RN Working It Already: Mallett to UCLA?

by Nestor on Dec 30, 2007 8:00 PM PST

Dohn back to regular work:

Rick Neuheisel is less than 48 hours on the job as UCLA's coach, but sources said one possible addition to the coaching staff is Michigan quarterbacks coach Scott Loeffler, who will be out of a job after the Wolverines play in the Capital One Bowl against Florida on Tuesday.
Loeffler graduated from Michigan, and has been on staff at U-M since 2002.
If Loeffler lands in Westwood, a situation worth watching is whether Michigan quarterback Ryan Mallett will follow. Sources said Mallett, a freshman, is looking at the possibility of transferring because he will not fit into new coach Rich Rodriguez's spread offense, and UCLA is a possible destination. Mallett to UCLA? That could be interesting. Although that's one area we are doing good. We have C-Force in the program. Next year we are getting Nick Crissman.

Although if Mallett transfers, I think he will have a good shot going up against C-Force.

This is definitely interesting.

GO BRUINS.

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of BruinsNation's (BN) editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan though, which is as important as the views of BN's editors.

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Not familiar with Mallett

"Sources said Mallett, a freshman, is looking at the possibility of transferring because he will not fit into new coach Rich Rodriguez's spread offense, and UCLA is a possible destination."

Is Mallett not a fit because he is a conventional, drop-back QB? Because he is not quick?

by Bruinut on Dec 30, 2007 8:13 PM PST reply actions

Mallett definitely has some mobility

The kid has wheels (as good as Cowan). And he has a gun. IIRC he was the top QB coming out of high school. I am not sure why people think he may not fit into spread offense. He is not any different from Alex Smith who worked out just fine for Meyer in Utah. I think when its all said and done he will stay in Ann Arbor. But it would be a huge coup for RN to get him out West.

by Nestor on Dec 30, 2007 8:20 PM PST up reply actions

Mallett's a drop-back passer

You know, the kind that ends up playing on Sundays after being drafted in the first round. He's one of the top 5 true freshmen QBs in the country, no doubt. As a passer, he'd be our best one from day 1.

by BruinsRule on Dec 30, 2007 8:42 PM PST up reply actions

Oh man..

..here we go again! Slowly the firing Dorrell/hiring replacement controversy recedes in the rear view mirror and the "what if" debate begins anew with speculation about scintillating transfers.

Seems like another reason why BN is becoming more and more indispensable as a resource and my OC Register is becoming the lining of choice for my bird cage.

by whp68 on Dec 31, 2007 7:31 AM PST up reply actions

very interesting

Mallett was the #2 rated QB coming out of high school (in the same class as Jimmy Clausen). The kid has tremendous potential. I'll admit, I believe that Forcier and Crissman are the future of UCLA, but if Mallett somehow found himself at UCLA there's no telling what could happen. I'm not sure if it would cause one of the other two QB's to transfer, considering we still have OR for a few more years. I guess all we can do is leave it up to RN to make the right decision if this scenario plays out.

GO BRUINS!

by kjmcdonald on Dec 30, 2007 9:40 PM PST reply actions

With the way UCLA QBs get injured

the more the better.

If anything, hopefully getting top QB recruits may convince other star position players to come. Hopefully Rick doesn't forget about the players in the trenches.

by UCLA4Life on Dec 30, 2007 10:11 PM PST reply actions

Injuries

Maybe with better coaching (i.e RN putting a better OL coach in place) we won't have to worry about starting four qb's next season.

Our OL was poorly prepared this season and I place most of that blame on terrible coaching.

by lewkay on Dec 31, 2007 12:42 AM PST up reply actions

We also didn't have much talent

and we won't have any more next season. We're gonna have to wait a couple years until we get exceptional line play. Mediocre line play over the next 2 years is the ceiling for this group IMO.

by Ryan Rosenblatt on Dec 31, 2007 12:52 AM PST up reply actions

Mallett has promise

He filled in for Henne after the their opening debacle. He has a good arm, and has quick feet. He also makes a lot of freshman mistakes, and threw a few picks in the games that I saw. Hes rough, but hes probably better than Cowan.

by joeb @ Bruins Nation on Dec 31, 2007 12:28 AM PST reply actions

Our OL

is actually built of a lot of talented players, the only problem has been the fact there hasnt been an efficient (and consistent) OL coach since Tom Cable. That guy Dorrell got from Alabama was not all that great. The previous recruiting class actually brought in the second most talented group of linemen in the nation at the time (same recruiting class that includes Micah Kia, Sean Sheller, etc.). Right now its all about guidance. With the proper OL coach we can have the potential of possessing a very efficient OL in the run and passing game.

GO BRUINS!

by kjmcdonald on Dec 31, 2007 1:00 AM PST reply actions

But the linemen

have no balance. Our OL can run block, but most lack quick feet and long arms necessary to pass block. Our run blocking wasn't terrible this season, but our pass blocking was atrocious. You need a combination of run and pass blockers (obviously you'd love to have an Ogden who excels at both, but most usually are good at one and adequate at the other) and right now it is too much geared towards run blocking.

by Ryan Rosenblatt on Dec 31, 2007 1:03 AM PST up reply actions

So, Guru's --

What does this tell us about the O RN will install? Thoughts?

Or, is he just going after the "best talent available".

I have to tell you, I cringe just a bit, when I hear about other players transferring from other schools.

One of the BS charges against RN was that he tampered with CU players when he went to UW.

I read the UW report and it was a totally BS charge.

But, considering the source of this story is one of the sour grapes, I wonder if he's floating it out there to start a "tampering" mentality amongst his readers.

sjh

by Class of 66 on Dec 31, 2007 5:09 AM PST reply actions

More than likely

You can't take anything that Simers, Plaschke, and Dohn say seriously. They honestly have said nothing good about RN since he was hired. Sadly enough it's fairly evident that none of them believe that one can learn from past mistakes and be able to redeem themselves. If you have read any of those garbage writer's new articles on RN then you will understand how incredibly judgemental and unforgiving these pieces of crap really are. I wouldn't cringe or worry too much about RN and recruiting, I think he learned enough from the events in the past that he wouldn't do anything to jeopardize this football program.

GO BRUINS!

by kjmcdonald on Dec 31, 2007 10:04 AM PST reply actions