Back and Forth Q&A W/ Oregonian Beat Writer Paul Buker
I got in touch with Paul Buker of the Oregonian to exchange a little Q&A like Houston Chronicle writer Sam Khan Jr. and I did in Week 1. Here are his five questions about UCLA, I sent him five about Oregon State, and we traded answers. Here were my questions for him, with his answers, and after the jump, his questions for me, with my answers...
1) Just how much James Rodgers do you expect to see out of James Rodgers? Is he running with the same abandon he ran with in the past, or do you think he's still working out the kinks? He's been brilliant against UCLA, so his return is a big one.
A few weeks ago, cornerback Brandon Hardin (who is out for the year with his own injury issues) said Rodgers didn't have the "elite'' speed that separated him from mere mortals. But he's getting closer to that, I think. He is "running with the same abandon'' in practice. He's even returned a kickoff or two, although I can't see Riley daring to have him return kicks vs. the Bruins. The big thing here - at the risk of sounding corny - I think these guys just feel much more confident and sure of themselves with Rodgers back on the field, even if it's just for a handful of plays.
2) What went down at the quarterback position? After an 18-touchdown season last year, I thought Katz doing pretty well? Is this just a case of him being over-recruited and Mannion maturing quickly?
I would not have pulled the ripcord on Katz after one half against Sacramento State. I think the Katz who lit up Arizona last season is still there. He was minus James Rodgers and minus an offensive line for much of 2010. Then again, the coaches love Mannion - who does appear to get rid of the ball quicker - and they're the ones who get paid to make these decisions. But in my mind, it was a very clumsy quarterback switch. Katz is being a good soldier, but he's scratching his head over this sudden change. I think we will see Katz again in a significant role before the season is over, but then, I'm also the guy who said it would take "an act of God'' for Sac State to beat OSU.
3) UCLA has had good success against Oregon State, which is going through some similar early season issues. Do you think the Bruins are catching OSU at a good time, or is this Beaver team acting/talking/walking like they're going to turn things around?
Right after the Wisconsin game would have been a great time. Team questioning itself, two straight losses, indecision at quarterback, etc., etc., but the bye week allowed the Beavers to catch their breath and they're getting huge emotional boost from the return of Rodgers and TE Joe Halahuni, who is coming back after spring shoulder surgery. I do know one thing, things will get ugly if OSU loses Saturday, especially if OSU loses and looks bad doing it.
4) How hot of a seat is Mike Riley actually on? UCLA fans hold him in high regard and are certainly interested in his future.
No hot seat yet, although I notice Riley is No. 7 on that Coaches Hot Seat website. I really believe Riley could go 0-12 this season and still be safe, he is held in such high regard by A.D. Bob De Carolis. But a lot of fans are restless, wanting Riley to wield the hammer on his coaching staff (offensive coordinator Danny Langsdorf, defensive coordinator Mark Banker) if things don't turn around. If this season turns out to be a grease fire and NEXT season (when OSU should be better) starts out badly, then yes, Riley would be on the hot seat.
5) What is the absolute, bar none, best meal in Corvallis? I'm a former offensive lineman. This question is crucial.
You're asking a guy who is delighted with rubbery chicken strips across the street from Reser Stadium at the Hilton Garden Inn, so long as the beer is cold. But word on the street is that Local Boyz is great for Hawaiian food, American Dream Pizza is excellent, and Evergreen on third street earns four stars. Local Boyz is near campus, American Dream is just a few b locks away. Evergreen is an Indian restaurant and supposedly Riley's favorite place to eat in town.
1. How much heat is Neuheisel feeling? I know Riley is No. 7 on that Coaches Hot Seat website, but he could go 0-12 this season and there wouldn't be any mobs assembling outside Reser. Not until NEXT season if things went bad.
Neuheisel is feeling a ton of heat, but I still think it'll take a really bad W-L record - a 4-8 or maybe 5-7 season - to really instigate a change. Neuheisel remains a beloved figure in Westwood among the administration, but the fan ire is reaching a fever pitch. Even in victory this year UCLA has not looked good, and fans don't like that. They can excuse a big loss to Texas, but can't excuse some of the personnel decisions that have been made this year.
2. UCLA's defense made the OSU offense look bad last year in the Rose Bowl. I assume the Bruins will come with their usual bag of tricks and try to shake up the Beavers' first-time starter, Sean Mannion?
We haven't seen the Bruins really go all-out this year in the pressure department, and that's surprising, given Joe Tresey's track record. The new UCLA defensive coordinator had impressive stops at Cincinnati and South Florida with blitz-happy packages and big results. His start at UCLA so far has been downright disastrous - ranking in the 100s nationally in total defense, scoring defense and rushing defense - and part of that is because of the lack of pressure up front. Facing a third straight first-time starter, maybe its time to dip into that bag.
3. Would Brandin Cooks - who is starting at flanker - be getting any playing time if he had stuck with his UCLA committment and played for the Bruins?
Neuheisel hasn't been too eager to use freshmen, particularly at skill positions, so I doubt Cooks would be making the impact he is now. Big loss for UCLA last year, though. Cooks is a player.
4. OSU couldn't stop the UCLA run game last season. Could it be more of the same Saturday? ... the Beavers threw us a curve at Camp Randall by actually doing a fairly decent job of handling the Badgers on the ground.
The UCLA running game has been just about the only bright spot, with Franklin and Bash - AKA Johnathan Franklin and Derrick Coleman - providing a very impressive 1-2 punch. UCLA needs to break some big runs early, though, if the offense is to build upon the late-game success of the running game. Franklin and Coleman have both been very productive, but the carries haven't been overwhelming. This could be the week UCLA gets back to its 2010 roots and really pounds it out.
5. If James Rodgers come back, OSU can throw three pretty good skill position guys at UCLA - Rodgers, Markus Wheaton, and Cooks. Plus, OSU tight end Joe Halahuni is coming back. How good has the Bruins' secondary been so far?
The UCLA secondary has been great - when it's in position. Unfortunately, Sheldon Price and Aaron Hester have often lined up 10 yards deep, becoming overly susceptible to the short pass, which teams have exploited. Price is developing into one of the conference's best cover corners, but UCLA is extremely thin at the position, and he needs to start getting some more breathers. Aaron Hester has been better, too, after closing out last season strong. The safeties - Tony Dye, Dalton Hilliard, Dietrich Riley and Alex Mascarenas - have not been very good, and they are missing routine tackles that have led to huge gains. Shifty receivers seem to be giving them fits, so the return of Rodgers could be costly for UCLA.
Thanks Gold...quit giving away our secrets. Now they are going to kill us with short screen passes on the edges and make us tackle. Oh wait....
talking about the coaches hotseat website... great article: http://www.athlonsports.com/columns/national-notebook/rick-neuheisel-never-good-fit-ucla-bruins
Something for Guerrero to think about this year (or next).
This is with an Oregon St. beat writer, not Houston. FYI.
^No shit.
Hey John, is there a reason you didn't reply with an "lmao", "HAHAHA", "lol" or even "is this a serious question" to #5? UCLA has been absolutely killed by passes, especially the short kind variety.