO when this was happening?

Bob O. (Signholder #3)

by TuneMan7 on Aug 7, 2007 8:03 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

As the saying goes

Sh*t happens. And yes, the CEO is supposes to make sure sh*t doesn't happen. But then this CEO's slogan is to "make a move," so sh*t is bound to happen.

by bluegold on Aug 7, 2007 8:23 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

That's maddening

Several thoughts come to mind:

(1) Dorrell wasted no time putting it on ex-WR coach McCarthy. Way to throw staff under the bus and NOT to take responsibility for what your assistant coaches do in a game. If KD had done his job, McCarthy would have known not to use Johnson during that game.

(2) Putting in a player for 3 plays and burning his redshirt reflects poorly on the staff and the program.

(3) If I were Dominique Johnson, I'd be pissed off that they burned my redshirt, and I just lost a year of playing college football.

(4) Further evidence of the head coach's incompetence. Add it to Dump Dorrell's site.

(5) So they burned his redshirt in game one and then sat him for 12 consecutive games, despite knowing the rules. He could have played and maybe even helped the team last year.

Maddening. Pathetic. Hopelessly inept. That's your UCLA Bruins under "Coach" Karl Dorrell.

Thanks, bluegold, for finding and posting that information.

by BruinsRule on Aug 7, 2007 9:01 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Make that "thanks Bob O."

by BruinsRule on Aug 7, 2007 9:01 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Not to mention the fact

That we were way ahead in the 4th quarter of that game, so he may lose a year of eligibility for playing in garbage time.

Though I thought you could play one game, and if you were injured after that, it was pretty much a given you would get that year of eligibility back.

This Dohn article is deserving of it's own front page status.

by Free the 16 on Aug 7, 2007 9:17 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

"Make a move"

Hold on!!! That was my line.... :)

BillSouthBay

by Mensgym on Aug 7, 2007 10:29 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Noth Wrong With A Little Happy Talk

For the next four weeks, there is nothing wrong with a little happy talk. This is the one time of year that everyone can get excited, even Stanford fans. Training camp is a time of optimism that the problems of the past have been resolved and the fans of every team can dream about the possibility of going 12-0.

The off season is the time to perform the post mortem on the previous year and discuss the expectations for the coming year. The denizens of BN have done an admirable job. Training camp is the time to believe (no matter how misguided) that all is well. All the problems have been corrected and a successful season is just about to begin.

Once the season kick-offs, then the critical analysis should return. We will have at least 12 (hopefully 13) games to jump on or off the band wagon, but for now, revel in the clichés and the euphoria of what might be. Life is too short to always focus on the negative. We have the other 11 months of the year for that.

Polyanna

by Bruin77 on Aug 7, 2007 8:57 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Fair enough

You make some good points.

I guess I just feel like following UCLA football is kind of like "Groundhog Day."

by Barnes2JJ on Aug 7, 2007 9:05 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ground Hog Day...

I agree with Bruin77. I want to be excited about this coiming season, and I am getting there. And remember, Ground Hog Day does have a pretty damn happy ending.

"I've got nothing against God; it's his fan club I can't stand."

by txbruin on Aug 7, 2007 9:20 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I am very excited

about the upcoming season, trust me.

But how many times did Bill Murray have to re-live the same day until he got it right? Many, many, many times.

Anyway, I won't throw any more cold water out there. Personally, I would rather talk about Groundhog Day than Dorrell.

by Barnes2JJ on Aug 7, 2007 11:15 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

My favorite line

Bill is talking to the two somewhat inebriated guys in the bowling alley, and as they hit the car, one guy says, "Who else can go for some flapjacks." For some reason, that line got me.

by Fox 71 on Aug 7, 2007 2:36 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

my favorite line comes minutes later

when they go on the chase through town, crash and the cops have them, Bill Murray orders a series of fast food items and his companion says, "and some flapjacks!" Followed by Bill's line "Too early for flapjacks?" Not a great line by itself either, but it always makes me laugh when I hear it.

by isodore on Aug 7, 2007 6:09 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Many good lines

The thing about Groundhog Day is that there are many good lines--delivered very low-key.

I always laugh when Bill steps up to the bar and says to Chris Elliott, who is wearing a sweater, "Wow, Larry, looking FOXY tonight! Is your troupe selling cookies?"

Or when Bill tells Andie MacDowell: "I think I'll turn in early and read....Hustler."

The movie actually is deeper than most people think, IMHO. But that's a whole other story.

by Barnes2JJ on Aug 8, 2007 5:26 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

The strangest thing

about the movie is that...a lot of us have watched it several times...relived it over and over again. Weeeiiird!

by tasser10 on Aug 8, 2007 6:50 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

You're right

I never looked at it that way. It is a little spooky.

by Fox 71 on Aug 8, 2007 9:57 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I am very curious what the players think...

regarding KD as the receivers coach right now. There is no irony in that statement; I really want to know. I also want to know the real answer and not the "I have to say good things because it's bad to talk crap about your own coach" answers. Also if anyone has seen how the receivers are practicing, I'd like to know your opinions on how they look. Are they running their routes in Dorrellian fashion?

I'm just curious if this might be the light bulb over the head moment where KD gets how to run a program, by being a bit more hands on in his approach, because the CEO thing isn't getting it done.

by isodore on Aug 7, 2007 9:44 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs