I found some good news... I went back to the play by play from the first two games and there was an area of improvement in our number of offensive run plays for loss. I counted 6 run plays out of 21 (including one lateral swing pass that is essentially an outside run play) that lost yardage against Hawai'i and we had only 3 against Indiana on 26 carries.
First off, this is a perfect case where the exception proves the rule - and the rule is that our OL is not good. Going from 6 TFLs to 3 on one hand looks like the Titanic is still sinking - but just a bit more slowly. But I'd maintain that any OL that executes its blocking scheme properly should be able to squeeze out at least a yard or two on most run plays, even if it's physically outmanned. TFLs happen when there is a blown assignment, and so I think this shows that the OL run execution was actually a bit better versus a much better defensive line in Indiana than it was week 1 against Hawai'i. Any negative play will likely be a drive killer for this offense this season, so they simply cannot afford to get off schedule due to penalties, sacks, and TFLs in the run game, and they did make a bit of headway in this one regard.
Yeah, of course, it isn't much. All of us including myself realize the OL isn't good enough, and a certain community member here has been banging on for two decades about how "Line Wins Games!" It's just a basic tenet of football. If the two teams flipped quarterbacks last weekend, maybe the final score is a little closer, but the W and the L don't change. And Dimitri don't you dare let that pos Chip Kelly off the hook because he's the one who left this roster - and probably nowhere worse than the OL - way too thin to be competitive right now,.
Now even if the OL gets its execution right, picking off 2-3 yards per carry isn't gonna move the chains or slow down a pass rush or bring a safety up out of coverage and create space for our receivers. But these are the things I'll be looking for this season, little improvements from game to game. Will we pressure the QB better? Can our receivers get a bit better separation? Can the DB's cover tighter? Does our pass pro get more reliable? Will play calling suit Garber's abilities better? If these things trend better, then maybe this team and staff can give us reason to look forward to Cs and maybe Bs in the future.
This team is bad, bad, bad. GBruin is right, it’s all on Chip, but realising that doesn’t help fix the mess we’re in. I still think we’ll win a game or two from here, but hard to see more than 3 on the year.
Where to from here is the question? I’m more convinced we need to change the whole coaching staff, the quicker the better. Foster seems like a good guy, but I don’t think he’s got what UCLA needs right now. First, I think that we need a coach who’s not trying to bring the NFL to college. One of the things I like about CFB is how good coaches invent and adapt to overcome differences in ability. This is something we’re going to need as we rebuild as there’s a big gap between us and the other teams in the Big 10. Second, while the portal can fix a hole or 2, we really need so much (especially on both lines) that HS recruiting over a few years is key.
I was also going to add - I’m not sure where UCLA is at with NIL. It seems like we’ve been behind in getting this sorted, but not sure if it’s still a big problem. I can’t see that there is any fundamental reason that UCLA wouldn’t have a decent NIL pitch, but don’t know enough about it.
Coach Foster has been a great high school recruiter so far. I can't recall who previously commented about it, but he was spot on... the main problem is at the top.
Post Chuck Young, UCLA has had total losers as chancellors when it came to Football - Carnesale and Blockhead didn't care if we lost every game. They are to blame for the mess we are in right now.
I am not defending the hire of EB or Castillo or... EB is a mess and IMHO abusive toward the players. Castillo is a failure as the OL is a disaster. But if the top leadership problem isn't fixed then I agree with the prior commenter - nothing is going to change.
The next 'Chancellor' is nothing more than an establishment hack for 'healthcare.' He left Miami in a mess with their Anniversary celebration - he had no loyalty to Miami and he has no love for UCLA. One more blunder to further sink UCLA Football.
Donut Dan and Jelly Jarmond are simply outcomes of our poor leadership, and the domino effect is in full force.
Hi,Tamara happy Fall. I agree with you that we haven't had top leadership that appreciated our legacy as a football power,nor B-ball. Funny you should mention Miami,my other alma mater.
Hi Jim! Happy Fall to you my friend 💙💛 So you are part Cane... 😊 It's a really good school! Frenk left at a critical time and Miami was not happy with the way he exited. I honestly do not believe we are in good hands with the ole Julio - it greatly saddens me.
Couldn't agree more with you and Dmitry that recruiting the offensive line needs to be built through HS recruiting to develop continuity - "recruiting" needs to be "and" - portal and HS - not "or"...
Ugh...
Well....at least we can say that we have the best weather in the country...and the worst college football team in the country.
I found some good news... I went back to the play by play from the first two games and there was an area of improvement in our number of offensive run plays for loss. I counted 6 run plays out of 21 (including one lateral swing pass that is essentially an outside run play) that lost yardage against Hawai'i and we had only 3 against Indiana on 26 carries.
First off, this is a perfect case where the exception proves the rule - and the rule is that our OL is not good. Going from 6 TFLs to 3 on one hand looks like the Titanic is still sinking - but just a bit more slowly. But I'd maintain that any OL that executes its blocking scheme properly should be able to squeeze out at least a yard or two on most run plays, even if it's physically outmanned. TFLs happen when there is a blown assignment, and so I think this shows that the OL run execution was actually a bit better versus a much better defensive line in Indiana than it was week 1 against Hawai'i. Any negative play will likely be a drive killer for this offense this season, so they simply cannot afford to get off schedule due to penalties, sacks, and TFLs in the run game, and they did make a bit of headway in this one regard.
Yeah, of course, it isn't much. All of us including myself realize the OL isn't good enough, and a certain community member here has been banging on for two decades about how "Line Wins Games!" It's just a basic tenet of football. If the two teams flipped quarterbacks last weekend, maybe the final score is a little closer, but the W and the L don't change. And Dimitri don't you dare let that pos Chip Kelly off the hook because he's the one who left this roster - and probably nowhere worse than the OL - way too thin to be competitive right now,.
Now even if the OL gets its execution right, picking off 2-3 yards per carry isn't gonna move the chains or slow down a pass rush or bring a safety up out of coverage and create space for our receivers. But these are the things I'll be looking for this season, little improvements from game to game. Will we pressure the QB better? Can our receivers get a bit better separation? Can the DB's cover tighter? Does our pass pro get more reliable? Will play calling suit Garber's abilities better? If these things trend better, then maybe this team and staff can give us reason to look forward to Cs and maybe Bs in the future.
Thanks Greg for your research. Miss your Sunday morning writing but also appreciate Joes.
We'll see. it looks bad though. Right now is there another game on the schedule where UCLA is favored?
Maybe Fresno State?
This team is bad, bad, bad. GBruin is right, it’s all on Chip, but realising that doesn’t help fix the mess we’re in. I still think we’ll win a game or two from here, but hard to see more than 3 on the year.
Where to from here is the question? I’m more convinced we need to change the whole coaching staff, the quicker the better. Foster seems like a good guy, but I don’t think he’s got what UCLA needs right now. First, I think that we need a coach who’s not trying to bring the NFL to college. One of the things I like about CFB is how good coaches invent and adapt to overcome differences in ability. This is something we’re going to need as we rebuild as there’s a big gap between us and the other teams in the Big 10. Second, while the portal can fix a hole or 2, we really need so much (especially on both lines) that HS recruiting over a few years is key.
I was also going to add - I’m not sure where UCLA is at with NIL. It seems like we’ve been behind in getting this sorted, but not sure if it’s still a big problem. I can’t see that there is any fundamental reason that UCLA wouldn’t have a decent NIL pitch, but don’t know enough about it.
Coach Foster has been a great high school recruiter so far. I can't recall who previously commented about it, but he was spot on... the main problem is at the top.
Post Chuck Young, UCLA has had total losers as chancellors when it came to Football - Carnesale and Blockhead didn't care if we lost every game. They are to blame for the mess we are in right now.
I am not defending the hire of EB or Castillo or... EB is a mess and IMHO abusive toward the players. Castillo is a failure as the OL is a disaster. But if the top leadership problem isn't fixed then I agree with the prior commenter - nothing is going to change.
The next 'Chancellor' is nothing more than an establishment hack for 'healthcare.' He left Miami in a mess with their Anniversary celebration - he had no loyalty to Miami and he has no love for UCLA. One more blunder to further sink UCLA Football.
Donut Dan and Jelly Jarmond are simply outcomes of our poor leadership, and the domino effect is in full force.
Hi,Tamara happy Fall. I agree with you that we haven't had top leadership that appreciated our legacy as a football power,nor B-ball. Funny you should mention Miami,my other alma mater.
Hi Jim! Happy Fall to you my friend 💙💛 So you are part Cane... 😊 It's a really good school! Frenk left at a critical time and Miami was not happy with the way he exited. I honestly do not believe we are in good hands with the ole Julio - it greatly saddens me.
💯
Couldn't agree more with you and Dmitry that recruiting the offensive line needs to be built through HS recruiting to develop continuity - "recruiting" needs to be "and" - portal and HS - not "or"...
And no more passionless NFL guys please!
The problem beating Fresno State is motivation. It's a huge game for FSU, and for us it's a downer game easy to overlook.
I really don't see another win on the schedule.
Thank you Dimitri. Appreciate your dedication even in tough times.
Sigh.It's gonna be a long Autumn.