First and 10 after UCLA 24-23 win
First: The UCLA offense, while committing five turnovers, had its best game of the season. Kevin PrinceCraft had decades to throw in the pocket, and it showed. Yes, two interceptions, I know. But if the Bruins commit to the deep pass as they did against Washington and in the last 10 minutes against Oregon State, there can be more good than bad.
10) The UCLA defense finally learned to trust each other. In the third quarter, Tony Dye had a pitch-perfect tackle: He let the receiver come to him, and he waited three seconds for help before taking him down. In the fourth quarter, Rahim Moore's interception developed because Sheldon Price did not go for the pick or the knockdown, but batted it in the air for Moore to cradle.
9) Johnathan Franklin is beating himself up right now, but he needs to shake it off quickly. He is the best pure running back on the team, and he just needs to get stronger.
8) Milton Knox: Not to say I told you so, but... He just looked so good in practice this week, that I thought he deserved a shot.
7) A+ for the offensive line. Incredible protection that allowed UCLA wideouts to make secondary cuts and weave their way through traffic.
6) Norm Chow finally threw the kitchen sink at a team, and it worked. Fine play-calling, and it makes me wonder what this offense would have looked like had Prince stayed healthy all year and matured.
5) Is it just me, or did the Bruin defense attack the quarterback on the blitz for the first time in a while? It didn't always work, but that kind of pressure gets in a quarterback's mind.
4) Three personal foul penalties, all by team leaders, is unacceptable. There should be major extra running for that.
3) If UCLA opens with Washington, Washington State and Arizona State, it starts 6-0. Weird scheduling quirk with five of the conference's six best teams in a row to start.
2) I would be shocked if the Bruins don't come out FIRING at Washington State. They're going to go all out.
1) Has it really been 49 days?
Good assessment, Coach Jon. I think we're starting to get the gears turning. Next year we'll be better. 2011, better still. 2012, a Pac-10 contender. 2013, ready to rub Trojies into the turf. 2014, lights out....national championship.
Might as well go all out, nothing to lose. Playing spoiler could be fun.
What posting delay?
11) For the love of God, WHY ISN'T THE POSTING DELAY FIXED AFTER SEVERAL YEARS???
Our pass protection is getting better. Yes!!! Kevin Prince is a stud, but he needs to learn how to slide feet first if he's going to make it through a season! The deep passing game is getting better with him.
Kevin Craft is a stud considering he never gets any reps in practice anymore and he plays like a cool gunfighter under pressure. I'm glad he's playing with a line that's finally protecting him. He's a great backup, a great teammate.
Richard Brehaut is just learning but he will be a great one once he gets a sense of how quickly that pocket collapses at the college level. I'm still amazed how many young players we have on both sides of the ball. Our future looks bright!
good points, Jon. It is time for the kitchen sink if the Bruins are to make a bowl. How about using the retro jerseys at the Coliseum.
Yeah! Retro Jerseys on the 28th at the Coliseum. I LIKE IT!!!
Yes, it was nice to taste a victory, no doubt!
I hate to be a realist here but we did absolutely everything we possibly could to loose that game yesterday. 6 fumbles, 3lost, 2 picks. Seldom does a team
win a game with 5 turnovers. If the kicker does not shank
a field goal for the Husky's we are looking at our 6th loss in a row. If you were at the RB yesterday, on the pic by Moore to effectively end the game the ref could have easily thrown the flag on Sheldon Price for holding the receiver the whole way down the field. We all saw it in our section and breathed a sigh of relief when there was no flag. A win is a win but it was pretty ugly, I think point #3 is a bit premature claiming we would be 6-0 assuming we will beat ASU and you know what they say about assuming. We had the possibility of loosing the ball 8 TIMES, Washington State could beat us if we do that again