In Hindsight
One question immediately after the UCLA game was why Allen Bradford was not brought up to speed quicker with Chauncey Washington less than 100 percent with a sprained knee. USC coach Pete Carroll said it was thought Washington would be well enough to play.
Asked this week if he regretted not practicing Bradford more, Carroll said, ``his time will come.''
Enough on the lousy game played the other weekend. It's over.
Focus on the Rose Bowl and preparations for that game.
1st team All Pac-10. Enough said.
I don’t buy it. There is no magic pill for the running game. It has been a tough situation all year due to injuries and inexperience. The fact is we don't have a great RB option right now - we have some players with promising futures, but no one is going to be great right now.
Bradford started the year playing Safety. Do you give him carries in a key late game like UCLA? Will he hang onto the football in that kind of physical contest? How well does he really know the offense - i.e. do you compromise audibles, blitz pick ups?
I think the prudent answer is you don’t take those chances and stick with Gable and try to scheme to his strengths and get what you can out of Washington. Knowing the offense is vastly underrated by some of the internet experts out there - see Stafon Johnson about that issue.
We need to get better in this area next year for sure and find a RB rotation that gives us an impact running game not just a change of pace for the passing game.
However, in the short term, don't expect much of a running game against Michigan. They are really stout up front and will control the LOS against USC's O-line and RBs. USC is going to have to throw to win the Rose Bowl. Fortunately, there may be some vulnerability there for the Wolverines.
I am definitely looking for more screens and RBs involved in the passing game (ala Reggie Bush). I am very dubious of the speed and cover ability of Michigan’s big LBs.
PC's answer to the question above tells me that he's also looking at the future instead of looking back at the water under the bridge.
You go with what's working - and Gable was for a few games leading up to UCLA. You might as well call for Stafon over Bradford, he's had more success with his time on the field and according to scout.com he's able to go through the tackles.
speaking of scout.com look at everyone who's visiting this week:
http://scout.scout.com/a.z?s=15&p=9&c=6&yr=2007&dv=20061215
"Fortunately, there may be some vulnerability there for the Wolverines." - Davey
I hope so.
-Leon Hall (First Team All American CB)
Leon:
First, congrats on totally shutting down Ohio St. and limiting them to 500 yards of total offense.
Second, apparently reading comprehension is lacking at UM. See this comment about vulnerability in the passing game, "I am very dubious of the speed and cover ability of Michigan’s big LBs."
Third, could you remind me how many Bowl games you have won at Michigan?
And finally, good luck in Pasadena!
Hate to say it Leon but you didn't look real great vs. Ohio st...the UM secondary isn't scaring anyone...I think maybe davey is right..
I thought bradford didn't want to play FB he wanted to be Safety...
Easy answer.
This is for BCS. CW can't go. Get another ready. Or make another call.
Second, don't risk further injury to a player. That comes first.
The game was lost on those plays.
Davey,
I have the same amount of Rose Bowl victories as USC does since Norm Chow left, which is also the same amount of National Championships USC has since Norm Chow left...0. I watch USC football in my spare time and like Michigan, USC is 0-2 at the Rose Bowl in their last 2 appearances...that is if you count that pesky 13-9 loss to UCLA along with the loss to Texas in the Rose Bowl. Speaking of the Texas game, did you guys not watch our game film from Michigan’s 38-37 loss to Texas in 2005, because if you did you might have realized before the game that you should probably not let Vince Young hang around in the 4th quarter. Our games were eerily similar.
Ihatenotredame,
So do I. But to respond to your post, the field was very loose b/c it had just been replaced (and it was the 3rd time Ohio State had replaced it this year), which gave the offenses a huge advantage over the defenses...hence 81 total points scored. I know USC knows all about field conditions...see USC v. Notre Dame 2005.
And if you doubt my talent, go watch my previous 11 games and ask Mel Kiper why he ranked me the No. 3 player on his big board and said I was the highest draft pick on the field in Columbus.
Can’t wait to bring in the New Year with you guys!
-Leon Hall