Weekly Q&A

You want to buy some tickets for the UCLA @ USC game? I got 2 available. :)

Are Pressley and Randal Carroll injured or have they just been passed over by Rosario and Embree?

Also, are they still in CRN's doghouse?

Which UCLA football players, if any, do you expect to transfer next year? I don't see how we can give out so many scholarships for 2010 without a sizable number of transfers.

I've seen no mention of Kahlil Bell's impressive debut with the Chicago Bears. I think it's worth noting.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/football/bears/chi-24-bears-bits-nov24,0,946510.story

Jon,

What's your gut feeling on Barr, Pullard and Shirley and what schools they chose?

We have a tough very road schedule next year...what would you predict for our W-L record next year if we stay healthy?

Could you post the actual list of visitor recruits for the home games after sat?

Jon-

What are your thoughts about Sil Ajawara? I have seen him play twice. Definitely a big body, but slow and not very aggressive. Do you see this as a big loss if he commits to one of the zonas?

AV Hill

With Fauria possibly starting at TE, and Josh Smith possibly starting next year + Nelson, Pressely moving to Flanker and Embree, + Carroll and Marvay...what would your projected WR and TE depth chart be? Who probably transfers? Johnson, Moutra, Harkey,Chandler,etc.? Not enough plays to go around!!!

On a scale of 1 to 10, how would you rate Ben Howland as a recruiter, and why?

Jon,

If we beat USC...will you promise to dance with the team after the game in theor locker room victory dance/celebration? I heard you got moves.

Do you think recruits like that post game dancing and celebrating that we do in the locker room that we see on facebook?

I've bet against UCLA B-ball against the spread and am 2-1. Is it just me our is our offensive shooting that poor? Do you think we make the dance?

I'll preface this question with my unwavering support of Ben Howland, but every year it seems his teams struggle against the zone and struggle to consistently create shots. Do you think Howland is aware of this Achille's heel, cares, misdiagnoses it, or tries to incrementally improve upon it each season? I know he is defense oriented, but couldn't he have someone like Tex Winters work the offensive side of the ball? (and as a side note, I like how you have made this blog your own...never knew what it was missing until you took it over...I like the positive approach you take, before it seemed sarcastic and sometimes condescending towards its readers).

So I asked Dohn this and now I ask you...Are you a Star Wars man or a Star Trek man???

Great job with the blog so far!!!

What specific skill issues are keeping Jamison Morgan from earning playing time? Is it attitude, effort, lack of defensive skills, or what? What specifically does he need to improve?

Is Crissman good enough that Brehaut can red-shirt 1 of the next 3 years?

Please settle a bet. My friend thinks posters who complain that you don't post 24/7 are needy little bedwetters. I disagree. I just think they're ungrateful jerks who feel entitled to constant free info from you, though they pay nothing for the service. Who's right?

Totally unrelated to UCLA sports, but what do you think of people who ask you questions about Star Wars vs. Star Trek?

What's your prediction of the score of the big game? Do we have a prayer if SC keeps it on the ground?

Why Bobo is not playing? In training camp, Howland said that Bobo was likely to start, that he had a great summer, and was in much better physcial shape. Although only playing mop-up minutes, last year he had one of the highest scoring/minutes played on the team.

I would also like to preface this question with my unwavering support of Ben Howland, but: What is up with the crazy ways/times that CBH uses his timeouts?!? Many times he calls them early in a half, sometimes even after our own made baskets, and I've even seen him call almost back to back timeouts, but the one thing that DRIVES ME CRAZY is he rarely has a timeout left with under 3 minutes left in the game. Now, I know he stresses defense and his coaching style/personality *demands* him to manage the game, but is there a way to get him to save just ONE timeout for end of game situations??

*ahem* (rant over) rephrased question: What is Ben Howland's philosophy on using timeouts? Can he make a conscious effort to save at least one timeout for the final minute?

Jon,

If they are as good as advertised can Pullard or Shirley can either come in and start at MLB over Golpher, Sloan...etc.?

Since we lost Mobley and might lose Brian Price...what's our Plan B for DT's next year or are we screwed?

what's the latest on tony jefferson?

At the Beat SC rally last night, Coach Neuheisel called up a few seniors to talk and then called up Brian Price. Do you think this is significant? Has CRN accepted BP leaving this year, or is there any chance the big man returns?

I have two questions.....1) Does UCLA have any plans to play Notre Dame again in football? 2) Is there any mention about changing the football uniforms in the future because I think the current uniform has no identity, I thought the retro uniforms with the black cleats were nice? Jon thanks for your work...

Any word on our PG recruits for next year?

what is "star trek"?

If UCLA could get one 5-star player at any posiition, which position would be the best to fill?

Is this Brian Price's last year? I heard he's going to enter the draft.

Random observations...Keefe looks like he has not improved his game in 4 years. Roll is our best player, and that sounds weird. Gordon and Lee will be stars very soon. Moser is a freak of nature athletically. BoBo needs his game to match his cheerleading skills.

And now...my question
Do you know who the back up plans would be if we could not sign McCallum and Zeigler?

Do you have any idea about the best place for UCLA fans to park at the Coliseum this Saturday? Best time to get there? We have season tickets at the Rose Bowl but are pretty unfamiliar with downtown Los Angeles.

Jon,
Why when bball is underway and its football rivalry week
can you manage Zero post all day about either. Instead a Q & A with questions you struggle with about recruiting.......Dude, you are very much dropping the ball with the blog!

Tracy Pierson from scout.com just stated on a Premium Board that rumors are circling that the NCAA verdict on USC might be coming...and that USC is looking at some self administered sanctions...no postseason for Basketball for three years and a loss of scholarships in football. What are you hearing, Jon?

Did you know Forbath was a finalist for the Groza award? We found this out somewhere else, Have you lost all all of my contacts already?

Hi Jon,

Did Robert Woods and George Farmar actually attend the game this last week? If so, is there something to read into about that?

What are you hearing about possible at-large bowl berths?
Does the school/team have a preference?

Who do you think should win the Heisman?

Hows Kia shaping up, will he be back in time for spring?

What do you think of Chane Moline getting all the carries this past week? I know Moline scored 3 TDs the previous week and is as reliable as any back we have--but certainly the 4 guys behind him deserve some sort of game time?

When are they going to stick your mug on the top of the blog?

Why is Logan Paulson starting? I feel Ryan Moya is way better, at catching, and YAC.

How many players are fathers on the football team? I don't need names.

Jon,

Any word on if Norm Chow will come back next season?

If Norm did leave who would you want to bring in as the new OC? Would you stay pro style or some sort of spread offense?

Thank. Keep up the good work!!!

PG is an obvious need...is there a sense that McCallum will commit? I also noticed on Scout that there are 3 5 star PG still undecided...any chance we get involved with any of them?

Update on Tyler Honeycutt, when is he expected back? Does the coaching staff expect him to be able to play valuable minutes when he returns or will he be to far behind in practice time and conditioning to catch up for this season?

What happened to Christian Ramirez? How did he go from starting tailback to persona non grata? There's is no mention of his name when people talk about the tailbacks for next year. Do you think he's going to be on the team next year or is he going to take a "retirement" to free up a scholarship? Keep up the good work. Thanks.

Jon,

Do you feel like Darren Collison's immediate success with the Hornets, coupled with Jrue Holiday's lack of success in Philadelphia, will help Coach Howland keep more players with the UCLA program for multiple years rather than having players stay for just one or two years?