Defensive Player of the Week

Wow, so I actually predicted something right! I thought a UCLA defensive player might step up and win a conference honor this week and Trey Brown did just that. His two interceptions , a partially blocked punt, and 8 tackles earned him the honors. UCLA has had a conference honor in all 3 phases of the game (offense, defense, and special teams) and a player has earned an award in 4 of the 5 weeks. Ben Olson, Aaron Perez, Matt Slater, and now Trey Brown have all been given kudos for their performances.

Oregon State Farks

We took a page from the UCLA offense this week on Bruin Roar, and decided that when it comes to the farkive, it is always better late than never. So, despite the fact that its already Sunday, here is a paultry sum of Beav farks. Enjoy.

Running With the PAC: Week 4

So, a little late with my recap of last week's games. I've had a couple of really busy days at work and it doesn't look like things will slow down anytime soon. Anyways, on to football!

We saw the real start of PAC-10 play this last Saturday as all 10 teams locked horns in conference show downs. I already discussed the UCLA game, but I also wanted to note that Matt Slater was awarded the PAC-10 special teams award of the week. This is the 3rd week that a UCLA player has won a conference award (Olson - offense, Perez - Special Teams). We'll see if a defensive player can get the nod this week as we head to Corvallis to take on Oregon State.

Speaking of the Beavers, they struggled again this week with their quarterback play. Sean Canfield ended up throwing 5 interceptions in their loss to Arizona State. They actually jumped out to a quick start but Rudy Carpenter and company stormed back and ended up winning 44 - 32. Carpenter ended up throwing for 361 yards and 4 touchdowns and the junior has regained some of the magic from his freshman season. The Beavers are becoming a one dimensional team that relies heavily on Yvenson Bernard to move the chains. Their defense, though, is pretty good against the run when their offense isn't handing the ball over every other series. The Bruins may have a hard time running this week so Olson will have to deliver.

The Trojans whipped the field with Washington State to nobody's surprise. They've extended their home winning streak to something like a million games. I don't know if anyone is going to be able to beat them at the Coliseum this season, the Bruins included. What's interesting is that they are primarily racking up yards on the ground. That is a big departure from last season when the Trojans were high flying and Booty was the focal point of the offense. Don't get me wrong, Booty is still putting together good performances, it's just that the numbers show more of a running game developing.

The Bears got their revenge on Arizona for last season's shocking loss in Tuscon. They came out and punched the Wildcats in the mouth early, scoring 4 touchdowns in the first quarter. Things settled down after that but Stoop's boys never really threatened in that game. Longshore put up some rather pedestrian numbers only throwing 1 TD with 1 INT but he moved the chains with 235 yards passing. It was the Bear running backs that took all the glory. With a combination of Forsett, Montgomery, and Best racking up 186 yards and 4 touchdowns. California continues to press for their place as the 2nd best team in the conference.

The final matchup pitted Oregon versus Stanford on the Farm. The Ducks proved once again that their offense is potent, scoring 55 points and racking up 589 yards. The flip side of that is that their defense proved to be just as bad, giving up 402 yards and allowing the team to trail hapless Stanford 31-24 at the half. I can't quite figure out if Oregon is really good. They show flashes of brilliance but also seem to have glaring weaknesses as well. Stanford, to their credit, is a scrappy team that you can't take lightly. They will shock a team, or two, this season.

Betting on the Bruins: Oregon State

This last week proved why I wouldn't bet real money on UCLA. You never know what team your going to get. UCLA has covered the spread 3 times this year and 3 times they've hit the over. With the yards and points our defense is giving up each week, I don't think you'll see an under bet for a while.

So, looking at the Beavers, they have a pretty good defense. Well, at least they are pretty good against the run. They give up a lot of points, but it's hard to defend your field when your QB is giving away a NCAA leading 9 interceptions. UCLA has been absurdly bad on the road and Olson at QB doesn't give me any more confidence. If the Bruins can't move the ball on the ground then even more pressure falls on Ben's shoulders.

Looking at the latest odds, Oregon State is a 2.5 point favorite. Which is basically a toss-up. The over is at 54 and that's starting to push up. I'll take the Beavers minus the points and the over, because ... well, I have no confidence that either defense will keep this game low scoring.

History

• UW. O/U: 47. My pick: Under. Actual: 75. -$100.
• UW. UCLA -6.5. My pick: Washington plus points. Actual: UCLA + 13. -$100.
• Utah. O/U: 43.4. My pick: Over. Actual: 50. +$100.
• Utah. UCLA -14. My pick UCLA minus points. Actual: Utah +38. -$100.
• BYU. O/U: 46. My pick: Under. Actual: 44. +$100.
  
• BYU. ULCA -7.5. My pick: UCLA minus points. Actual: UCLA +10. +$100.
  
• Stanford. O/U: 46..5 My pick: Under. Actual: 62 . -$100.
  
• Stanford. UCLA -17. My pick: UCLA minus points. Actual: UCLA +28 =: +$100.
  

Disclaimer

I am not actually gambling on these games. This is entirely for fun. I know nothing about gambling and have no insider information. If you actually bet on these games using my predictions you are crazy and will likely lose all of your money

Konrad Reuland Leaves Notre Dame

If you've followed UCLA recruiting over the years then the name Konrad Reuland might ring a bell. The former Mission Viejo Diablo was a highly ranked, and highly recruited, tight end in the 2006 class. It came down to USC, UCLA, and Notre Dame for his services and Konrad chose the Irish over his southland favorites.

It looks like Reuland might have a change of heart. After spending 1+ seasons in South Bend, Konrad has left Notre Dame and is headed back home. He will likely enroll at a local JC and finish out the 2007 season earning his associate degree. The reason for his departure isn't clear but playing time may have been a factor with the big tight end 3rd on the depth chart. He did play in 11 games over the last two season, but mainly in a reserve role.

He had this to say to the South Bend Tribune, “Basically, it came down to the fact I wasn’t happy with where I was. It was combination of things, not just football, not just the school. I wanted badly to be happy again, and felt this move was the best thing for me".

Why should you care? Well, Reuland will be a big time prospect again this winter and the Bruins are sure to figure into his final decision. USC is also interested and Stanford might be in the mix as Konrad's younger brother, Warren, is committed to the Cardinal for the 2008 season. It sounds like Konrad wants to be near family and friends to that would put UCLA near the front of the pack for his services.

Reuland's key measurables: 6'6", 240 lbs. Both Rivals and Scout ranked Reuland as one of the top-3 tight ends in the country when he graduated high school. Scout gave him 5-stars and Rivals 4-star. With 3 years of eligibility left, Reuland can open up his recruiting to any school after completing his associate degree at a local Junior College.

(photo credit: scout.com)

I Don't F*%$ Know

Seems like fans and sports writers love to analyze the comments of coaches and players. There's even a term for the convoluted, cliche-laced responses of coaches... "coach speak". Well, finally a player decided to just cut through all the crap and speak his mind. When Arizona State quarterback Rudy Carpenter was asked how his team came back from a 19-point deficit to beat Oregon State this last weekend he had this response:





Nice! Nothing like live radio. Of course, in our politically correct society, Carpenter had to apologize for what he said.

Having Fun...

I have to say, even though UCLA made its fair share of mistakes on Saturday, it was fun watching that crazy shoot out finish. The prior 6 quarters of football ( 2nd half of BYU and the entire Utah game) were just down right painful to watch. This week we had running touchdowns, passing touchdowns, a kick return for a TD, a punt return for a TD (that was called back.. aggh!), and a pick-6. Plus two trick plays in one game! Be still my beating heart!

Saturday also saw another page added to the mythology of Pat Cowan. With only one week of practice under his belt, he cobbled together a gutsy effort. His finaly numbers ( 17-30 (56%), 1 TD, 1 INT, 147 yards passing, 10 yards rushing ) don't tell the story of timely competitions and opportune scrambles that kept alive crucial drives. Pat didn't complete a lot of passes but he completed passes when the team needed them. Just when it looks like we might have a viable option to Ben, Pat tears his MCL and will more than likely miss a lot of games this year (the MRI today will give the definitive word).

Welcome back Chris Markey! Where have you been the last three weeks? Markey's 198 yards and 1 TD were sorely needed, especially with the quarterback depth getting scary thin. I was also glad to see Bell get the starting nod. His final numbers were not as impressive ( 109 yards and 1 TD) but he is emerging as the work horse back for this team. If the offensive line can continue to provide them holes then this two-headed monster could really emerge as a force.

Like a swig of Pepto Bismo, the victory yesterday makes you feel at least a little bit better about the program right now. But, at the same time, you know that the underlying problem could rear its ugly head again. The 10 penalties did their best to kill Bruin drives and keep the Huskies in the game. The play calling and game plan were great in my opinion, but it makes you scratch your head and wonder why we didn't bring that cram-it-down-your-throat style last week against a Utah squad vulnerable against the run. This team seems to show up some weeks and not others and the roller coaster ride called UCLA football doesn't look like it is going to end anytime soon.

If they didn't have all those mistakes then the Bruins could have really dominated that game. Pretty impressive considering that Washington is turning out to be a very good team. Jake Locker is the real deal and it is scary to think that kid is only a freshman. I think, at the end of the season, we'll look back at this as a tough, solid win. Up next we have Oregon State and a game, on paper anyways, that is absolutely winnable. UCLA has been near perfect at home the last 2+ season (14-1) but awful when playing outside the Rose Bowl ( 6-8). The game is up in Corvallis this year and I can't say I'm confident that we'll win. We'll just have to strap-in, pull down the safety bar and enjoy the ride.

Is Pat Cowan the Answer?

Well, since I asked this question about Ben Olson two weeks ago, I thought it only fair to try and answer the same question about Pat Cowan. When I wrote that article about Ben, I didn't think Pat would be available to play for a while. As it turns out, he's not only going to play this Saturday but he is the starting quarterback. So, is Pat the right man for the job?

Unfortunately, I don't think we'll get the answer this weekend. Pat has just recently returned to full practices after a month of recovering from a groin injury. While the coaches have publicly expressed confidence that Cowan is ready to go, you have to believe that he'll be slowed by the injury. Since Pat's main strength is his scrambling ability, he likely won't be as effective at running as he was last season. That being said, Cowan does bring some different and potentially beneficial skills to the position for the Bruins.

The biggest change that Cowan brings is that he can move (even if he isn't 100%). He's no Vince Young, but he does force opponents to take his running threat seriously. Nobody is worried about Ben running and teams can drop lots of defenders back into coverage on obvious passing downs.

Another difference that Pat posses is that he throws well on the run. With the O-line stinking it up, a mobile QB can buy some extra time. Ben's accuracy declines dramatically on the move, or at least that's the impression I've gotten this year. If Pat gets on the move then the defense has to respect his running ability and that can allow a receiver to get open if the line backers key on Cowan.

The final thing I like about Cowan is that he has a level head. Pressure doesn't seem to effect him and he stays calm in difficult situations. That makes him a gamer in my book and the fruits of his cool demeanor was that big win over USC last season. When Olson gets rattled, he starts trying to force passes and that gets him into trouble.

Not everything is peachy keen with Pat. His accuracy when passing is worse than Ben. He doesn't have the same arm strength or touch as Olson and the chances of him turning into a big time quarterback aren't very likely. Cowan also doesn't have any better grasp on this offense then any of the other quarterbacks and that has lead to stalled drives and scoring droughts in the past.

I wouldn't expect a lot from Pat in this game. His injury probably will limit how well he can play. If he can just manage the game, limit turnovers, and keep a few drives alive then that's about the most we can expect. It will really fall on the rest of the team to make the plays that earn UCLA a victory this week.

With Ben cleared to return to practice, he will likely take back the starting position next week. Unless Pat puts together a spectacular performance (which isn't likely), I don't see Dorrell replacing the southpaw. It would be good to see Pat get healthy and back in shape in case he is needed later in the season. With the kind of protection the line has been providing this season, he might get called upon sooner rather than later.

(photo credit: Ghetty Images)

Betting on the Bruins: Washington

Ah the Utah game. Like everyone else, I never imagined the Utes creaming us. I took the Bruins minus the points and got absolutely crushed. The upside, from a gambling perspective, is that I took the over and Utah covered that single handedly. Ouch!

Up next is Washington. Boy, I thought last week was hard to call! If I was gambling real money, I would skip this game because I have no idea what this team is going to do on Saturday. But that would be no fun and since we're playing with funny-money anyways, I'll take my best guess.

The latest line, as of this morning, is UCLA -6.5 with an over/under of 47. If the Bruins are going to win then it will be close. Pat is under center but he hasn't really practiced much this year with the groin injury. That will likely limit his mobility and he won't be in top physical shape having limited activity over the last month. Washington's duel threat quarterback looks like a big problem, but his passing accuracy has declined since their opener over Syracuse (gee.. that sounds familiar). Still, he gets it done on the ground. We're back at the Rose Bowl, where the Bruins have gone 13-1 over the last 2+ seasons. Tough call.

I'm going to pick UW plus the points. I just don't think our offense will move the ball effectively against a pretty good Husky defense. I think our defense will play better, simple out of sheer pride, but another spread offense doesn't give me warm fuzzies about our chances. I'll take the under and bank on our defense rebounding enough to keep UW in the low twenties.

History

• Utah. O/U: 43.4. My pick: Over. Actual: 50. +$100.
• Utah. UCLA -14. My pick UCLA minus points. Actual: Utah +38. -$100.
• BYU. O/U: 46. My pick: Under. Actual: 44. +$100.
  
• BYU. ULCA -7.5. My pick: UCLA minus points. Actual: UCLA +10. +$100.
  
• Stanford. O/U: 46..5 My pick: Under. Actual: 62 . -$100.
  
• Stanford. UCLA -17. My pick: UCLA minus points. Actual: UCLA +28 =: +$100.
  

Disclaimer

I am not actually gambling on these games. This is entirely for fun. I know nothing about gambling and have no insider information. If you actually bet on these games using my predictions you are crazy and will likely lose all of your money.

Pat Cowan to Start Against Washington

Just a quick note. Pat will be staring against the Huskies this week. Let's hope that change can spark a little life and energy into this team and give the offense a new dimension with his scrambling, throw-on-the-go style. I also hope Ben recovers from his headaches this week and is ready to play in case we need him.