Weekly Answers, Pt. 4 | Inside UCLA with Jack Wang

Check out the latest batch of weekly answers…

1) So from what i understand to apply for a medical redshirt a player needs to play in no more than 2 games (or 20%) of the season, since Keenum missed half of the second game with a concussion, and more than half of the UCLA game with the ACL, can he still apply for a medical redshirt? – Brock

I’ll be honest, the rule kind of baffles me. I believe he cannot apply, or at least will be turned down, for a medical redshirt, because it has to be a single injury that costs a guy that much time. Can anybody help Brock (and me) out with this?

2) Jon, Petros Papadakis kept repeating over and over during the telecast that Ayers was “freelancing.” Is he just jealous of Ayers’ athleticism? Or was Ayers really doing his own thing and flipping the bird to his coaches in the process? Would you ask Lea and Bullough what the deal is? (And maybe pass on the info to Petros…his aspersions rankled me, and others, too, I’m sure.) – Backdoor Cut

First off, I love Petros, and PMS is the best show on SoCal radio, and it’s not even close. And this comes from a guy who used to HATE the show, until I actually listened. My sports-fan friends call me the Jewish Petros, but I don’t THINK I’m that LOUD. Regarding Ayers: I think what he meant was that Ayers was finding his way into the Houston offense, and mixing up his rush moves, rather than going against his coaches.

3) Jon, let’s go back to the KSU game. Prince was clearly not healed enough to play. If Neuheisel had kept practicing Brehaut, and started Brehaut, and given the ball to Franklin more, would Ucla have won that game? Seriously, what did Prince do v Houston that Brehaut can’t do? – Backdoor Cut

If Prince was not healing, I think Brehaut should’ve continued to get 100 percent of the reps and started Week 1. I think it’s insane to split reps at quarterback. And yes, I think they would’ve beaten Kansas State in that case. Against Houston, Prince was excellent in the running game, read the defense very well and threw OK at times. Don’t write him off.

4) Is there some reason that you can run successfully out of the Pistol offense at the college level, but in pro football, the shotgun is used almost exclusively for passing? – Bruinball

Great question, except for the fact that I have NO idea! I understand that NFL players are simply the best in football, and that the speed of the pro game negates the tremendous speed advantage that some teams have in the college game. But I have to believe that some crazy coach could bring a crazy scheme to the NFL and find success. I’m still waiting.

5) One of the commentators made the point that when the offense is structured such that the QB would have to run, it causes problems with the passing game because after the adrenaline rush of running, they have to rein themselves in to make their throws (and not overthrow it, as Prince did a few times). Is that an excuse, or do you think that is a legitimate criticism of the offense? Is that just something Prince needs to learn to control, or is do you think his passing would be the same regardless of his running? – Warren

Really interesting theory, and I’ll have to look into that. It absolutely could factor into the passing game, though I maintain that Prince’s issues are matters of health and rust and not ability. Put it this way: Against Washington State, we’ll see the real Prince. If he torches them, he’s good to go and the offense is fine. If he doesn’t, and there is even a little struggle, there’s room for concern.

BruinFaithful

Backdoor Cut:

I think you might have been a little too drunk when you saw the game and misundertood what was said. What Petros was merely alluding too, and I think it was a complement, is that the coaches had decided that Ayers was probably restricted by his placing in certain Defensive schemes. Ayers is just one of those players who has FB instincts and doesn’t do as well when restricted by schemes. Therefore, the coaches have decided to let Ayers roam at his discretion more. This is a compliment to the coaches trust in his abilities. In fact, some of Ayers biggest plays have come when he was in the supposed “wrong spot”. The interception against Houston and the one last year at the back of the end zone are good examples of this.

Not a dig, but try watching the game again and I think you’ll see it differently.
Backdoor Cut

Faithful, I think you are completely wrong.

Ayers was **exactly** where he was supposed to be on the INT v. Houston. Try watching the game again, and you’ll see that, as an ILB, he dropped back to his outside right into the passing lane.

And the INT last year?

He was rushing the passer. Which is exactly what he was supposed to do on that play. He was clearly in that role on that play when the QB tried to escape the pocket.

So your examples are bad.

Got any others?

Finally, football is a team sport. Defense, in particular, is a team sport. If each guy in the front seven does not take care of his gap responsibility….touchdown. Free lancers, ie, guys who try to be the hero and think that their sheet doesn’t stink, are the worst things to have on your football team. Rey Rey gave up a ton of big plays at sc because of his lack of discipline, and that’s why his draft stock dropped.

BTW, the word you’re looking for is “compliment,” not “complement.” They’re different words with different meanings. But maybe you’re a little too drunk (or underedumacated) to know the difference.

And no, when Petros calls a Bruin defender an undiscplined free lancer, that’s not a compliment. It’s a crack.
not_Anonymous

Backdoor Cut…

Akeem Ayers’ interception against Oregon was due in part to a mistake on his part. I forget where I read it (may have been on this very blog!), but he even said that he was supposed to drop back into pass coverage but he rushed in because of the play action fake. 2nd best mistake of his college football career thus far! The best mistake he made was slipping at the line of scrimmage in the EagleBank Bowl, directly leading to his Pick-6.