Weekly Answers, Pt. 10
1) Hypothetically, if we go 3-4 as you mentioned as a very slight possibility in the Podcast, would Jones, Holmes, Tepa, Graham, Bryant (if he signs), OWA (if he signs)become OLB's or down linemen. They all seem too big for OLB's but too small as down linemen. Beings that we have a ton of talent at that position it would be a shame to play them out of position. - Resource Guy
I could see Graham becoming a hybrid DE/LB, but that's about it.
2) So relative to UCLA, USC has a bunch of mediocre basketball players and absolutely no reason to do anything but sleepwalk through the season after being shut down by their own department, yet somehow they seem motivated. In that respect, is Ben Howland being out-coached by Kevin O'Neill? In the head-to-head and on the season as a whole (so far). - Thurston Howell IIIBoth are fantastic coaches, and both have been under duress this season. I don't think Howland is being outcoached, but I think this season has opened his eyes a bit in terms of the kind of system he runs and players he gets.
3) I'm lookig at the recruit rankings for PG's in 2010..And you mean to tell me that BH can't get a kid to come to UCLA vs the likes of Dayton, Mizzou, N.C. State, Memphis, ASU, Florida St among others. What does this tell us about his ability to recruit and sell his brand of basketball to recruits especially guards which are so important in NCAA BB? - BigDBruin
Well, considering that UCLA is making a big push for the No. 7 PG in the country, it tells me you're a bit impatient.
4) What happened to Earnest Thomas? Did we not show him any love? Did he decide to stay closer to home? Any chance we get him back or have we BOTH moved on? FYI, I liked him. I thought he was a a BIG hitter with the MidWest toughness we need. - BruinFaithful
I heard he just wanted to stay close to home.
5) What happened to Nottingham? Did we not show him any love? Did he decide to stay closer to home? Any chance we get him back or have we BOTH moved on? - BruinFaithful
The whole situation is messed up. UCLA showed him plenty of love. From most accounts, he just changed his mind.
it's not just getting a PG to want to come to ucla but can he make it into school? and if your a one and done would you want to spend that one year in class?
I don't believe Jon was trying to say that Nottingham leaving is messed up. I believe he was trying to say that the whole process was messed up. Meaning perhaps Nottingham was leading the staff to believe one thing when he wanted to do something else all along or vice versa. Is this correct Jon?
Nottingham wanted to go to a school where he could get a better education.
Keep in mind QB in a unique position. Once Nottingham gave us his verbal we stopped recruiting other QB's. This does not happen at the other positions maybe K). I am not saying the kid is not free to change his mind, but when he made a commitment to us we reciprocated and stopped recruiting other QB's.
We did not stop recruiting other quarterbacks, after Nottingham there were three more offers put out for 2010 and one for 2011.
Even after Nottingham committed I find it hard to believe Neu stopped talking to the others. He's not an idiot.
Jon ?? i think he is taking a long lunch..
we want some updates...
Will BH land a top PG recruit??
Yes we did stop recruiting QB's. Per scout we offered 4 QB's and Nottingham was the 4th after the other 3 committed elsewhere. Also offering for 2011 is totally irrelevant.
http://ucla.scout.com/a.z?s=12&p=9&c=4&pid=10&yr=2010
and since when did Neuheisel stop talking to recruits that committed elsewhere?
Relax,
Stanford's football and academic programs are just on a higher level than UCLA.
To Anon 4:15
I was a big supporter of KD and wish that we had been healthy that final year to give him a better shot at keeping his job, but the reality is that he wasn't just fired for NOT WINNING, he was fired for not winning bowl games, not winning against SC and especially because during his final year (the first with truly with all players he recruited and coached) they could only manage 6-6. If your scenario plays out and the program has back to back 9 win seasons, particularly if there are wins over SC and wins in bowls better than the Emerald Bowl, then the program is on the way up and Neu and staff deserve more years to try to turn it into an elite program.
All of you idiots who come on here and support KD and try to make inane comparisons are either CONDOMS or Morons. You can't judge CRN based on what he did with Duhrrell's recruits. Judge him based on what he does with his own recruits. The team and recruiting has DEFINITELY improved under CRN. May I remind you that with ALL the holes and youth we have on this team, we didn't have a SINGLE blowout, with a schedule that was by all accounts Top 5 nationwide. We were also in EVERY single game in the 4th Quarter. Not even close to what we experienced under Duhrrell. Memory is a fleeting thing. Do you NOT remember getting blown out by a pathetic ND team at home?
Duhrrell was also stoic. He couldn't motivate a single soul. He self admittedly HATED recruiting. NEVER wanted to compete with SUC for recruits. He was content taking SUCs left overs and guys we didn't have to compete with anybody for. A fact that Chetey Petey relished. There is a story where a sarcastic Chetey Petey told CRN, "You guys are recruiting now", when running into each other at a top recruits' game.
I don't even know why I have to keep rehashing the obvious. Duhrrell got fired because quite honestly, he sucked as a coach and didn't win. In a season where we had a Senior heavy class and a multitude of returning experience and talent, the best Duhrrell could muster is 6-7. I was surprised he lasted that long. Even the abortion of a 10-2 season in 2005 included a 66-19 shellacking by a SUC team that we didn't look like we belonged on the same field with. We also got rocked 52-14 by a crappy Arizona team.
Bottom line, in only his second year, CRN won as many or more games than Duhrrell ever did, except for ONE lucky season. We were also the lowest ranked 10-2 team that year. There is a reason why. We were VERY fortunate to win that many games and had an easy schedule. Any more questions? Please, bury the F'n Duhrrell hatchet already.
Tell us how you really feel "Bruinfaithful"
If you read Bill Plaschke's column in today's LA Times, with Dan Guerrero it's not about wins & losses:
"He fired Karl Dorrell just one year after he beat USC, and two years after he won 10 games.
"If you coach for Guerrero, statistics won't save you. Cheers won't help you. Perception won't support you.
"It's all about fitting into his carefully constructed culture of competitiveness. Do you play hard? Do you play smart? Do you play clean? Do you play to the end?"
http://www.latimes.com/sports/college/basketball/la-sp-plaschke22-2010jan22,0,6114608,full.column
BigDBruin
Well, considering that UCLA is making a big push for the No. 7 PG in the country, it tells me you're a bit impatient.
Jon, i'm not impatient...more confused?
We are one the top programs in college hoops, we have two great recruits, Smith and Lamb coming in 2010, we have immediate playing time available at the PG position, we have a great track record of guards reaching the NBA(Davis,Watson,Farmer,Collison, Aflalo,Holiday,Westbrook)and it's UCLA in Los Angeles? What seems to be the problem? Considering all the factors if I were a top PG recruit UCLA would have to be one my top choices, unless....I didn't like the coach or his style of play. I understand our issues with academics can be challenging at times, but as a former PG myself (that's power guard these days)PG's are usually one of the less academically challenged groups in bball. Giving my humble opinion if I may, I think great guard play is the most crucial element of sustaining success in NCAAB. Without it we have witnessed what can happen. Given his past BH should know this considering his success with Knight at Pitt and being blessed in succession with Farmer and Collison over the last 6 years. Now our hopes rely on us getting a PG from Mich, and if he chooses to stay closer to home then we have to pray that Lazeric Jones is the next Steve Francis or that J Anderson is the next Russell Westbrook.
"theuclan"..Please spare me the "one and done" crap! Derrick Rose took Memphis to the Championship game and some guy named Carmelo Anthony won a Championship at Syracuse..It's called recruiting (see KD vs RN)if you want the same team each year then you should try the NBA, but it rarely even happens there!
Football isn't like a game of horseshoe tossing. "Close" doesn't count for jack.
Whether it was a blowout or nail-biter does not matter.
What matters?
Dorrell beat USC.
Neuheisel hasn't.