Answers, Part I
I'll be honest, folks, I was blown away by the number of questions this week. By far, a record. There were nearly 150 responses, and well over 200 questions asked.
For the sake of sanity and not to just post rapid fire answers where a new entry is popping up every 10 minutes, I am splitting the answers over two days. I really don't know any other reader-friendly way to do it.
And please keep in mind I will have updates from practice and other UCLA happenings today and over the weekend.
I will post 13 (my favorite number) sets of answers today, and a bunch more tomorrow. Yes, it is early in the morning, but here with go with the first set:
In your estimation how long before UCLA becomes a player again in college football e.g. Top 10-15 ranking, good recruiting, etc.?
At the earliest, I think it will be 2010. It takes at least three years worth of recruiting for the talent to be sufficiently upgraded. But, as I've maintained for a while, I think UCLA will have to loosen its academic restrictions if it really wants to become one of the top programs, year-in and year-out, in the Pac-10.
During halftime, how does Norm Chow communicate with the offense, especially the quarterback? Does he stay in the booth and talk by telephone or something else?
He goes down to the locker room and talks with them, and the rest of the offense. Halftime is 20 minutes and the elevators are held for the coaches in the press box, so he still gets plenty of time to talk to everyone.
Do you think UCLA stays with Michael Norris at corner the rest of the season? Do you think he gets beat out by Viney or the freshman?
I think that is something to watch in the coming weeks. My understanding is Norris isn't solid on that spot, and there will be a mix of other players competing for playing time. However, Rahim Moore and Tony Dye are going to remain at safety, and Aaron Hester isn't ready to play, so I think it will be a mix-and-match type of thing with the corner spot.
Do you have a reassessment of the offensive line after the Tennessee game? If the line, as is, stays healthy for the season will they be at least serviceable? What kind of job has Bob Palcic done?
I still think it is a below average offensive line. UCLA ran for the ball for 29 yards on 31 carries, and quarterback Kevin Craft stayed on his feet because of short drop backs, getting rid of the ball quickly and receivers not being pressed at the line of scrimmage very often. Plus, Tennessee rarely blitzed, so many times it was five or six guys blocking four.
Not necessarily during Q&A, but at some time before the weekend can you provide a list of Bruins on opening day NFL rosters?
I will get a list from UCLA and blog it, probably on Saturday.
Who's injury do you think will have the most negative impact on the team?
Tight end Logan Paulsen. It is a possible UCLA wanted to highlight in the passing game, he also the best run blocker among the tight ends and depth now becomes an issue. The starter is Ryan Moya, who didn't play last season because of injury and personnel reasons, and the third-string guy is Jeff Miller, a converted defensive lineman. And the second string guy is Cory Harkey, a true freshman with no career catches.
Do you think Reggie Carter will be 100% and his same intimidating and dominating self by the BYU game?
I don't know if he'll be 100 percent, but he will play and be his typical high-energy self. That said, he was neither intimidating or dominating against Tennessee. In fact, he had some problems getting wiped out on blocks by the Vols.
Which of the lineman did you think stepped up the most in the Tennessee game?
I'm guessing you're talking offensive line, so I will say right tackle Nick Ekbatani. I thought he played ok. Again, though, I thought the offensive line was serviceable, at best, against Tennessee.
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About Inside UCLA
This is Brian Dohn's sixth season covering UCLA after spending 4 1/2 years covering the Dodgers for the Daily News and other Los Angeles Newspaper Group papers. He graduated from Rutgers, where the first college football game was played in 1869. Sure, the Scarlet Knights suffered for a long time, but now RU is doing what Jerseyans always thought was possible. Winning at Rutgers also proves winning is possible everywhere else in the nation, so underachieving coaches better be careful. Now, if only men's hoops can turn it around.
I saw the number of questions presented this week and it amazes me that Mr. Dohn takes all that time to answer them. And maybe some of the grammar-king posters will go easy on the guy because he must be pounding out those answers as fast as he can sans perfect proof reading.
Thanks for the early bird special!
Hey Brian,
Thanks a lot for doing this, maybe it would be easier for you if you grouped similar questions together and just gave one comprehensive answer. It seems like each week there are at least a few questions that are independently asked several times.
Brian,
Thanks for all your efforts on answering all of us crazy Bruin fans' questions. But considering how unwieldy all these questions might get as the football and bball seasons progress, maybe, for your own sanity, you should consider answering only a set number every week, like, say, 100. And then make it first come first served questions. I'm sure everybody would understand the need to limit them.
Brian,
Thanks for all of the coverage you provide. At first, the question & answer feature was very good. I was getting information/opinions not usually included in the articles. However, once the number of questions increased dramatically, I found this feature too long and redundant.
Maybe not all questions should be answered.
Thanks again for all of your work.
Appreciate the question and answer section of this blog. The answers remain objective. No pandering to what fans might like to hear. And that is the way it should be.
Never miss any of it. Thanks !
Brian,
Ummmmmm. I don't know what game you were watching, but
I distinctly remember Tennessee jamming the box repeatedly and daring us to throw. Regardless of this, I remember us tryig to stay with the run to balance things out. All things considered, I think the line did a great job. They didn't make anycritical mistakes, had no penalties, and even drew the defense off sides a few times. I don't remember that ever happening under Dorrell. WOW, what a difference coaching makes. Maybe you were to busy watching Rutgers get throttled.