Austin speaks
UCLA receiver Terrence Austin met with the media today, and said some of the problems with the offense were receivers running routes at the wrong depth -- "a couple times that happened,'' he said -- and also quarterback Kevin Craft making some poor decisions.
He said mistakes are being made because "guys are young" and "you're going to have mistakes."
He said his muffed punt was a result of not getting his feet underneath him, and having his hands in the wrong position.
He added "we still have the confidence" UCLA can win the Pacific-10 championship this season.
"can win the PAC-10" wow!
Austin should not be returning punts. He has already turned it over two times this year by muffing punts, and I can recall at least three last season (Arizona State, Oregeon, and USC). The way that this team is constructed, they are not able to overcome the turnovers and loss of field position by our special teams!
In fairness to Austin, as soon as that kick left the Arizona punter's foot, I said "uh-oh." It had some crazy spin on it from the get go.
Did you laugh in his face Brian? This kid is another example of a player with a Karl Dorrell tought mindset.
You are no longer a "young" player Terrance. You are a Junior now. I coach on my sons Pop Warner team. our returner is 11 years old and he catches the damn football. Are SC's players older? NO, Terrance you would not even dress for the game on that team!.
This quote shows out of touch this kid is. We are the doormat of a lousy pac-10 conference, with the exception of course of SC. The reason we suck so bad is we have players like Terrance Austin who, like many of Dorrells offensive recruits, are not very good football players. Prehaps he needs to realize he is a far below average player before he gets any better. The kid cant get the job done on the field but thinks they can still win the Pac-10. He is relentlessly out-of-touch!
Did you laugh in his face Brian? This kid is another example of a player with a Karl Dorrell tought mindset.
You are no longer a "young" player Terrance. You are a Junior now. I coach on my sons Pop Warner team. our returner is 11 years old and he catches the damn football. Are SC's players older? NO, Terrance you would not even dress for the game on that team!.
This quote shows out of touch this kid is. We are the doormat of a lousy pac-10 conference, with the exception of course of SC. The reason we suck so bad is we have players like Terrance Austin who, like many of Dorrells offensive recruits, are not very good football players. Prehaps he needs to realize he is a far below average player before he gets any better. The kid cant get the job done on the field but thinks they can still win the Pac-10. He is relentlessly out-of-touch!
Not sure if Austin should be critical of the QB.
Also, there we too many fumbles again. Only one became a turnover, but we were lucky. If we don't do something about turnovers, it'll bite us again. We can't afford another game like with BYU.
At least they have confidence. I, however, am very doubtful it will happen. I just want to make it to a bowl at this point.
I think what Austin meant was that he's confidence that we can win a Pac-10 game this season...
*Sigh
Get an offensive touchdown first before even talk about championship.
Oh, he is just trying to remain upbeat. He doesnt really think that. I'd rather he said that than "yea, we're toast this year and are pretty much gonna just go through the motions". I know its probably gonna be a long year, but this is gonna take time... maybe more than 1 season, but Im keeping my fingers crossed on the timeline. Its a lot harder to turn a football program around than a basketball program. So, I sit, I wait, I cheer for the few glimpses of hope and improvement and pray RN & company are building the foundation for a return to the top. If the players can remain relentlessly positive, I guess I can too! Go Bruins!!
And as it usually goes with a young and / or inexperienced offense, it boils down to execution, execution, execution. It probably doesn't help that this is a brand new offense with another new offensive coordinator. Here's to hoping that with another month of familiarity with the system, the plays, and the routes, the offense will chug along a little better than it has the past three games.
Wow is right. I like optimism...but when your team's offense can't score a touch down on their own for the past two games in a row then it is probably a bit overly optimistic to say you have the confidence that UCLA will win the Pac-10. I'll be at games regardless, but I'm not expecting a Pac-10 title.
Seriously, Austin may be the return guy of the future, but right now he's terrible. Other than getting very very lucky on a 30 yard return of a kickoff that was at least 8 yards deep in the 'zone, he had that horrible fumble to give up great field position early in the game and seemed to forget that punt returns require north/south running, not east/west juking for no yards. The team has to have someone better . . .
I"m okay with optimism.
Besides, if he said he didn't think they had a shot all the haters on this board who say the players have no heart would crucify him.
Win the Pac-10?!? Someone give that kid a saliva test!
Did Austin just throw Craft under the bus??
At this point I'd settle with just winning the next game
Heck, why not shoot for the NC?!? It's not like either are going to happen.
In the words of Rob Sneider, "Oh no, we suck again!"
"At this point I'd settle with just winning the next game"
You are going to be very disapointed.
Give the kid a break. How polished do you think a guy his age can be in interviews. I remember my first interviews after college, I said some pretty insane stuff too.
Some of you fans have the emotions of a bandwagon type fan.
All I hope for is that the kids keep playing hard. We certainly aren't championship caliber, but we certainly can improve and compete. Keep your head up Austin, play hard and improvement will come.
Go Bruins!!!
Dude. Bottom line is, he should have called a fair catch on that one and he tried catching it like it was a WATER BALLOON.
I'm sorry, but Austin looked like a scared little pip squeek out there. The muffed punt was a direct result of that. He was way behind the punt and it went right through his arms. He tried to catch it like a water balloon toss contest and that's not going to get it done. It was obvious that he was afraid of getting hit, which is what usually happens on muffed punts. He should have just called for a fair catch. He lacks both mental and physical toughness. He's not even that fast. I would love to see Aundre Dean returning kicks. He a big, bruising, quick, and tough player.
Come on people, what would you like him to say? I think we suck and won't win another game? To quote my main man VB Pffff...give the dude a break, he at least is being optimistic. What else can you ask for?
Well, you're not mathematically eliminated yet.