Pac-10 Updates

[Conan]

So it's official...

For the sake of wrapping up the Olson QB issue at UCLA, there is this latest report:
Olson to miss at least five games after foot surgery

Associated Press
Updated: August 12, 2008, 8:52 PM ET

<!-- end page tools --><!-- begin story body --> <!-- template inline -->LOS ANGELES -- UCLA quarterback Ben Olson had surgery on Tuesday to place a new screw and do a bone graft in his broken right foot.
Olson, a senior whose career has been interrupted by a string of injuries and had sustained the same injury in spring practice, is expected to miss at least two months and five games.
The Bruins open their season at home against Tennessee on Sept. 1.
Olson re-injured his foot at practice on Saturday when he faked a handoff and took a misstep.
He has started 10 games over the past two seasons and missed 11 games because of various injuries. He had been relegated to the backup role behind Patrick Cowan last spring, but Cowan had surgery after hurting his knee in spring practice and will miss the season.
Junior college transfer Kevin Craft and redshirt freshman Chris Forcier are expected to compete for the starting job in Olson's absence. (end)



So it's a done deal. UCLA will be without a 1st string QB for 2 months. You probably already knew this but the latest word from on his medical condition confirms that Olson is out for 5 games and it means UCLA's QB problems are a done deal. Their QBs are hurting bad and their OL is also just as messed up.

On the other hand, glowing reports on their DL and LB's coming along nicely in practice. I think to survive, UCLA will be playing a ball control game and leaving it up to their defense to try and hold their opponents' offenses in check as much as possible and playing for field position. UCLA can't score much and that means some under plays will likely be the way to bet this team in the near future. (And I think UT will handle them easily in W1.)

 

[GarryP]

 

[Conan]

UW - more losses on the OL.

Another UW starter hurt

Tight end Gottlieb suffers strained hamstring

By MOLLY YANITY
P-I REPORTER
Facing a win-or-be-fired season for coach Tyrone Willingham, the Washington Huskies are succumbing to their first opponent - the injury bug.
Tuesday saw yet another projected starter out of action. Tight end Michael Gottlieb missed a full-pads afternoon practice with a strained hamstring.
Gottlieb joined quarterback Jake Locker (hamstring), tailback Brandon Johnson (knee), cornerback Byron Davenport (ankle) and backup tailback Brandon Yakaboski (hip flexor) on the sideline.
Willingham made Gottlieb's injury sound more severe than Locker's.
"It's little bit different (than Locker's strain) in terms of the location. Location complicates everything, but you anticipate some time off (and figure) about day-to-day," he said.



From a post 2 days ago:

Another blow to UW and this one hurts. Get on UO before the line gets out of hand.

"Things getting out of hand..." Hmmmm.

 

[Conan]

More Stanford tidbits.... (very little)

Scrimmage talk: Harbaugh assessed Tuesday's scrimmage as "crisp and physical."
The offense scored three touchdowns, two on runs by Blaise Johnson, listed as a safety on the roster in the team's media guide, and another on a swing pass from Pritchard to Toby Gerhart.
Safety Bo McNally had the defense's lone interception.
Linebacker Clinton Snyder said the defense needs to "get back to playing the way we did last year."
"We need everybody swarming around the ball," Snyder said. "We realized we still have a lot of work to do."
Kicking it: Harbaugh declined to reveal a depth chart for the rest of his roster with eight days officially remaining in training camp. But he did say that senior Aaron Zagory has won the place-kicking job, and Daniel Zychlinski is in line to be the No. 1 punter.
Redshirt freshman David Green, who had a back injury last season, is not ready, Harbaugh said.
40-second practice: The offense worked with the 40-second clock that has been instituted this season for its scrimmage and felt the pressure. Previously, teams had 25 seconds after the ball was set to snap. Now they have 40 seconds from the time the previous play is blown dead.
But Harbaugh said there were no delay-of-game penalties.
"They felt that it's faster and they liked the tempo," Harbaugh said. "It's something we need to practice more. It was good to see that we need to use it in our practices."






I sure hope that more information flows from Stanford practices over the next week or so. All this secrecy is not helping. I can't figure why Harbaugh would close everything up as he has but I think Harbaugh is grasping for any advantage he can get amidst the many issues left to resolve.... (???)

 

[UoweDucks]

Another UW starter hurt

Tight end Gottlieb suffers strained hamstring

By MOLLY YANITY
P-I REPORTER
Facing a win-or-be-fired season for coach Tyrone Willingham, the Washington Huskies are succumbing to their first opponent - the injury bug.
Tuesday saw yet another projected starter out of action. Tight end Michael Gottlieb missed a full-pads afternoon practice with a strained hamstring.
Gottlieb joined quarterback Jake Locker (hamstring), tailback Brandon Johnson (knee), cornerback Byron Davenport (ankle) and backup tailback Brandon Yakaboski (hip flexor) on the sideline.
Willingham made Gottlieb's injury sound more severe than Locker's.
"It's little bit different (than Locker's strain) in terms of the location. Location complicates everything, but you anticipate some time off (and figure) about day-to-day," he said.



From a post 2 days ago:



"Things getting out of hand..." Hmmmm.

Not only that but backup TE Chris Izbicki was cited last weekend for drunken disorderly conduct and MIP, he blew a .23

I cannot emphasize enough how difficult it will be for UW to move the ball offensively in week one. Their entire WR core has just 7 receptions in D1 football (and will be going against perhaps the best secondary in the country), their starting RB has a gimp knee, their starting and most experienced OL is most likely out, at TE will be their 3rd string guy and most importantly their hero QB Locker STILL CAN"T EVEN JOG WITH HIS PARTIALLY TORN HAMSTRING.



Husky Football Blog

Times reporter Bob Condotta keeps the news coming about the Montlake Dawgs.
E-mail Bob| Subscribe | Blog Home

August 12, 2008 4:01 PM
Afternoon practice notes

Posted by Bob Condotta
Just back from the media availability portion of practice today and here's what we saw:
--- The Huskies were in full pads looking ready for some heavy work.
--- The list of those not in full pads was: QB Jake Locker (hamstring), RBs Brandon Johnson (knee) and Brandon Yakaboski (hip flexor), DB Anthony Gobern (leg), CB Byron Davenport (ankle) and TE Michael Gottlieb (hamstring). All have previously disclosed injuries and are apparently all "day-to-day.''
--- Among the visitors to practice was two of the top recruits in the state --- Prosser WR Kirby Moore and Skyline WR Gino Simone. Locker talked to the pair for five minutes or so while the rest of the team was warming up.
--- Locker looked like he tried to jog for a second after being called to the practice field but resorted to a fast walk, instead. His leg was still heavily taped.

 

[asudevil88]

Good news with a local slant

It can't get worse.

Offensive line playing aggressively

16 comments by Doug Haller - Aug. 12, 2008 09:53 PM
The Arizona Republic

And on the ninth day of Arizona State fall football practice, the Sun Devils showed progress, particularly where it mattered most.

During a scrimmage that lasted around 85 plays, ASU's offensive line had a presence Tuesday morning, opening holes and providing protection.

"The offensive front played extremely well," coach Dennis Erickson said. "I thought they pass protected about as well as we've pass protected."

Tackle Jon Hargis, guard Shawn Lauvao, center Garth Gerhart, guard Paul Fanaikaand tackle Adam Tello made up the first-team unit.

On the scrimmage's fifth play, tailback Dimitri Nance broke through a hole on the left side and raced 25 yards. Later, the front gave quarterback Rudy Carpenter enough time to step up into the pocket and find receiver T.J. Simpson for 16 yards.

"It's a real disciplined group," Erickson said of the line, one of the team's major concerns. "They play hard. They're very aggressive. Tough guys.

"They want to be good. We're a long ways away, don't get me wrong, but it's something that was a pleasure to watch today."

Other scrimmage tidbits:


• Operating against the first-team defense, Carpenter audibled and threw a 14-yard touchdown pass to freshman Gerell Robinson, who continues to make a strong case for playing time.

"Obviously, Gerell stands out because he's competing for a starting position," Erickson said. "That's one thing I've always said about being hurt. If you're (out) too long, someone's going to beat your rear end out, and it's going to be hard to get back in the lineup. Gerell has taken a lot of snaps because we're short on receivers."


• Other true freshmen who have caught Erickson's eye include tailback Ryan Bass, defensive linemen Lawrence Guy and Jamaar Jarrett linebackers Brandon Magee and Shelly Lyons, and cornerback Josh Jordan.


• Backup quarterback Danny Sullivan connected with Simpson for the day's longest play, a 70-yard touchdown that developed after Simpson got behind cornerback Grant Crunkleton.

But overall, Erickson liked what he saw from the cornerbacks, an area of concern just a few weeks ago. Erickson estimates that the Sun Devils are four or five deep at the position.

Sophomore Omar Bolden has one starting spot locked up, but juniors Terell Carr and Pierre Singfield are among those battling for the other starting spot.


• Walk-on tailback James Morrison was hard to ignore, in one stretch running for 46 yards in three plays. Listed at 5 feet 11 and 220 pounds, Morrison - out of Phoenix St. Mary's High - provides a physical element that the Sun Devils lack in the backfield, even if they don't utilize it anytime soon.

"I'm shocked that he wasn't recruited by somebody," Erickson said.

"It's amazing to me. But thank God it didn't happen, because he's a big back."

 

[Conan]

It's too bad for Erickson that at this point he's pretty much stuck with whatever Dirk Koetter left behind. I wonder how long it will take him to get what he wants?

 

[Conan]

--- Locker looked like he tried to jog for a second after being called to the practice field but resorted to a fast walk, instead. His leg was still heavily taped.

Locker running around with a gimpy leg means UW loses the "other half" of its offense.

 

[GoSooners]

It's too bad for Erickson that at this point he's pretty much stuck with whatever Dirk Koetter left behind. I wonder how long it will take him to get what he wants?

It all depends on what kind of a season he has this year...I think it will be important for this team to keep up their momentum to build on recruiting..A winning season with a bowl game victory will help..Last season showed me they have a ways to go against the big boys...They just plain ole got out-physicaled against USC and Texas. Erickson needs to get a good class of big uglies this season...That's where it all starts.

 

[Conan]

Ucla

This exerpt caught my eye and sums up UCLA's offensive problems.

by Lisa Horn, Bleacher Report
Aug. 13, 2008

Yesterday's practice had all the tell-tale signs of a Bruins football program teetering on the verge of a meltdown. Khalil Bell, the starting running back, spiked his helmet into the ground after his O-line did a poor job of blocking for him. The running game, as it stands now, is non-existent due to the backs getting stuffed at the line.

How bad was it? Offensive tackle Micah Kia, one of the only returning starters on the line, said, "That wasn't good (expletive)! Two picks! Know your (expletive) assignments!" If Kia was frustrated, imagine how head coach Rick Neuheisel and offensive coordinator Norm Chow feel?

During the offseason, three linemen didn't return to this year's team due to injury or academic issues. This offensive line has been completely re-tooled, including a former walk-on who moved to the center position. The heart of the offense, the guy in charge of making blocking assignments, made the team as a walk-on.

Adding to the Bruins' misery is the dire quarterback situation. With no Pat Cowan or Olson available, the Bruins have to rely on Kevin Craft, a JUCO transfer who had only been on campus a few days before being thrust into the spring game's starting position after Cowan and Olson went down with injuries...

The advantage the Bruins do have is having Norm Chow mastermind the offense. If anyone can devise a scheme to incorporate all of the offense's strengths and minimize the deficiencies, it is Chow. But Chow can only be as good as his talent, and so far, the talent has shown its inexperience and youth.

Unless something drastic happens in the next two weeks, the Bruins are in trouble. The cards were already in play when the Bruins lost 25 lettermen—17 of them starters—at the beginning of spring practice.

 

[Conan]

Nice read about Lyle Moevao, Oregon St's. QB.

 

[AlwaysKeen]

so Kraft is the leading candidate to take the job over then?...

 

[Conan]

so Kraft is the leading candidate to take the job over then?...

Kevin Craft is a JC transfer with some playing time in CFB and pretty mediocre career stats. (ex SD St. HC Tom Craft's son.) Chris Forcier is a freshman out of HS. My guess is that both will see playing time.

Neither has done anything significant in practice. Pretty bland showings with plenty of mistakes.
Aside from those 2, I have no idea who else is a QB on UCLA's roster. Probably a walk on or 2.

 

[Conan]

This is a little more informative...

UCLA FOOTBALL
UCLA quarterback candidates: Rasshan, Forcier and Craft

Email Picture

Photos by Jay L. Clendenin and Lori Shepler / Los Angeles Times​

With starting quarterback Ben Olson injured and backup Patrick Cowan also sidelined, UCLA will have to turn to an inexperienced group that include Kevin Craft, left, Osaar Rasshan, center, and Chris Forcier for leadership.

[COLOR=#999999 ! important]By Chris Foster, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
August 12, 2008 [/COLOR]
UCLA opens the college football season in less than three weeks, and the Bruins will be without starting quarterback Ben Olson, who is out for eight weeks after he broke his foot in practice Saturday.

A replacement could come from a group that includes Chris Forcier, Osaar Rasshan and Kevin Craft.

• UCLA needs to settle on Ben Olson...
  
  
• Ben Olson out at least eight weeks but...
  
  

• UCLA has its cart but only USC has the horses
• Focus shifts behind the line, to quarterbacks

<!-- end google ads -->
Here's a look at the candidates:

OSAAR RASSHAN, UCLA
6-4, 215, junior
* Where he's from: Passed for 1,716 yards but completed less than 50% of his passes as a senior at Pomona Garey High. At UCLA, waited two seasons to play, then showed promise as a wide receiver last summer. (Coaches also mulled the idea of moving him to safety this spring.) Stayed at quarterback, but was orbiting the periphery of UCLA's quarterback universe after spring practice. Now he's returned from the outer rim.

* What he does well: Improvises. Had some success working out of the shotgun, nearly pulling off an upset over ninth-ranked Arizona State last year. Is so elusive that it's hard for defenders to get a clean hit on him. That could be useful playing behind an inexperienced offensive line.

* What he needs to work on: Passing accuracy has always been an issue. Has a strong arm, but there's always a chance he could break a car window in the parking lot next to Spaulding Field during practice.

* Career highlights: Had Arizona State on the ropes, when he passed for 181 yards and rushed for 41. The Bruins were set up for what might have been a winning touchdown drive, but Rasshan had a pass intercepted in the end zone. The next week, he started in a 16-0 win over Oregon and led the Bruins to two first-half field goals without completing a pass.

* What he says: "I think I need to show them that I can run the offense consistently and make plays. What they are looking for is a leader, someone to take charge."

* What they say about him: "Osaar is trying to come to terms with a new offense," Coach Rick Neuheisel said. "The one he executed last year was tailor made for him. Now it's a new deal."

-----

CHRIS FORCIER, UCLA

6-3, 195, redshirt freshman

* Where he's from: Drifted through his high school career, from Santa Ana Mater Dei to Carlsbad to San Diego St. Augustine, where he won back-to-back CIF section titles. Passed for 2,347 yards and 23 touchdowns and ran for 631 yards and 10 touchdowns as a senior in 2006. Had scholarship offers from 40 schools, including Miami and Florida.

* What he does well: Forcier is so fast getting out of the pocket he almost needs an Indy-car soundtrack. That ability to scramble -- fast, he ran the 100 and 200 meters in high school -- could serve him well this year. He has already shown the ability to create good things out of bad pass protection when flushed from the pocket, something that may happen often to Bruins quarterbacks this season.

* What he needs to work on: Sticking to the plan and staying in the pocket. "He has a tendency to want to get out of there," offensive coordinator Norm Chow said. "He's been getting by on athleticism so long."

* Career highlights: Those two section high school championships. Also the fact Forcier survived a year running the UCLA scout team against one of the best defenses in the Pacific 10 Conference.

* What he says: "I have to show them that I know what I'm doing out there and show them I can be a leader and run this team. That's what they're looking for, someone who knows the playbook inside and out and can show the other guys, to help them and have them trust you."

* What they say about him: "Chris, I think, has to grasp the whole package more," Coach Rick Neuheisel said. "I think he can execute plays. I don't think he knows how it all fits together."

-----

KEVIN CRAFT, UCLA

6-5, 205, junior

* Where he's from: The scenic tour of Southern California -- from San Diego's Valley Center High to San Diego State and then Mt. San Antonio College -- has landed in Westwood, where Craft was recruited out of high school. He chose to go play for his father, Tom, at San Diego State. Father and son hooked up again at Mt. SAC last season, after Tom was let go by San Diego State. UCLA took Kevin as an insurance policy, and that policy has come due.

* What he does well: Gets rid of the ball quickly, which could come in handy behind UCLA's inexperienced offensive line. He has experience on the collegiate level, playing nine games and starting five at San Diego State as a redshirt freshman in 2006.

* What he needs to work on: He needs to reduce the RPMs in his thought process, which will reduce the heart rates of his coaches. "A little baby goes to talk or wants to eat, they rush, because their brain is going before they can think things through," offensive coordinator Norm Chow said. "I think Kevin is like that."

* Career highlights: Led San Diego State to two of its three victories in 2006. Last season, threw two touchdown passes in the last 30 seconds to lead Mt. SAC to a come-from-behind victory over Bakersfield.

* What he says: "I have to come out here and be consistent with the checks and consistent with the throws. Every day until Sept. 1 . . . I have to keep progressing and try not to take steps back."

* What they say about him: "Kevin learns something after every snap," Coach Rick Neuheisel said. "Now, can he remember it to the next snap so it doesn't happen again? He's getting better at that, but he's not done yet."

 

[asudevil88]

Ask and you shall recieve

It's too bad for Erickson that at this point he's pretty much stuck with whatever Dirk Koetter left behind. I wonder how long it will take him to get what he wants?

This is from a local board:

The reality regarding our O-Line situation is that we're now paying the price for Koetter's piss-poor job recruiting in the trenches. I'm not piling on the guy; it's just a simple fact that, for as great an eye that he had for skill position players (you have to give him that, he had a real gift), he (and his staff, to be fair), was a mess at recuruiting O-linemen.
Look at his last 4 classes:
2006 - 1 OL recruit
Saia Falahola -- isn't he a D-lineman now?
2005
Richard Tuitu'u
Shawn Lauvao - a solid contributor
Thomas Altieri - finally a starter, due to Pollack
J.D. Walton - did this kid from Texas ever even report?
2004
Brent Russum -- ???
Jonathan Lehman -- ???
Leo Talavou -- left school few years ago
Bradis McGriff -- transferred to San Jose St.
None of these kids were expected by anyone to set the world on fire, and few of them have even stuck around to be molded/developed into players. We shouldn't be shocked that the upperclassmen cupboard is as bare as it is.
OL is one area where it seems to me that the HS recruiting analysts don't usually get it wrong -- the rare studs are really studs. However, OL is also the position in football where you can really turn a 2-star kid into an All-American if they've got a frame to work with and you've got the right program to build them up physically and teach them to be great technicians.
For as bad as the upperclass cupboard is on the O-line, our underclass cupboard is stocked, thanks to DE:
2007
Mike Marciz (OT) -- One of the Bay Area's best players
Matt Hustad (OT) -- Montana state POY
Adam Tello (OG) -- Norco beast
Toby Gerhart (C) -- Another Norco beast
2008
Tom Njunge JC (OT) -- At least a solid rotation player
Andrew Sampson (OG) -- Tall guy for a guard
Kyle Johnson (OT) -- Taller version of Norco beast
Zach Schlink (OT) -- Could be ready to play today
Patrick Jamison (OT) -- Could end up playing OG or OT
All of these guys are 6'4" (other that Gerhart, who'll only be a center), and in that 280-290 lb. range, and they're all more highly touted than anyone Koetter's team was able to bring in on the O-line.
I see these kids as being very good, with the right build to swing between OG and OT if necessary. I love the DE prototype O-lineman: tall and filled out, but
not overweight. 6'4"-6'6" and 280-290 = 300-310 with muscle after a year in the weight program. I'm actually bullish on the line, and I see Tuitu'u leaving as more "clearing out the old" to make room for the new.
Throw in Jon Hargis, and I think that we need to have confidence in DE to have prepared the 4 kids from the 2007 class to play by now, and to have signed 1-2 (or more) kids from this most recent class who can handle the college game right now.
It's better to be long on talent/size and short on experience than to be short on talent and long on experience (55 sacks, anyone?).

 

[Conan]

Oregon State's OL... a good read about Marcus Henderson.

You can't help but root for a guy like this and admire his character.

Here's his story.

 

[Conan]

Kevin Craft appears to have pulled ahead in his competition with Chris Forcier to earn the starting spot at quarterback for UCLA.


UCLA FOOTBALL
Kevin Craft appears to have earned UCLA starting quarterback job



Indications point to Craft, who has directed the first-team offense almost exclusively the last three practices. He has been competing with Chris Forcier to replace the injured Ben Olson.

By Chris Foster, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
August 14, 2008

Kevin Craft is looking more and more like UCLA's next starting quarterback. While it is not a done deal, the indications point to Craft, who has directed the first-team offense almost exclusively the last three practices.

Craft and Chris Forcier have been competing for the job since Ben Olson re-broke a bone in his right foot. While all the returns (and interceptions) have yet to be counted, the campaign seems tilted in Craft's direction.

 

[GarryP]

USC players have jock itch

25% of the team is affected. No word on whether Cushing or Maualuga were affected.


It's not as serious as, say, starting quarterback Mark Sanchez's dislocated kneecap, but the USC Trojans are suffering a new rash of injuries. Emphasis on rash.
According to a report in the Los Angeles Times, as much as 25% of the team has been affected by a run of tinea cruris, known more colloquially as "jock itch." Head coach Pete Carroll told the Times he'd never seen anything like the current outbreak and pointed a finger at new compression shorts the team has been wearing underneath their football pants.
"We've had to adjust to some new equipment that we're wearing that didn't work out right," Carroll said. "It's funny how that happened." You'll forgive tailback Joe McKnight and wide receiver Travon Patterson if they aren't laughing.
Both were unable to practice Wednesday because of the severity of the irritation."It burns," Patterson said.
"Sometimes they can't walk," said tailback Stafon Johnson. "I don't know what it is, but I'm staying away from it."
:nohead:
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[Conan]

You think she's the reason why they all have jock itch?

:lol:


(Thanks for that update.)

 

[Conan]

25% of the team is affected. According to a report in the Los Angeles Times, as much as 25% of the team has been affected by a run of tinea cruris, known more colloquially as "jock itch." Head coach Pete Carroll told the Times he'd never seen anything like the current outbreak and pointed a finger at new compression shorts the team has been wearing underneath their football pants.

"We've had to adjust to some new equipment that we're wearing that didn't work out right," Carroll said. "It's funny how that happened." You'll forgive tailback Joe McKnight and wide receiver Travon Patterson if they aren't laughing. Both were unable to practice Wednesday because of the severity of the irritation."It burns," Patterson said.

So does this mean that McKnight will be out for the VA game if his jock itch keeps him from practicing with the team?

:think2:

Just trying to keep up on all the injuries.
:nohead: