Thursday, September 3, 2009

This season is the true Neu era


Its finally time for UCLA football again. Last season seemed like a lost cause from the beginning. The opening game, in which we upset Tennessee in OT, caused a national stir at the time and was the leading story on Sportscenter. All of a sudden, the expectations went sky high. We know now that the Vols were terrible last year. So were we. Kevin Craft, who threw four 1st half interceptions vs Tennessee and led the comeback with a couple TDs down the stretch, continued his INT ways the rest of the season, frustrating UCLA fans everywhere. Perhaps the lasting memory of last season was the recurring tongue-lashing coach Neuheisel unleashed on Craft on the sideline week after week. Poor kid - he was thrust into the fire after both Pat Cowan (who will always be remembered for that momentous victory over sc in 2006) and Ben Olson (who has already been forgotten) went down to freak injuries. Thus went our season.

But this year, Neuheisel and Norm Chow have handpicked their QB, Kevin Prince, and have started to rebuild our team with speed and athleticism. Our best player, future NFL draft pick Brian Price will anchor our defense. But the biggest question is still our young OL. Can we protect Prince? Can we move the ball on the ground? It is the hinge on which our season will swing. I'm hoping for a 7 win season. And of course, I hope we beat $C. But mostly, I hope we establish the foundations for a national championship contending program in the future.

Courtesy of LA Times, the projected starting lineup is below.

OFFENSE


Quarterback: Kevin Prince. - Norm Chow loves this guy. (I hope its not just because they're both Mormon and Kevin's dad is Norm's dentist.) But if Norm Chow loves a QB, then so do I. Prince for Heisman!

Tailback: Johnathan Franklin. - never heard of him. I always though Christian Ramirez was our best option. Or that that speedster Damian Thigpen.

Fullback: Chane Moline.

Wide receivers: Terrence Austin, Taylor Embree. - we've got lots of depth apparently.

Tight end: Logan Paulsen. - a redshirt senior who should be a big target for Prince.

Tackles: Xavier Su'a-Filo (l), Mike Harris (r). Guards: Jeff Baca (l), Eddie Williams (r). Center: Kai Maiava. - lots of underclassmen here. good luck.

Top reserves: TB Derrick Coleman, OL Stanley Hasiak, WR Randall Carroll, WR Morrell Presley. - Carroll and Presley should be future mainstays for our offense.

DEFENSE

Ends: Korey Bosworth, Datone Jones.

Tackles: Brian Price, Jerzy Siewierski.

Linebackers: Reggie Carter, Kyle Bosworth, Akeem Ayers.

Cornerbacks: Alterraun Verner, Aaron Hester. Safeties: Rahim Moore, Tony Dye.

Top reserves: DE Damien Holmes, LB Steve Sloan, LB Sean Westgate, S Glenn Love.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Kicker: Kai Forbath.

Punter: Jeff Locke.

Long snapper: Christian Yount.



SCHEDULE

SEPT. 5: San Diego State

SEPT. 12: at Tennessee

SEPT. 19: Kansas State

OCT. 3: at Stanford

OCT. 10: Oregon

OCT. 17: California

OCT. 24: at Arizona

OCT. 31: at Oregon State

NOV. 7: Washington

NOV. 14: at Washington State

NOV. 21: Arizona State

NOV. 28: at USC

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