I’ve been off this week, but I decided to tackle a bunch of the questions that you submitted, and I’ll roll them out throughout the day.
Here’s the first batch:
1) Basketball recruiting – is there one coach (Ben or one of the assistants) that typically is the primary recruiter for a player or do all of the coaches get involved? If there is one person primarily involved, do you know (or can you find out) who has been primarily involved with the PG recruiting the last couple of years (Anderson, Gaddy, McCallum, etc.)? – Mike H class of 90
Basketball staffs are so small that everyone plays a part, though there are definitely primary recruiters. I believe it’s based more on location than role, though I’m sure position coaches are doing a lot of talking too.
2) Has anyone ever told you, you look like Jonah hill at a distance? – Anonymous
At a distance, up close, from medium range. Everywhere. Someone bought me a drink because I look like him. We all have our cross to bear. I think I look more like Taye Diggs, but that’s just me.
3) Hey, Jon. I hope the world is treating you well. FOOTBALL Q: I don’t get the F-back position. Is the F-back on the field at the same time as a tailback, or does he take the place of a tailback? Does the F-back stand directly behind the quarterback, or is he positioned someplace else? Also, when is the next podcast? I really like those. – UCLA ’64
The F-back is a variation of the H-back role that Dallas Clark fills for Indianapolis. It is a hybrid pass-catcher/pass-blocker, though I expect UCLA to use Presley, Thigpen and Ramirez in the running game as well. He is on the field with the tailback, and typically lines up sort of in the slot position, but really all over the field. The goal is to maximize the player’s role in the passing game, but also as a blocker.
On the podcast: There will be some big news coming up shortly. The podcast in its current form is kind of dead – Ben just doesn’t have the time to make it a regular thing – but we have some big things on the way.
4) Hey Jon, I’ve got a question on football and hoops. Feel free to answer both or pick one if you’d like. I was at Spring Game, and was not impressed by the Revolver, considering all the hype. Was the inability for Prince to show off his running game and size/speed/escapability partly to blame for the lackluster performance on the offensive side of the ball? – bruinfan885
It was partly to blame on poor execution, partly to blame on the fact that he was down by contact and partly to blame on the defense seeing the plays for 15 straight practices. Definitely wasn’t what I expected – or what Neuheisel wanted – to see, but there is enough good in the formation to stick with it.
5) Have point guard recruits all over the country realized that Howland’s system is a talent sucking blackhole for the PG position? Darren Collison and Russel Westbrook were good players at UCLA but they are better pros than they were college players at point guard, and there is no reason to not believe that Jrue Holiday will be the same. Are there any PG recruits, perhaps from City or Southern Section, that could potentially add depth next season even if they aren’t highly touted? – bruinfan885
I don’t know how you can say those point guards weren’t good in college. They were routinely regarded as some of the best in the country when they were there – Farmar, too, and I expect Holiday would’ve become a star. Say what you will about Howland’s system, but I think he’s had a bit of success at the guard position.