Some unfortunate news there. Happened to watch some of the UCLA/Hawaii game wherein the Bruins manhandled the Rainbow Warriors 44-10. Stout running game and good defense. Ethan Garbers QB'd once DTR was removed.
UCLA was flashing this kind of performance last season. How our panel of experts could rate the Bruins behind Cal in the conference power rankings is somewhat mystifying to me. We will know a hell of a lot more in a week. I read some of the Nevada blogs, and they are confidently - or arrogantly - predicting a fairly easy victory.
Well, guess what this Cal writer is going to confidently - or arrogantly - predict 😝
Regarding UCLA though, I did that because UCLA under Chip Kelly has repeatedly failed to match expectations despite the talent they have on the roster. I bought in early on UCLA when Kelly started, and that was a mistake -- they suffered blowout after blowout even as Vegas favorites, etc. So now in my view they're bad until proven good, and unfortunately, I didn't like what I saw in the UCLA game. UCLA is not getting much respect for blowing out Hawaii, and while I was a bit baffled at their gameplan and how unprepared they seemed to be for UCLA, I have to say that Hawaii is not a bad team at all -- in fact, they were the first team to beat Nevada last season. So if we do struggle against Nevada, I think it's definitely an indication of where Cal and UCLA should be relative to each other on the Power Rankings.
I did not like what I saw in the UCLA game, either. It pissed me off that Hawaii could not even put up a fight. But as the announcers pointed out, Kelly inherited one of the youngest rosters in college football after a bunch of talented players decided they did not want to stick around in his system. At one point, they had only 57 scholarship players on their roster. Those kids are all grown up now and playing at a scary level. And how the hell did they get Charbonnet from Michigan as a transfer? He was a beast in that game. I will be watching how they do against LSU next week as long as it does not interfere with our game.
Charbonnet was getting buried in the depth chart at UM and they weren't giving him a bunch of minutes. Also, yeah Hawaii got run over even though DTR couldn't hit the ocean with a pass. UCLA beating them like that was due to just having a bigger/stronger/faster team and running the ball down their throats. Shouldn't work against a prepared Pac-12 defense who will load 8 into the box.
So follow the logic here for a moment.....Hawaii actually beat Nevada last year, and both teams play in a smaller conference that competes for a less talented pool of recruits. So Cal on paper should have a bigger/stronger/faster team and be able to run the ball down Nevada's throats. Or throw the ball downfield at will. I don't think any of those things are going to happen. I predict a tight game that will be decided late into the fourth quarter.
My point is that UCLA's resurgence is being dismissed too casually. Their offense ran over Pac 12 teams last year, and they are better....much better...this year with an improved defense. They are going to make some noise in the conference this year, DTR not withstanding.
Hawaii's tackling was awful. If DTR can't complete a pass they are going to have a long season as opponents can just scheme to stop the run game. And future opponents with more talented skill players could take advantage of the constant blitzing and stacking the box that UCLA employed. So in my opinion the jury is still out on the Bruins.
Some unfortunate news there. Happened to watch some of the UCLA/Hawaii game wherein the Bruins manhandled the Rainbow Warriors 44-10. Stout running game and good defense. Ethan Garbers QB'd once DTR was removed.
UCLA was flashing this kind of performance last season. How our panel of experts could rate the Bruins behind Cal in the conference power rankings is somewhat mystifying to me. We will know a hell of a lot more in a week. I read some of the Nevada blogs, and they are confidently - or arrogantly - predicting a fairly easy victory.
Well, guess what this Cal writer is going to confidently - or arrogantly - predict 😝
Regarding UCLA though, I did that because UCLA under Chip Kelly has repeatedly failed to match expectations despite the talent they have on the roster. I bought in early on UCLA when Kelly started, and that was a mistake -- they suffered blowout after blowout even as Vegas favorites, etc. So now in my view they're bad until proven good, and unfortunately, I didn't like what I saw in the UCLA game. UCLA is not getting much respect for blowing out Hawaii, and while I was a bit baffled at their gameplan and how unprepared they seemed to be for UCLA, I have to say that Hawaii is not a bad team at all -- in fact, they were the first team to beat Nevada last season. So if we do struggle against Nevada, I think it's definitely an indication of where Cal and UCLA should be relative to each other on the Power Rankings.
I did not like what I saw in the UCLA game, either. It pissed me off that Hawaii could not even put up a fight. But as the announcers pointed out, Kelly inherited one of the youngest rosters in college football after a bunch of talented players decided they did not want to stick around in his system. At one point, they had only 57 scholarship players on their roster. Those kids are all grown up now and playing at a scary level. And how the hell did they get Charbonnet from Michigan as a transfer? He was a beast in that game. I will be watching how they do against LSU next week as long as it does not interfere with our game.
Charbonnet was getting buried in the depth chart at UM and they weren't giving him a bunch of minutes. Also, yeah Hawaii got run over even though DTR couldn't hit the ocean with a pass. UCLA beating them like that was due to just having a bigger/stronger/faster team and running the ball down their throats. Shouldn't work against a prepared Pac-12 defense who will load 8 into the box.
So follow the logic here for a moment.....Hawaii actually beat Nevada last year, and both teams play in a smaller conference that competes for a less talented pool of recruits. So Cal on paper should have a bigger/stronger/faster team and be able to run the ball down Nevada's throats. Or throw the ball downfield at will. I don't think any of those things are going to happen. I predict a tight game that will be decided late into the fourth quarter.
My point is that UCLA's resurgence is being dismissed too casually. Their offense ran over Pac 12 teams last year, and they are better....much better...this year with an improved defense. They are going to make some noise in the conference this year, DTR not withstanding.
Hawaii's tackling was awful. If DTR can't complete a pass they are going to have a long season as opponents can just scheme to stop the run game. And future opponents with more talented skill players could take advantage of the constant blitzing and stacking the box that UCLA employed. So in my opinion the jury is still out on the Bruins.
So bummed for Woodson. This was going to be his year....
Bummer about Curley Young, great kid and family. I wonder if he is staying at Cal to get his degree?
Hope so.