Friday News & Notes
by Nestor on Sep 14, 2007 4:41 AM PDT
in Football
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PrintSeems like it has been a quiet week in Westwood after last weekend’s sobering performance against BYU. I think everyone associated with our program is realizing that if they want to regenerate some of the positive vibes after the Stanford game, they will come out tomorrow with a focused and precision performance and a convincing win in Salt Lake City.
One of the units that is going to be in the spotlight is our wide receivers. Leading into this season, this was arguably the deepest unit, not just on our team, but in the entire conference. And after a great opening weekend against Stanford, the guys came up short dropping passes at the Rose Bowl. This has been a problem in years past as well. This past off season Dorrell apparently ran his WR coach out of town to bring in a high school assistant coach with a criminal past to fix this problem. Here is what Scott is trying to do to fix the problems of our WRs:
"Good or great?" said Scott, in relaying the cleaned-up version of his speech. "What do you want to be?"
The stern talking-to came after UCLA's receivers dropped five passes in last week's 10-point defeat of BYU, and quickly overshadowed a tremendous start the season a week earlier at Stanford.
Senior Joe Cowan, who caught two touchdown passes against the Cardinal, was the biggest culprit, dropping three balls.
Redshirt freshman Dominique Johnson dropped a pair of passes.
"Football is about consistency, and everyone needs to become more consistent, more focused," Scott said. "Either you want to do it, or you don't. That's the bottom line. These guys are talented. It's just time to step up. It's time to do it."
''I don't think it's the focus or concentration, I think it's just desire and wanting it. You've got to want it,'' Scott said. ''We've been around long enough, we've been playing this game our whole lives. You have to realize that on that field … there's you and the defender. There is nothing else. Either I'm going to win or he's going to win. That's it. There's nothing else. And the quicker we can realize that and the quicker we can make that happen, we're going to be a whole lot better team.
In any event, it will not necessarily be our WRs who will be key to our win tomorrow. If UCLA is going to blow out the Utes early tomorrow, they will have to impose their will with the running game. Here is a quick look at Utah numbers:
@ Oregon StateBruins in their first two games have rushed for 448 yards with an average of 5.15 ypc. So the key is our running game. Based on the numbers, and given the fact that Utah is playing through so many injuries, UCLA should come out and dominate with its running attack averaging more than 5 ypc. If we come out early and ram the ball down their throats, and create some short yardage situations for Olson in 2nd and 3rd downs, it would put us in a pretty good spot. And by running I don’t mean just the usual vanilla run up the middle crap we saw against BYU in the second half. It would be nice to have (mostly) Bell (supplemented by Markey and Ramirez) go to the outside with some toss sweeps, run a little misdirection, and change up the pace of our running game. And then if Olson can get in rhythm early, we could be in position to dominate this game early and often.
While On Defense:
allowed 24 points
gave up 241 yards (5.5 ypc) rushing
gave up 370 yards total offense
While On Offense:
scored 7 points
generated 196 yards of total offense
rushed for 18 yards
passed for 178 yards
vs Air Force
While On Defense:
allowed 20 points
gave up 334 yards (5.3 ypc) rushing
gave up 390 yards total offense
While On Offense:
scored 12 points
generated 313 yards of total offense
rushed for 73 yards
passed for 240 yards
Meanwhile, the Utes are sounding confident:
As for overcoming injuries, including the loss of Utah quarterback Brian Johnson, Jiannoni said, "someone goes down, somebody else has to pick up the rifle and start marching down the field."
Besides Johnson (separated shoulder), the Utes have lost running back Matt Asiata (broken leg), receiver Brent Casteel (knee), receiver A.J. Reilly (knee) and offensive tackle Jason Boone (knee), tight end Colt Sampson (knee), defensive tackle Gabe Long (knee) and linebacker Matt Martinez (knee). All but Sampson were starters.
GO BRUINS.
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If UCLA does find a way to lose to Utah.......
If UCLA loses tomorrow ...
wont happen
Slater backing up at free safety?
Slater has done some solid, SOLID work as a gunner on special teams. Now let's see the young man use that speed and vision in the D backfield. Could be a lot of fun to watch.
M
Lowered Expectations Saving Dorrell
So far, we've not seen our team play to a standard consistent with all of the expectations that both we, the msm, the AD and even KD himself have set and ratified.
Yes, if we win, even if we win "small", he will be safe for a week or so. But, if we still look bad this week, why take the risk of losing a conference game?
Do we have to ruin our chance for a great season before we can have a change that might save it?
That seems stupid.
sjh
But, of course, entering this season with this coach seems stupid to most of us who either attended or watched the nut bowl.
I take it you would fire him now,
Question: Is the team moving in a better position now than it was a year ago? I hear the same cliches now as I did then.
I Use To Agree With You On This
It's like that episode of South Park where the kids were voting for a new school mascot. Their choices were between a giant douche and a sh*t sandwich.
Which is it Fox? Are you a douche guy or do you want a slice of sh*t sandwhich? These are the choices the AD has left us with. Pick wisely.
Yes, I Would Fire Him Now
In my eyes, the sc victory was not enough lipstick on the pig to save his job. And, whatever luster the sc game gave the pig's face, it was quickly removed in the nut bow.
Fox, you have been the consistent voice of reason on this issue.
Instead of listening to you, the powers that be decided to allow KD one more chance to prove he was the man for the job.
But, they also raised the standards. All agree that the expectations set forth in BN over the off season are reasonable. They have been incorporated by the AD, the MSM and by KD himself.
Now, after two games against less than stellar opposition, it is clear that we are not going to meet those expectations.
So, the question is: Do we really want to sacrifice our chance for a golden season by allowing this coach to stumble through the remaining games?
I, for one, would pull him, now -- before we lose a conference game that will end our quest for greatness, a Pac 10 championship and a BCS bowl bid.
Is there anyone who thinks we have improved over last year? That we are playing with consistent energy, intensity, and creativity?
If not, it's time for a change.
Why should we sacrifice our chance for a golden year? Why should we sacrifice the chance for our large senior class to truly achieve the greatness their talent mandates?
Yes, replacing a coach after three games is not "nice". But, neither is wasting another season.
At least KD was given a chance. There are risks associated with taking that chance -- one of them is mid-season dismissal.
Is this premature? Should I be waiting until after the results of the Utah game? I think not. The Utah game is not relevant to the reasons we need to make a mid season change. I don't care how big we win, I don't see enough change from the past years to warrant keeping the current coach.
Yes, it is only the third game of the season. But, that reasoning should ring very hollow; we have a very experienced team on the field. It should not take 2 or 3 games to come up to speed.
Is there any doubt that KD, or for that matter any coach, would not hesitate to go to a back up quarterback if his starter was shown to be ineffective for the first couple of games?
If we accept the removal and replacement of "key position" players, why don't we apply the same set of standards to the head coach?
Oh -- I get it. We have a new OC -- that's slowing us down. Sorry, but that's on KD's shoulders. The revolving door is his fault and his responsibility and ought not be an excuse for giving him more time.
No business would tolerate this slide to mediocrity. And, no university would allowed a pattern of mediocrity from a classroom teacher.
But, it appears that although my alma mater demands excellence and accountability in the classroom -- from both its students and faculty, it does not demand that same excellence and accountability from its football coaches.
So "yes" 71, I'm with you. I've been with you since last year. When asked directly what I'd do, I'll answer. But, I'll not knock my head into a stone wall by raising the spectre of firing the coach, each week. I'll leave that to you. You've done a great job. I admire your tenacity and consistency.
Hold On There 66
I was just voicing general pessimism with the progam's decisions.
I Was Responding to the Gray Fox
Fox and I have agreed, all along, that he should have been fired long ago and should be fired now.
Fox has the stamina to make that clear every day.
My mind is so far gone I can't remember if I've been doing that, too.
what a riot
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