Answers, part XVII

Surpised by the Warner commit?
Not once I heard UCLA offered. There is connection between Warner's mentor and a member of UCLA's staff.

Brian why does Notre Dame, a school that is reported to having higher academic standards than UCLA (just slightly less than Stanford), can recruit with the top football schools in the nation and UCLA cannot? Is it solely being thier "national name."
Because unlike UCLA, Notre Dame is a national brand. Every game is on national television, and the school basically has its own football network in NBC. Plus, generations grew up as Notre Dame being the standard-bearer in football, the campus is beautiful and the school is in the middle of the country, so travel isn't nearly as bad for out-of-state recruits.

Brian, which football recruit do you think is going to come in and surprise (ala Coleman)?
Well, I don't think Coleman has been a surprise. He's played ok, but nothing great. To me, the biggest surprise of the freshmen is Taylor Embree, and there isn't a close second. As for next year's class, it is only half complete, so how can I make that judgment?

I don't have ESPNU so couldn't see the Miami game...what is the 2 sentence, unfiltered explanation for why it was so close?
UCLA had too many defensive breakdowns and Miami is very patient and can pick apart defenses. Offensively, UCLA has no inside game and there wasn't nearly enough movement to get open shots.

What have you heard about Braden Warner and Shawn Johnson(I know he isn't in yet)? Do these guys have the ability to be any kind of a significant help to UCLA FB?
I am told Warner can come in and play immediately, and could team with Brian Price at defensive tackle to limit the loss of Brigham Harwell. As for Johnson, I am told he is UCLA's top JUCO OL target, but I was also told it was a long, long shot for him to meet the requirements to get into a school in time for next season.

What are your thoughts after the basketball game (against Miami)? Do you think the close game is a good thing (i.e. a teaching moment for Howland) or a bad thing?
I think it is a bad thing because UCLA played so poorly. It showcased a number of holes, not only with understanding defensive assignments, but also a lack of inside game and too much offense predicated on dribbling instead of movement.

You say that we don't have the WRs that can stretch the field, does this include Moutra (Sp?) and Rosario? I thought that those guys had pretty good speed.
They do have pretty good speed. They don't have great speed. UCLA does not have the 4.3, 4.4 receiver that forces defenses to worry about getting beat over the top. If they did, at least once this season someone would have gotten open deep down the field.

how can decent three point shooters be just terrible free throw shooters?
Because it is all about technique and practice. It is too different shooting styles. It's like wondering why a guy can hit a driver in golf, but cannot hit a 5-iron.