UCLA Report Card

great stuff watching Chow and Bullough at full throttle

WEEK 9 GPA: B

QUARTERBACK
Prince looked more comfortable than he has all year and Craft played the most complete game of his career (even if it was only for one half).
B+

RUNNING BACKS
COleman was breaking tackles all over the place and Knox has ridiculous shiftiness. I don't think Franklin had a carry for positive yardage until the second half and the fumbles were on plays where he wasn't hit very hard. He also needs more pitches so he can get outside more where he is most The blocking was very impressive again for the second week in a row.
C+

WIDE RECEIVERS
Rosario is now the go to guy and Austin had his most consistent game as a Bruin. He even caught a few balls downfield. I can only remember one drop by all the tight ends and receivers.
A

OFFENSIVE LINE
This was the first game that UCLA was able to run the ball effectively up the middle all year, albeit out of the Wildcat. The QBs had all day to throw. The pulling guards need to be a little quicker getting to their spots.
B+

DEFENSIVE LINE
Price was a beast all game and was consistently in the backfield. Datone Jones was very quick off he edge. Jess Ward didn't get into the backfield once, but made a few tackles downfield. Bosworth and Holmes need to be more gung ho in their pass rush and attack the quarterback instead of containing, especially in sets with no RB in the backfield.
B

LINEBACKERS
Reggie Carter has disappeared with his injury and Ayers was out of position a lot.
D+

DEFENSIVE BACKS
Locker made some great throws that only the receivers could catch and UCLA was tight on their receivers within twenty yards of the line of scrimmage. Anything past that and the receivers were able to get wide open. Washington should have tried more deep throws though. Rahim Moore is one of the best safeties in the country and is always around the ball. Had a great blitz that ended up with a tackle for loss and Verner's tackle near the goal line saved the game.
B-

SPECIAL TEAMS
Austin had a one good return, but every other return was well below average. When will we see Thigpen or Carrol returning punts?
C

COACHING
Chow called his best game and Bullough was great with all the blitzes. Was surprised when CRN went with Craft to open the 2nd half, but he quieted all of us with Craft's performance.
B+

Feels so good to win, so bad to lose.

But in sports winning and losing is often an illusion. What if the usually reliable Washington field goal kicker makes his chip-shot against ucla?

The ecstasy of victory can so quickly turn into the agony of defeat, or vice versa.

Need one more category, Jon.

THROWBACK UNIS
A+
How do we NOT wear these the rest of the year?

Are you kidding me on the wildcat? Knox kept the ball everytime, until the coaching staff told him he had to give it up... then he tossed it to Franklin instead of handing it off. Knox is equally responsible for that fumble.

Overall good assessment and points, Jon. I do have to add a comment and that is, I think that everyone is so excited that UCLA actually won a game today (against a crappy UW team AT home) that they are forgetting that UCLA had FIVE, count them FIVE, turnovers. That just isn't going to get it done.

I dont think we forgot about the FIVE turnovers, but I do think you forgot that the defense is doing well enough to overcome that. The team has been in every game this year, even with lots of turnovers in all of them.

good to see no F's in here..

feel good for Craft - the kid has heart!!!!

i give the win a C+