Spaulding Roundup - A Coaching Mandate

Dietrich Riley said that he is no longer feeling any lingering pain from the hit that temporarily left him without feeling, but he will not be playing on Saturday against ASU.

"I think it's smart to sit out," Riley said. "I think we have great enough depth at the safety position, and we have guys who are willing to step in and carry on. I'm just being safe for precautionary reasons."

Riley is also thankful to be here today and has re-learned the lesson that he needs to play safe, as he has been leading with his head since high school.

"It's not high school where you can lead with your head and knock guys out," Riley said. "You have to play safe and use the fundamentals of tackling."

Richard Brehaut though, may be close to returning.  He is out of his walking boot and has been riding a bike at practice the last two days.  He has been walking without a limp and had his leg x-rayed on Wednesday.

"Hopefully we’ll get him back next week," coach Rick Neuheisel said. "He sounds optimistic. I’m going to wait and hear."

Don't get your hopes up too much - I'd like to see him go through a week of practice first before being thrown back into a game.

Coach Rick Neuheisel had some quick thoughts after practice on Wednesday.

• The coaches have been "mandated" that they coach hard this weekend.  Apparently we haven't done this all season.  There was a lack of focus at times during practice, and the coaches "must remain firm." 
  
• When asked about the win-loss-win-loss pattern of the season, Neuheisel said that the team is focused on one game.  They know they have to put together a great effort to have a chance and the Cal game is in the history book.
• Joe Roberts is available and back kicking.
  
• Brock Osweiler is a tall guy and he's darn good.
  
• The safety position will be "interesting" this week as there aren't a lot of safeties available this week.  When asked about Stan McKay, he said there are a "lot of big plays in him."
  

ESPN's UCLA Report by Peter Yoon also has a great piece on Aramide Olaniyan, the "little" (for a defensive end) guy who made some big plays against Cal, and he was the happiest man on the field.

"I had the biggest smile on my face and I was running up and down and trying to celebrate with every single person on that field and everyone on the sideline," Olaniyan said. "I just wanted to share that moment with all of my teammates. I was fired up."

GO BRUINS. FOCUS.