Faster & Quicker!

by Nestor on Aug 14, 2007 4:43 AM PDT in Football Comment 11 comments

So apparently our players are feeling faster and quicker – thanks to Randy Horton – a conditioning coach brought into the program by DeWayne Walker:

Of the more than 20 players who were asked why there was a noticeable increase in speed during the first week of practice, each one came up with the same answer: Randy Horton and "fast-twitch" muscles.

"I feel more explosive. I feel that I have better top-end speed. I'm in way better shape," said Davis, UCLA's All-American defensive end. "I have to attribute that to Randy Horton, because he came in and kind of changed it up. It's something we haven't been exposed to as a group."

According to the Peak Performance Web site, "fast-twitch" muscles "contract two to three times faster than their slow-twitch counterparts," and "activating fast-twitch motor units is the key to improved strength, speed and power."

And there are more than 100 players and coaches at UCLA to vouch for it.

"(Horton) made us run hills, do (explosion) jumps and stuff. It was intense," UCLA left tackle Micah Kia said. "My difference in working with coach Horton is downfield, and being able to get after the safety and the linebacker. I think it's affected our entire offensive line." Several program insiders said players complained to coach Karl Dorrell about a lack of increased speed during their UCLA careers. Players were getting bigger and stronger, but an improvement in speed was often negligible.

Walker, who turned around UCLA's defense last season, had the answer for improving the team's speed this season: Horton, who played cornerback for Walker at Mt.San Antonio College in Walnut.

Horton, 37, gave up sprinting after a severe muscle tear, but he remained involved in the training aspect. He often worked out former college players, including UCLA product Matt Ware, who were readying for the NFL combines or NFL team workouts.

"Man, I really do feel faster, and feel quicker," said tailback Chris Markey, who ran for 1,107yards last season. "Guys have been telling me that I look faster. Maybe it's the white cleats, maybe it's not, but I feel lighter on my feet."

All right then. Then I see no reason why we shouldn’t have an explosive running game, an explosive passing attack, and of course an explosive defense, which will not look like this in 2007:

Oh that was just the second half highlights. If you want to remind yourself on how the first half of that game went click here.

Just thought I give you all a little reminder how Walker’s defense looked like a joke against teams running college offenses last season.

Again it is nice to read all these fluff pre-season articles about how our players are feeling faster and quicker, but as you know none of it is going to matter if they again look like bunch of jokers under Dorrell’s leadership this coming season. I don’t really give a cr&p about how these guys are feeling and looking at practice from Monday to Fridays, I care how they look on the field on Saturdays.

We are just tired of the same old song and dance year after year.

GO BRUINS.

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Coming to ABC-TV this Fall (we hope)

(Cue the miltary drumbeat, plus heart monitor sound effects...)

Chris Roberts: "It looks good today at the Rose Bowl."

Matt Stevens: "Roger that, Chris. I'm here now with UCLA Head Coach Karl Dorrell. Coach, how was it working with the receivers?"

CKD: "We've been doing a lot of things well. I really like the direction they're heading."

Matt Stevens: "As we move forward through the season, what kind of new twists and turns can we see with the offense?"

Chris Roberts: "Yeah, Coach, got any new tricks for us?"

CKD: "Uh... um... (SSNNZZZT!!!) Uh-oh, I've got a blowout--cliche No. 3"

Wayne Cook: "Get your pitch to zero! Slide! Slide!"

CKD: "Eric Scott! I can't control his attitude!"

Matt Stevens: "Emotion, what? Turn the mike off, get the paramedics! Emergency! Emergency!"

CKD: "My blank face is gone, I can't hold it! It's breaking up, it's break--"

Karl Dorrell.

Football coach.

A man barely alive.

(Dan Guerrero): Bruins, we can rebuild him.

We have the technology.

We had the liability of having the world's first bionic coach.

Karl Dorrell has been that coach.

But he'll be better than he was before.

Better.

Stronger.

Faster.

COMING THIS FALL... we hope.

MIM

WHY NOT US? WHY NOT NOW?

by Meriones on Aug 14, 2007 10:39 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Perfect

Maybe we can implant Abbie Normal's brain on there...might be an improvement. FIRE!!!

by tasser10 on Aug 14, 2007 11:04 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I disagree

Look for seed pods, guys. He's been body-snatched.

by Fox 71 on Aug 14, 2007 11:21 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Puttin' on the Ritz!

Just don't start any fires or make any loud noise and no one will get hurt.

Victory or until next year!

by ncrpz2 on Aug 14, 2007 3:11 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Twitching muscles

I would like to see a distinction made between Dwayne and Karl as coaches. Last season Walker brought the same inept Defense from the previous season and changed the mentality, attitude and level of play. In 2005 the D was HORRIBLE. Last season the D was good.

Let's not forget about the constant three and outs provided by our stellar offense last season. I expect the D to be outstanding this season and when it is lets give credit to who turned it around.

I suggest the offense maintain a drive for longer than 2 minutes and let the D's twitching muscles stay on the sidlines and rest once in a while.

by bcrack on Aug 14, 2007 7:21 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

As I have said before

I am not eager to crown DWalk as some great coach. I'd like to see how his defense does against college spread offenses this season before heaping any more praises. Last season defense was all right but not great. You may want to live in 13-9 but I'd like to look at the big picture which included disgraceful performances against FSU, Washington State, Washington, Oregon, Cal, and that last minute humiliation at South Bend.

And yeah big freaking deal that there was improvement from 2005. Considering what a joke our defense was in 2005 that's not much to talk about. So spare me the DWalk hype.

by Nestor on Aug 15, 2007 4:32 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm more in bcrack's camp

The big picture isn't that our defense suffered in some games, especially against the spread offense. The big picture is that Walker took a horrible defense and not only improved it dramatically (just look at team stats on cfbstats.com for 2006 vs. 2005), but gave it a sense of purpose and a level of confidence that is light years different from that of just a year earlier. Walker has a set a very good foundation for our defense's future.

Is Walker a great coach? I'll agree it's too early to say that, especially since he's only been a DC for one year. However, IF the defense is outstanding this year like bcrack expects, then we can start to talk about whether or not he is a great coach.

by bornagainbruin on Aug 15, 2007 8:34 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm not so sure

Obviously it would not have taken much to improve the defense from No. 113 to something better than that. And just as obviously there were times when our defense was dominating.

But there were other times when the defense looked more Dorrellian than Walkerian. There were times when they looked dazed and confused.

To me, a good coach is someone who can manage a group of people for an entire game. (Bruin basketball is a good example.) A good coach can have problems, and can have errors by himself and his players, but there is still the sense of command of the situation. When we see that on a consistent basis, then I'll change my view of Coach Walker. I agree that he's the best we've had since Rocky Long, but is he a new Rocky Long? He hasn't shown it to me on a consistent, long term basis yet.

by Fox 71 on Aug 15, 2007 9:02 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Fox 71

I think you are a great poster and you are one of the reasons I love this site.

I don't agree that Walker hasn't shown "command of the situation." The funny thing is, he may be the ONLY coach on that staff that has command of the situation. It seemed evident on the field, and was evident in post-game comments made by players. I'd say he's similar to Howland in that respect.

Also, I'll agree that we need to see more consistency on defense and that some of that falls on Walker. However, I'm willing, for now, to give Walker much more a break than people like KD as he installed a new system and was a first year DC. This year will tell us tons.

I'm not really sure why I'm defending him, because I think he still has a lot to prove. I guess Nestor's negative tone (my interpretation of his comment)didn't sit right with me. Also, with the capital markets melting down, I need a good distraction!

by bornagainbruin on Aug 15, 2007 12:24 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Thanks for the compliment

Don't get me wrong. I think Walker is a very good coach. I want him to stay. I also agree that he should be given an enormous amount of credit for improving the defense.

But (you knew there was a "but") I can't forget the gigantic fiasci (if that's the plural of fiasco) in so many games.

Maybe he should lead a mutiny against Capt. Queeg, and lock him in the equipment room at halftime.

by Fox 71 on Aug 15, 2007 1:17 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

To some degree

I do attribute the defensive meltdowns to Dorrell more than to Walker. I just think Dorrell in general didn't have the team (including the coaches) prepared for those games, because he doesn't really know how to do that. No game plan of any kind.

by tasser10 on Aug 18, 2007 9:40 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs