UCLA Report Card

Pretty accurate grades this week.

I might be a bit easier on JDB and a bit tougher on the O-Line (if that's possible).

Can we give the coaches anything below an F?

How many people agree Lane Kiffin is our #1 problem? Let me know at http://firelanekiffin.blogspot.com!!

Why do we refuse to ever return a freakin' punt?!? Aren't special teams part of the game?! And CJ Gable was right about getting hit (almost) before he got the ball. I'm not sure that one was on him. The dude never had a chance.

Don't you think you were a little generous giving the O-Line a D- ? That was an F performance if I have ever seen one. I just watched the game again, and I am not a big Booty guy, but wow the line was terrible. UCLA's Defense just flat out beat USC’s Offense. And Michigan D-Line is probably licking their chops right now.

But despite the disappointment of a loss to UCLA, and all of the annoying telephone calls from the bandwagon Bruin friends (scratch that acquaintances), in the end only one LA team still has a game to play in the Rose Bowl...and it ain’t the Bruins.

Grade changes:

Offensive Line: F - if they play at a C level, SC wins. 'Offensive' is the operative word here.

Booty: B- - get off his back...he's not Palmer or Leinart, but he's better than you think.

Overall D: B - stout, consistent and reliable.

Finally, one consolation about not being in AZ: we won't have to see stupid USC marketing chumps run onto the field along side the team...those clowns actually believe they are the reason for the team's success!!

Why do you hate JDB? Do you want Mark in there that bad. Every week you give him a horrible grade. He is the #1 QB in the PAC 10. This loss comes down to coaching, when pete and the staff needed to make their usual 2nd half adjustments, they did not. In fact JDB was the best palyer out on offense. Stop comparing him to Matt Leinart....There will only be one of him.

You are being generous on Booty.

You can't blame the coaches on this one. You can't get water from a rock. This is all Botty will ever be, A mediocre college QB surrounded by talent.

Unless he learns to lead, to expect anything else is insane.

Can some please hire away Kiffin from USC! The USC offense has become an unimaginative clunker that no longer can put points on the board. Yes, this year's squad had a lot of new faces but that is when a coach earns his money and Kiffin definitely should give his back. The guy had never been a coordinator before and now he has to trash USC's offense to find out he isn't any good , so far hiring him as O. Coordinator and getting rid of Chow have been Pete's worse decisions. It's the assistants that make a head coach look good and right now Pete's crew is making me look bad.

Why do you keep crapping on Booty as a guy who can't lead? Are you in the huddle with him?

Mathew,

Maybe you can explain better how he was supposed to lead. Would yelling at Kyle Williams help him remember how to count to two? Or improve Kyle's hearing? Is he supposed to just run his own offense instead of what the coaches call? (And no sarcasm in your answer, you know he has to run what's called.)

Say something more clever than, "unless he learns to lead." I'm not "How to Win Friends and Influence People" would have made a difference Saturday.

I would give the O line "No Credit"

But, I like Kool-Aid, Scott. Why do I have to stop?

I don't know about you all, but I'm getting tickets to the Rose Bowl, and I'm looking forward to it! I've seen USC play in the Grandaddy under several regimes: Robinson I, Tollner (hey, at least he won his one trip there), Smith, Robinson II, and Uncle Pete. Another great Trojan - George Lucas - is the Grand Marshall of the Tournament of Roses this year, so it will be indeed a Trojan Day.

The rest o' you can mope and whine and ask for the heads of as many coaches as you want, if that's your preference. I'm making the best of it. Sure, it sucks to lose to the Bruins; and another national championship game would have been a nice achievement, but at least we're not headed for the...Emerald Bowl. What the heck is an Emerald Bowl?!
Oh, yea, right... a place where they send teams that can't finish first or second in their own league!

See, Scott -- I drink good Kool-Aid. As Maxwell Smart would often say: "and... loving it!"

"Don’t completely blame him for the tipped passes, since Pete Carroll’s known about it since August."

HAHA! I love this subtle shot you take at Carroll. That is why I read your blog, much better than Simers!

I like how this shows that Carroll is stubborn for not playing Mark Sanchez, and how Sanchez clearly is better than Booty. Carroll is just playing favorites...well we can't say this is the first time.

There is some incompentent kid up there in the booth. We all know he was handed the keys to the Ferrari...without a driver's license!

Scott, please pump up Mark Sanchez in the Daily News, so he can be the starting QB.

It only helps you. If USC becomes SUC next year because of Booty and Kiffin, well, less people read your blog. No one wants to follow a loser.

More wins, more publiciity and credibility for you, means more money for you.

Only one way for this to happen...PUMP UP SANCHEZ!

I agree with F on the coaching, but I'd also throw and F on the offensive line and a D- at QB. Someone said, its been going on all year (tips) and its the coaches fault and he is correct, yet the QB needs to take a great deal of the blame for not improving that aspect of his game and this is ANOTHER time it cost SC

Scott,

You were too hard on the defense...they did their job holding UCLA to 14 points. Your grading was overly generous on the offensive line and the coaches.

wow this is a tough room...anyway I hope finally Petey or someone can see the light now and dump Kiffin...

Greg,

You don't have to be in the huddle to see the lack of leadership. Simply read Booty's body language and that of his teamates. Kalil is the leader on that offense -- and I'm grateful someone is.

But Booty has yet to show "fire" he is very robotic, emotionless in the field. Not very inspiring.

Hey guys this was a rebuilting year give everybody a break. However Sc does need to replace Kyle Williams, his false starts were a problem all year.But next year with the class Carroll is putting together lookout world.

JDB is the biggest wimp in the pocket we've seen since Scott Tinsley who also got smoked by the Bruins. Let's face it, UCLA took out their frustrations on us and they could've whipped Ohio State last Saturday. Kiffin is not the problem because the final responsibility is on Pete's shoulders. I'm sick of his smirk and how he motivates our guys. Didn't I see a clip of our guys playing touch football in the Rose Bowl the night before the game? That really helps a lot in terms of preparation. We deserved to get beat plain and simple. Let's get real.

I think John David Booty played well considering the constant pressure he was under. I blame USC's offensive line more than I blame him. JDB made great passes when he had time to step into a pass.

Those grades must look like what Scott recieved while at USC.

Scott: You are just TOO generous this week.
Mike: "I" before "E" except after "C". :)