Prince finds his feet again
It's not often that a running quarterback is most often criticized about his feet.
But the knock on junior quarterback Kevin Prince has been just that, as despite huge strides in the running game, his passing abilities have been hindered by poor footwork.
Until Saturday's 29-28 win over No. 19 Arizona State at the Rose Bowl.
Prince completed 11-of-17 passes for 196 yards and a score and delivered two important throws that helped the Bruin offense keep the Sun Devils honest.
"We've worked hard at it, in terms of number one trying to understand what defenses are trying to do to us and so that he can be aware and so forth," Neuheisel said. "And the second thing we've worked really hard on is his feet. Most of the times Kevin's been inaccurate is because his feet have betrayed him. It's that he's not been organized there, and so the ball doesn't fly like it does in practice when he is organized. There were a couple of times yesterday where he was just absolutely beautiful with his footwork and put the ball right on the money."
One play was a 76-yard touchdown pass to Nelson Rosario - the Bruins' longest touchdown connection since 2007 - in which Prince pump-faked, got three defenders to bite and found Rosario absolutely wide open for a breezy jog into the end zone.
The other, also to Rosario, only at an absolutely crucial time and less than half the yards.
With four minutes, 42 seconds left in the game, senior running back Derrick Coleman broke off a 41-yard run - the longest run allowed by the Arizona State starting defense all year - but the next 1:28 could only be described as pure disaster. First, Prince fumbled and had to fall on the ball to salvage a seven-yard loss. Then, a Joseph Fauria offensive pass interference penalty that set the Bruins back 15 yards. Next, a three-yard Prince run that made it 3rd-and-29 at the Arizona State 39-yard line with 2:23 left.
That's when Prince found his feet.
Prince hit Rosario on the left side for a 33-yard gain and a 1st-and-goal at the Sun Devil 6-yard line. Two plays later, Coleman scored the game-winning touchdown.
"I knew they were going to push to Joe, so we went into a 3-by-1 set and I knew the safeties would push to Joe and Nelson was going to be one on one," offensive coordinator Mike Johnson said. "Kevin did a great job of putting the ball in the place where (Rosario) could make the play. That's what it's about - it's about guys making plays when they get the opportunity to make them."
Neuheisel said that part of the offensive improvement is due in part to the growing connection between offensive coordinator Mike Johnson and running game coordinator Jim Mastro, whose rushing game has accounted for 514 yards in the past two weeks, including 224 by Prince.
"Definitely the most comfortable (the offense has been), and that's because we've really worked at it and especially worked to find the balance in it," Neuheisel said. "The relationship between Mike Johnson and Jim Mastro is starting to come around where they're kind of playing off each other, and it's fun to see. I hope like heck we can continue to get better at it."
Neuheisel gets a little coaching credit too, though, for his handling of Prince's emotions, which hit a rock-bottom after a three-interception first quarter against Texas in Week 3 left him benched in favor of Richard Brehaut.
Neuheisel used a little personal experience, relaying his emotions about being benched for Steve Bono during his playing career to rescue Prince from the depths.
"I told him that you can feel sorry for yourself, and if you do, you won't be ready for the next you're your time comes," Neuheisel said. "He flat took it to heart and was ready. He came off the bench against Washington State, and he wasn't perfect, but he was valiant. He was valiant again last week. And tonight he was our guy."
B+ for special teams, when josh smith fumbled what could've been a very disastrous kick off return? smith was great the entire night up until that, but that fumble was HUGE.
It was nice to see Kevin throw the ball as well as he did when he was a freshman. He looked relaxed and the td to Nelson was just perfect.
Great job, Rick!
Rick has been coaching the quarterbacks. He has immensely improved Prince's passing ability.
Prince was right on the money for nearly all of his passes. Rosario dropped one in the end zone in the first quarter. The Furia pass also was great prior to the crucial Rosario pass at the end of the game. There was another pass in traffic that was fantastic - straight line to the receiver.
"valiant." Great word. Apropos.
I'm happy for Prince. It must have been tough to have to come in to boos from your home crowd, but he played through and got his game together. He certainly made the plays he needed to with his arm. If he continues to improve the Bruins could have a very credible balanced attack.
Excuse me, are we giving CRN the credit for prince not getting down on himself? By all accounts prince is a fabulous kid with a great attitude....read any paper....and Rick wants the credit for that? No way.
Yeah, how dare the quarterbacks coach share any insight into what was said to a star pupil when faced with a benching. The nerve!
Rick has been right all along. KP was the right QB and has just saved Rick's job! Three cheers to a seven win season!!
"One play was a 76-yard touchdown pass to Nelson Rosario - the Bruins' longest touchdown connection since 2007 - in which Prince pump-faked, got three defenders to bite and found Rosario absolutely wide open for a breezy jog into the end zone."
That might have been the first pump fake since 2007. :) The Bruins are on a roll--continue to rage against the dying of the light!