Check out the latest batch of weekly answers…
1) Is there any reason why we wouldn’t go after Larry Drew? Is there any reason why Larry Drew wouldn’t want to play for UCLA? – trueblue
There seems to be a lot of baggage there, but he’s a heck of a player. For one season, when you know you have no point guard on the roster for that spot, I’d take him. I know UCLA’s recruitment of Drew was pretty up-and-down, but when things like this happen, players tend to want to surround themselves with people they are close with.
2) Hello Jon – Thanks for the awesome chat room for the St. John’s game. I appreciate you honesty about the DC situation. As for my question: It seems like we have the players and depth for our offensive line to finally be decent. With all the talk about coaching, how much of our poor performance can actually be placed with our offensive line problems and how good do you think we can be with the guys we have coming back? – Armand Schey Morton
I think the turnover and injury issues on the offensive line have been critical, but that can’t get all of the blame. There was just a series of calamitous events that has put UCLA in the position it is in now, and no one position, player or person deserves full blame.
3) Thanks for all your great work with this blog. Are we not missing two coaches on the staff? The search goes on for a DC, but isn’t Mike Johnson currently taking up spots held by Chow(OC) and Moore(WR coach), leaving us one short on the staff? Is it going to get filled and what type of coach will fill it? Thanks again! – Bruin Zealot
Yes, UCLA has two spots still available. One, they’ve offered to Jim Mastro as running game coordinator, among other duties; the other is the defensive coordinator spot.
4) Hey Jon, who’s our next DC?? just kidding…. my real question is what will happen with our current RB coach if the guy from Nevada becomes our uhhhhhh “run game coordinator”? thanks! – 909Bruin
From what I understand, Moses would stay, but with this situation, who knows?
4) Is Dan Guerrero at all to be consdered in the proverbial hot seat or a scenario in the near future where he would be? – cliq
I don’t think so, or at least it’s still lukewarm. I think UCLA’s relative success in basketball this season shows that brighter days may be ahead, and I think the football situation is just a weird set of circumstances that has taken the program in this direction. I think the thought is with the talent on the roster – and really, three straight highly rated classes has put some talented players on the roster – there is a chance to right the ship. If not, then the seat gets hotter and hotter.
5) There are 8 games left in the conference season plus at least 1 Pac-10 Tournament game. 1) In your opinion, how many games (and feel free to say which games) does UCLA need to win to feel good about getting in on Selection Sunday? 2) What games do you think UCLA will actually win, and will they get in based on those games? – Warren
I think UCLA goes 5-3 in the remaining Pac-10 games and then wins at least one or two games in the conference tournament, enough to get an NCAA tournament bid. The Bruins have to hold court against the Oregons, win both at Stanford and Cal, and easily handle Arizona State at home. I think Arizona and at Washington/Washington State will be very difficult games. If the Bruins win any of those three, and do what they should in the other five, then I would think they’re a tourney lock.