Grading the Bruins
Here is my report card on UCLA's 41-20 loss to Cal. Feel free to grade the Bruins yourself:
California 41, UCLA 20
Record: 3-5, 2-3 Pac-10; Weekly grade: D
Quarterbacks
Kevin Craft was 17 of 35 with four INTs, but Chris Forcier (1 for 5) did nothing to suggest he is the answer.
Grade: F
Running backs
Watching Kahlil Bell (6 car., 5 yds.) playing on his injured ankle is painful.
Grade: D
Receivers
The only group worth talking about on offense, but even they had some drops.
Grade: C
Offensive line
What more is there to say when the coaches state the players are not strong enough to be consistent run blockers?
Grade: F
Defensive line
DT Brian Price had the best game of his career and DE Korey Bosworth had three tackles for loss.
Grade: B
Linebackers
Cal had 17 points and 180 total yards after three quarters, and the speed and hustle of this unit was a big part of it.
Grade: B
Secondary
Unfortunately, one mistake (safety Rahim Moore) on a flea-flicker is too much for UCLA's offense to overcome.
Grade: B
Special teams
The return game was excellent, Aaron Perez boomed his punts, but major points off for the unsuccessful fake punt.
Grade: C+
Coaching
Is Norm Chow no longer an offensive genius, or does it take players to make a coach look good? Not a tough question.
Grade: B
I think this is your best report card to date. However, I think you're too harsh on Craft.
Three of the INTs could've gone the other way -- two were tipped balls, and one was a timing route where the receiver wasn't where he shoul've been.
TX Bruin,
Too hard on Craft? I feel for the kid because his struggles are not due to a lack of effort. But lets call it what it is, Craft is terrible. Maybe one or even two of those int's he threw could have gone the other way. The truth is he should probably have five or six more picks this year that were dropped by DB's. Again, I feel for the kid but he is just awful.
We have a lot of coach's reputations on the line here. So I expect a lively coaches 'meeting' today on how to fix things. I fully expect some major changes will be in the works. If it stays status quo, there will be a whole lot of shouts for some heads to roll.
Is it possible to give the OL an F minus?
it seemed brian price was on nearly every play
2 beefs with the coaching this week...
1. I'm very surprised that RN/NC would allow Perez to be the decision maker for the 4th and 5 million yards fake punt.
2. On 3rd and 1 ft from around the 3 yard line, should have gone with the QB sneak instead of trying to get around the corner with Bell. Could have used the TD there.
Chris Forcier needs his shot now. There's not much to lose at this point.
I understand Forcier is not the answer, but I cant see why he shouldn't get a shot to prove himself with some extended PT. The ball he threw to Embree in the first half was right on the numbers, he evades the rush nicely, and that ball to Johnson in the end-zone was a beauty. Why not try to spark the offense?
Interesting that you grade UCLA higher than Wolf grades SC for all but QB. You must be using the post Dorrell grading curve!
the oline gave up 2 sacks against a 3 man rush, if there was a grade lower than F, that would be their grade.
How soon can Olsen play????
Chris Forcier showed me that he does not have the arm strength to be a Div 1A QB
how do the seniors feel about this year? frustration must be mounting...
Norm Chow doesn't expect a change. Is this because Craft is the best we have for now, is he grooming him to grow... what's going on...