Sleepwalking ...

by Nestor on Sep 10, 2006 9:28 AM PDT in Football Comment 14 comments

I realize many of you want to find some positive from last night's embarrassment at the Rose Bowl. Well there isn't much. It is easy and convenient to point to Troy State and Air Force. But that is really a loser/excuse mentality we saw from the Lavinistas during those dark seven years of UCLA basketball, when those clowns would try to rationalize every disgraceful performance by saying something like: hey looks Coach Ks of the world lose a Sweet-16 game here and there too. We will have none of that. Pointing to others underachieving/pathetic performances to somehow justify ours with a "shit happens" mentality - we will have none of that.

Our defense looked great yesterday. That was not because we were playing balls out. It was because we were playing against one of the worst team in the D-1 playing with its backup QBs.

Our running game got cranking. That was because Rice doesn't have much of a running defense and was playing in a 3-3-5 set which was focused on stopping the pass.

The truly appalling part of last night's performance was how pathetic the coaches and players look after all the hot air coming out of Westwood about their new "attitude" and "focus" this season. Dohn is blunt in exposing Dorrell (emphasis mine throughout):

UCLA coach Karl Dorrell and several players spoke during the week about the growth of the program, namely the ability and understanding by everyone to no longer overlook inferior opponents.

All of which means one of two things:

Either the Bruins aren't close to being as good as they believe they are, or Dorrell and his players still don't have a read on how to beatup on a lesser team after again lapsing into overlook mode.

Against four-touchdown underdog and vastly inferior Rice, it wasn't until the final moments that UCLA could relax, as it sleepwalked through a 26-16 victory Saturday in front of 46,023 at the Rose Bowl.

"We took them kind of lightly, so I guess this is what it came out to," UCLA receiver Brandon Breazell said. "The offense, we didn't have the drive we needed to have. When we didn't score (a touchdown on) the first drive, we knew it was going to be hard."

Same old sh!t. Isn't it? Breazell's comments reminds of statements of Toledo and Lavin players after their usual underachieving performances. The same old nonsense of taking other team "kind of lightly." After four years of Dorrell this team is still playing ugly, unfocused football at the Rose Bowl, getting caught flat footed against another undermanned, underwhelming football program.

More from Kuwada in the OC Register on Dorrell's hot air:

UCLA was supposed to be past taking lesser opponents lightly. They were supposed to have a respect for the game, playing hard and fast and with much verve. That is what Karl Dorrell said during the week, when asked about whether his team would be prepared for Rice, which had not won a road game since the 2003 season.

"This team's a lot more mature. They definitely have a better appreciation about this game, they respect the game," Dorrell said Wednesday. "Once upon a time, the program didn't feel that way. I think they felt that the game owed them, instead of them understanding the respect about the game"

That again is open to debate.

And you wonder why we have been reluctant to drink the Karl's Kool Aid.

In terms of the game I don't think there is any positive to take from it. Yeah the running game got warmed. But given the defensive set (3-3-5) Rice was showing, Markey should have rushed for 300yards and UCLA should have had 500 yards on the ground. The offensive line wasn't really all that great. From Kuwada's article:

The offensive line struggled with pass protection much of the game and was called for some costly penalties, even though it was playing against a much smaller front than they had seen one week ago against Utah. Olson, in his second start, lost two fumbles and threw an interception.

"It's all on us," strongside guard Shannon Tevaga said. "We should have blown them out. I don't think we looked past them, but we just made too many mistakes. You can't even be happy with the win. There were that many mistakes. It shows we cannot play well and still pull out a win, but they're not that good of a team."

The Bruins could not shake the Owls until late in the third quarter, when Chris Markey started breaking off some sizable gains on the ground with a degree of consistency. The junior back finished with a career-high 208 rushing yards, and the Bruins put the game away with 8:19 remaining when Olson hit Brandon Breazell in the left corner of the end zone.

So considering Markey was having a career day, you'd think the coaches would be riding him like a work horse and let him dominate the Owls. Right? Well guess what happens. Here is Dohn again:

There was also the decision not to play Chris Markey for much of the third quarter, even though he had 116 yards on 13 carries at the half. He didn't play for the first 13minutes of the quarter, then gained 36 yards on his first carry in the third.

He finished with a career-high 208 yards on 23 carries. Kahlil Bell added 102 yards on 19carries, but success in the running game didn't mean points.

On five trips inside the Owls' 20-yard line, UCLA managed two touchdowns.

"It felt like we were beating them by a lot," UCLA offensive lineman Shannon Tevaga said. "It felt like that. We were running the ball like crazy, but we only had 13 points on the board at the half. I'm confused. I feel good about the running game, but I don't feel good about the win."

This is really on Dorrell and his coaching staff. They got out schemed, out maneuvered, and simply out coached by D-1AA caliber coaching staff. Simply a pathetic and disgraceful performance which brought up the echoes of Wyoming and Fresno State. Tevaga was not the only one feeling bad about last night's "win" (OC Register):

Olson hit 7 of 11 passes in the first half for only 45 yards, and the running game again was spotty. Markey rattled off some nice runs, gaining 43 yards, 20 yards and 14 yards. But the Bruins also were held to two yards or fewer on five plays in the first quarter, seven in the half.

The sophomore quarterback ended up 13 of 19 for 124 yards and could get the Bruins into the end zone only twice against the Owls.

"I've never been this unhappy after a victory before," he said.

Olson played like a first year starting QB last night. But really the blame here should be placed on the shoulder of Dorrell, Svoboda, and the entire offensive coaching staff. WTF were they doing having Ben throw the ball when the Rice defense was pretty much begging UCLA O to run and to jam the ball down their throats? It is really Svoboda's D-1AA caliber play calling which was putting Olson and the UCLA offense in precarious 3rd and long situations.

Last night also showed how UCLA doesn't have a game breaker in offense. While the OL was opening up some holes, it's too bad neither Markey nor Bell were able to break one of their big runs all the way and take it to the house. That's a problem you won't see from the SC or Cal running games because they have better talent on the rosters than we do now. Again so much for that closing the talent gap in recruiting.

If you want to read more on last night's game here is Lonnie White's LA Times game report.

We have some serious issues right now. We almost got exposed last night. And if we don't figure it all out, we could get exposed against a mediocre Huskies team in Seattle in two weekends.

It's too bad. Pac-10 is right now in a definite downturn with a collection of some awful, pathetic teams in its lower tier. There should be absolutely no excuse for this UCLA football team not to win 9 games (and beat SC at home) this season given the horrific, embarrassing performances we have seen put up by shitty Pac-10 teams from coast to coast over last two weekends.

Yet after last night's sleep walking at the Rose Bowl, Dorrell and his crew gave us more reasons to have doubt about their abilities to get the job done this season. We could be in store for yet another underachieving, uninspiring, boring, unfulfilling typical UCLA football season of last decade.

How Dorrellian.

GO BRUINS.

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I have a question

Those wide open runs where Bell and Markey were caught from behind should have been touchdowns. Now let's say that even with the limited amount of running we did against a 3-3-5 defense, those touchdowns existed. That is a blow out right there. Would we be complaining about the coaches at this minute ?
You have every right to question the offensive game plan and execution; however, compared to what we saw last year, the defense is improving. I don't think we can say that it is only against Rice because the same Rice did more than this, last year. Teams like Wyoming destroyed our defense. Come on, this is the same defense that made pathetic running backs look like Bo Jackson.

by justwatching on Sep 10, 2006 10:55 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Defense

I agree we are seeing some signs of improvement. But I will reserve my judgement after we play some well balanced offensive teams. Rice certainly wasn't one of them. And I have concerns whether Utah is a complete offensive team as well.

by Nestor on Sep 10, 2006 3:43 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

My big concern for the future

is that as shown tonight, Karl will not adjust his offensive game plan on the fly. I don't know if he was trying to work in certain specific plays against Rice, but I sure as hell hope so, because to not be able to adapt to game conditions is going to KILL us this season. Last game, Utah was giving us the pass, we did enough passing to take advantage of it and exploit them. Rice was giving us the run...all game long, even after it was clear that even their linebackers weren't sufficient to stop Markey, and going away from that plan was just foolish. In the future, I hope to see a much less stubborn offensive playcalling scheme.

by scittles on Sep 10, 2006 11:21 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

stubborn play calling

I'm not sure I would call it stubborn, since we did have 19 throws vs 52 carries. Sure, it probably would have helped to run the ball more, but I think the coaches wanted to see if Ben could respond to pressure, and rebound from mistakes. He didnt respond very well; he was getting pissed on the field, and his play was probably affected by that. I'm not sure if the broadcast showed his body language after a bad play but you could see it crystal clear in the Rose Bowl. I dont think he should be passive after a bad play, but I think it might have gotten to him more than it should have.

by ranelar on Sep 10, 2006 8:24 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

There was no offensive game plan

I know that for a fact. The coaches did not know how to game plan for the 3-3-5 and just took a "we'll adjust on the fly" attitude. To bad they really never made those adjustments.

Rice did do some very unorthodox stuff out there last night to confuse the QB, line, receivers and and the coaching staff.

Yes, we were outcoached last night.

by Xcel on Sep 10, 2006 12:52 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Starting Over

New QB
New Starting RB
New O-Line
6 New Coaches

Yo Nestor,

You expect a perfect game every game?
You expect the O-Line to gel instantly?

3)You expect a New QB who hasn't seen a lot of Defenses to not be confused?

I want to win every single game by 20 points and 10 sacks for the defense too.

But I am a realist, You wrote it yourself "Air Force,Troy St.etc.."

I want the team to win BIG!!!

We had to expect this to happen to a inexperinced team at some point of the season.

Rather against RICE than Washington. This reminds me of the Washington game after UCLA beat OU last year! Coaches will ride them after that performance, no let down to Washington!

Go Bruins!!!

by uclabruins05 on Sep 10, 2006 2:01 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Expect

You wrote:

You expect a perfect game every game?

Uh no. I do expect this team to "fire out" every single game.

If this reminds you of the Washington game from last year, that's the precise reason to be concerned. Because that regular season ended with 19-66.

by Nestor on Sep 10, 2006 3:42 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

You forgot

Last year UCLA had no Defense.

The Washington game taught that team how to win tough games.

66-19 wont happen of the Offense is as good as last years.

Go Bruins!!

by uclabruins05 on Sep 10, 2006 6:57 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

and your forgot

how the Washington game was a sign of things to come, which was having to pull out desperation wins over less than average football teams.

66-19 may not happen again. But the 8 game winning streak will be matched if we repeat the nonsene of Saturday.

by Nestor on Sep 11, 2006 4:53 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Not all bad...

Nestor,

I generally agree with your philosophy on our team. You're right on when you say that Bruin fans should expect more out of the program, and not be content with being a "basketball school" that has a good football team.

That being said, I think you're overreacting on our performance last night. We dominated on the run, our defense played great, and this Rice team is a different one than we (and every other team) has beaten up on over the last few years.

While sometimes I get mystified at Karl Dorrell's moves, you ride him like no other. Face it, these are 19 and 20 year old kids. No matter what they say to the press, they're going to look past certain opponents and not past others. While you can pin some of that on the coaches, the fact is sometimes teams play flat. Penn State and Florida State played way worse than their talent level. That doesn't mean all of a sudden Paterno and Bowden are the worst coaches of all time (although Bowden is shady for millions of other reasons)

In a way, I'm a little happy they had to struggle because it's going to be a learning experience. Better to struggle against a less-talented team than have these similar let downs in conference play.

Go Bruins.

by uclaike on Sep 10, 2006 6:27 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Missing MJD

Markey did a great job last night and is a solid RB, but the O needs some breakaway speed. He was caught from behind one too many times.

by chaphill1 on Sep 10, 2006 6:50 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

IT'S THE TEAM, STUPID!!!

The team is what matters. How do you show your love for the team and the school? Do you stand by it through good and through bad? Or do you spew bile and nastiness when the win is not as you wish it? A win is not a good enough win? "Off with their heads," these fans cry! I read the posts this morning, and it was very disheartening.

My goodness. In my opinion, a big problem with UCLA is the nature of some of its vocal fan base. These so called fans have a hair-trigger for the negative. It is not the team that is important to these fans. And it should be. The team is what matters. Greatness comes from team building and through love for a school and love for a team, through good and through bad. Team building is what matters. CRITICISM IS FINE, BUT THE DESTRUCTIVE, knee jerk, nastiness does nothing but undermine the morale of the program.

It is the team! Support it. Or if you just cannot, go undermine another team and leave the Bruins to others.... With fans who name call and trash, the Bruins do not need enemies....

GO BRUINS!!! Through good wins, bad wins and even through no wins at all.....

by converso on Sep 10, 2006 10:17 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

You are either with us ...

or against us.

Got it.

by Nestor on Sep 11, 2006 9:14 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I didn't get why we didn't run any screen plays.

Early on I told my son who was watching with me that given Rice's defensive strategy, a couple of screen plays could have been very effective both in terms of yardage gains and as a means of making them back off the more aggressive schemes they were using. Did anyone else notice the lack of screens? Ironically, one of the Fox commentators made mention of it at the end of the game.

It does not bode well that we don't seem to be able to adjust to what a lesser team throws at us. Ben's frustation surely had a lot to do with the fact that Rice was supremely prepared for us. This was evidenced by the fact that they took away the passing game that we had shown the week prior. We didn't adjust. That left Ben trying to make plays work that they were all over. I think the OC let him down.

by HoosierBruin on Sep 11, 2006 7:53 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs