Post-Practice Update
* Not a very sharp practice on Wednesday, and the coaching staff has to be concerned by some of last season's bad habits creeping in.
* Not only were the quarterbacks consistently indecisive and inaccurate, but UCLA wideouts weren't a help with several just crushing drops. Devin Lucien muffed an easy touchdown catch over his shoulder. Randall Carroll dropped one across the middle that was textbook, and got a good earful. Ricky Marvray followed with a drop of his own. Taylor Embree did have a nice grab across the middle though.
* Rick Neuheisel specifically mentioned the quarterback-center exchange as being a disappointment on Wednesday, as the Bruins constantly fumbled the snap.
* I've never played or coached college football, so I don't know how it's supposed to be done, but I'm surprised at the lack of attention in 11-on-11 work to specific pass plays. I expected - and Rick Neuheisel spoke in a way that led us to believe - that there would be a premium focus on the throwing game, and I don't see much difference from last year in terms of dedicated practice time. Maybe I'm missing something, but it's pretty curious.
* Neuheisel said after practice that Damien Thigpen has a hamstring injury that will keep him sidelined indefinitely. Look for a wideout or two to slide over to F-back No. 2 in the meantime. We'll find out who tomorrow.
* Greg Capella has looked pretty good at first-team guard the last couple days, and I'll have a story up on him soon. He's cut a ton of weight and looks really good.
* The downfield blocking out of the wide receiver position looks improved so far, at least in terms of angles and aggressiveness. Marvray had a heck of a block on a Malcolm Jones run.
* I'll have more on Jones tomorrow, but he's really opened some eyes the last couple days. He is noticeably leaner and has a nice little burst now, something he lacked a bit last season. Whether it was because of tentativeness or just being unsure of the situation, Jones seemed to force plays to develop too much last year instead of instinctively going, and he's been much improved in that area so far. Wayne Moses had some pretty good things to say about him: "He's increased his knowledge of the game. In terms of pass protection now, he's salty on that. He understands what everybody else does as well as his job. That kind of gives you the overall scheme of things. Last year he didn't have that. He wasn't sure what he did, let alone everybody else."
Thigpen out...
Wideouts that can't catch to save their lives...
Fumbled snaps...
...I know it's really early but my usual preseason excitement and optimism is quickly fading away.
Jon, I am concerned with your comments regarding lack of focus on the passing game as well. Perhaps this emphasis is being placed in the film room or off the field?
If it is possible a direct question to Neu or Johnson would be appreciated from our end.
Appreciate your hard work.
OMG... please step your game up..! Or step down..! Smh that goes for the whole UCLA FOOTBALL PROGRAM
Seconded to what Hollywood Bruin said re: asking the coaching staff about the renewed focus on the passing game.
Many thanks
Is UCLA still going to have a football program five years from now?
You guys are hilarious! We haven'teven played a game yet and you guys freak out! Lol, anyways. I am not happy to hear about Bre or Prince. Maybe Hundley can start once he comes back. QB play has killed us ever since Drew Olsen left. I pray the good lord watches out for us and finds us a QB. That is all we are missing, but its a program defining (missing piece) we haven't had since the last days of Toledo. Have faith! Go Bruins!
P.S. Anyone know where we can find another CADE? Lol
Honestly, we can't begin to ask for another Cade we need. We should start by praying that we have a QB that doesn't completely blow.
@ucla34: its called recruiting and every top school does it. We have seen countless good so call QBs go to USC, Wash, ASU, Stan, Ore, Ore St and beyond but none to UCLA. Brehaut hasn't panned out and the only hope is Hundley who is rehabbing. Prince is serviceable but isn't the game changer needed to compete for titles. I know of some coaches who said the knock here is the way RN chastizes and berates QBs after mistakes, instead of coaching them up. I guess we will see in the future but its not looking good
@tsk tsk - you're spot on w/ bring up RN berating his QBs. I've seen him do it several times on national TV. What top notch HS QB would want to risk being subjected to that when they have other options? RN is his own worst enemy when it comes to recruiting QBs.
So RN shouldn't hold his QB's accountable when they make mistakes they know they shouldn't have made?
I've watched the same instances of RN "berating" his QB's on TV too, and they were all justified. All of them were after the QB made an absolutely boneheaded play that I'm SURE they've practiced a hundred times.
What is he supposed to do? How frustrating must it be to have neither one of your QB's take it upon themselves to step up, learn the plays, and WIN the job for the last 2 years?!
If they can't take the heat of playing the most important position on the field, and they'd rather be patted on the back and told "we'll get 'em next time" when they can't execute a simple throw, then they need to change positions or go back to pop warner.
QBs should be held accountable but there's a time, place, and a way to do this. Would you scream like that for everyone to hear at your kids if you were at a restaraunt and they spilled their drinks because they were messing around (even if you warned them to stop messing around)? No, you deal w/ them on the way home or when you get home.
RN insults the kids in front of everybody after they already knew they screwed up. Then he sends them back out and instead of them being focused on the game (and the opposing teams defensive alignment) they're worried about not getting chewed out again. Consequently, they make another bonehead mistake.