7 Things Learned Or Confirmed

1)      First even though Prince was not ready to play by any means or starch of ones imagination the coaching staff went with him and stuck with him. Lesson learned: we are stuck with Prince no matter what. To bad because he does not have what it takes IMHO. He STILL looks at only one receiver and is still highly in accurate in his throws often throw behind the receivers and short on the long balls. Take his long ball to Embree(?) and easy six with a good throw. Instead all we get is a pass interference call, which results in another FG. Princes stats 9-26-2 a paltry 120 yards and a fumble to boot. Same old Prince all show but no substance when it really counts. To me we need a play maker back there I say high time the staff puts in Brehaut or Bell or Crissman could they be worse? I mean 9-26 LOL any fool can do that. Prime example Fourth Quarter UCLA is excellent field position at KSU’s 44 yard line UCLA down 17-13. Short field time to take it in all the way and put UCLA on top. Sorry we all know better, Prince fumbles and another scoring opportunity goes down the tube.

2)      Pistol or no Pistol the offense is much the same, in a word: INEPT. Dropped passes, bad throws, dumb penalties, missed assignments and strange play calling. Come on now we have a 6’ 5” receiver going up against some 5’ 8” corners and we cannot throw a fade in the endzone? We throw one pass to the tight end? UCLA comes out throwing against a Defense with a small line and we have a QB who has missed a month of practice so instead of running a little to get the game going we pass pass pass take the whole team out of rhythm for the entire game and rest the success on a poor excuse for a QB in Prince. In this game UCLA should have run more and try to wear out KSU’s line much as KSU did to UCLA’s defense. UCLA has no sense of the long ball each game they try to move the sticks, short passes, runs up the middle all resulting in long time consuming drive attempts and seldom pressures the other team with a deep ball. So much for using UCLA speedsters. Hey anyone see Randle Carroll? How about Smith UCLA’s deep threat or as a punt returner?

3)      Coleman nice big tippy toe back please for the entire program sake bench this dude or make him starting full back. Please he is keeping the ball out of the true game breakers hand such as Franklin and Jones. Yeah he had a 5+ yard per carry average but then he should have with the holes he had. Trouble is he is not going to break off a long run to the house.

4)      UCLA another thing that did not change: The other team taking the ball on their first possession and driving it down UCLA’s throat. Will that ever end?

5)      UCLA defense collapsing on third downs and any real situation where the game would turn or be put away still remains. 3^rd down conversion rate yesterday KSU 8-16 enough said on that. UCLA’s third down rate 3-13. Biggest disappointment toss up between UCLA giving up a TD drive on KSU’s first drive of the second half or giving up the TD drive in the fourth quarter AFTER UCLA had closed the gap to 17-16 with 6:28 to play.

6)      UCLA’s inability to keep drives alive and score TD’s instead of FGs.

7)      Coaching seems the same, slow to react to the other team, failing to inspire the team to rise to the occasion and PLAYING NOT TO LOSE. Failing to have to team properly prepared. Failing to use all the talent available to its fullest. This game more than all the others I set squarely on the coaching staff. This is not three years ago with a team of so so players and a having lost its 2 QBs before the season. No there is talent here but the staff has either failed to develop it or use it fully or does not trust that they have the talent now to expand the game beyond playing go keep the game tight and win it in the fourth quarter.

My first game grading:

Coaching

Grade F: This team was not prepared in either aspect of having the players ready to play or a game plan to take advantage of the other teams shortcomings. It also failed once again to change to what developed in the game.

QB

Grade F: 3-16 third down conversion, 9-26 for 120 yards, bad passes, 2 ints and a huge fumble says it all.

OL line

Grade B-: For being basically a patchwork group not to bad. They did get some push; in fact UCLA wins this IF the coaches had tried to run more.

Receivers & F Back

Grade F: Just a total break down overall. Dropped passes set the tone and failure to get space from the defenders. A total lack of game changing BIG PLAYS.

Tight Ends

Grade F: None existence in this offense.

Defensive line

Grade C: Some pressure and some stops in the first half keep this from being lower but the total breakdown in the second half is highly disappointing.

Linebackers

Grade C-: Same as the D-line some stops and some made plays but out to lunch with the game on the line. Maybe even a D because of Ayers and his stupid penalty.

Secondary

Grade B-: Although not really tested through the air played decently. Tony Dye had a good game and never gave up 15 tackles.

Special Teams Kicking

Grade A: Forbath three for three. Lock 45.7 yards per punt and Four Kickoffs into/out of the endzone.

Special Teams Returns

Grade C-: Embree nothing special and not a threat. Smith look good on his 2 kick off returns.

Special Teams Coverage

Grade C: Okay but the 20-yard punt return punt return set up KSU with great field position on their first drive that went for a TD.

Well enough said. See you all next week at the Rose Bowl!

GO BRUINS BEAT stanford!