Outlasting the Beavs
UCLA outscored Oregon State 40-0 after spotting the Beavers a 14-0 lead, and outscored Oregon State 34-0 in the second half and 28-0 in the fourth quarter.
The Bruins also moved the ball much better in the second half.
"What seems to be the biggest evident that I saw from the course of the game, I felt we were in better shape, and that we started to wear them down there in the fourth quarter,'' UCLA coach Karl Dorrell said. "So about midway through the fourth quarter on we started to handle the line of scrimmage pretty well and started to get some good runs and good finishes there toward the end of the game.''
Comments
I can't think of a more self-defeating pair of teams on Saturday. Their collective ineptitude can only be compared to that of a gunfight between COBRA pee-ons and Star Trek red-shirts.
Depsite UCLA's best effort to lose the game, OSU simply out-stupid'ed the Bruins.
The Beavers refused to score off of UCLA turnovers unless it literally fell into an OSU player's hand, and then returned the favor by fumbling the ball on 3 consecutive kickoffs. What's their excuse, not used to the rain?
And what's up with the OSU uni? Since when do football player think man-bras look cool?
Posted by: clone12 | October 1, 2007 11:58 AM
Those who were so critical of the early play-calling ignore the fact that we came in with Ben Olson playing for the first time since getting really torn up at Utah. Norvell and Dorrell decided NOT to put the game on his shoulder early-on but to start with the running game, pound on the Beavers' DL, and let Olson ease his way into the flow of the game. I'd make that decision 10 times out of 10 in that situation.
As to outlasting the opponent, Dorrell's team has done that against BYU, UW and now OSU. They had inexperienced QBs - as do we - which helped, but given our QBs' (plural) stengths and weaknesses and their inexperience, running the ball is a heck of a good way to go.
Another comment - a friend observed that we have a new OC and it looks like that on the field. Emmett Smith said today on ESPN radio that he thinks it takes a year and a half to fully adjust to a new coach ... in the pros. With the OLine shuffled and needing to continue to develop, problems with receivers getting separation (why the loss of Moya hurt this team a lot), and inexperienced and accuracy-challenged (especially on short throws) QBs (again, plural), they should focus on running the dang ball and let the passing game come along after that - as has been the case in all games this year except Utah which was simply a disaster.
Posted by: barrya | October 1, 2007 03:57 PM
excuses, excuses, excuses...
The simple fact is, if OSU doesn't make that many turnovers in the fourth, we could of lost. Case closed.
This team should not have to be "outlasting" UW, OSU, or BYU. at least based in writing,that is.
We're probably gonna beat ND next Saturday, but after that, who knows with the kind of offense we showed the first three quarters of this past game. You CANNOT WIN MANY GAMES ON TURNOVERS aAND FILED GOALS IN ANY MAJOR CONFERENCE. Period.
Unless BO suddenly becomes John Elway, we're realistically looking at a 8-4 or 7-5 season and another season of KD, who'll simply say "we're a young team, we're still learning how to win." We've been down this road many times before. Until we wake up and stop accepting mediocrity and decide to shell out some cash, all of this drama and blowouts to USC (in hindsignt we can see last years game was a fluke) will continue to be part of the norm.
Posted by: raconteur | October 1, 2007 04:42 PM
BRUIN mvp's were OSU's QB canfield,punter and kick returner.As bad as our offense is after 5 games, I don't consider ANY games left on our schedule as automatic W's. It wouldn't surprise me one bit if ND came away victorious next Saturday! Great effort however. Love the heart of the BRUINS!
Posted by: Rick | October 1, 2007 05:26 PM