Blog: What's Bruin
Photo by Ric Francis
UCLA quarterback Kevin Craft participates in drills during football practice Thursday, Aug. 21, 2008, in Los Angeles. Craft said he the UCLA situation is similar to his experience at San Diego State, where he was third on the depth chart and became the starter when the two quarterbacks in front of him were hurt.
LOS ANGELES - The last time I checked, Kevin Craft was UCLA's starting quarterback. But given the attrition at the position, don't assume anything.
In fact, the way UCLA quarterbacks have fallen by the wayside, I wouldn't be surprised if Marcus Outzen took the first snap against Tennessee on Monday night.
Outzen, of course, is the most famous opposing third-string quarterback in UT history, thanks to his performance in the national championship game 10 years ago. Limited by a smaller stage - it's just a season opener - Craft can't match that. But he has had his third-stringer moments in preseason preparation. For example, in last Friday's practice, he threw interceptions on three consecutive passes.
Coach Rick Neuheisel might have been tempted to scream "next." The word has a familiar ring to it at Camp Bruin.
The Bruins lost starting quarterback Patrick Cowan to a season-ending knee injury in the spring. They lost his successor, Ben Olson, to a recurring foot injury in preseason.
Craft, a junior college transfer, was next in line.
But don't get the wrong idea. UCLA's problems aren't limited to quarterback attrition. At the other positions where experience matters most - the offensive line and secondary - the Bruins also have issues.
The offensive line includes only two players with starting experience. One of the starters, Darius Savage, is a converted tight end. Another, Scott Glicksberg, is a converted defensive tackle.
In the secondary, cornerback Alterraun Verner, is a preseason All-Pac-10 pick. The rest of the bunch has started a grand total of one college game, and safety Rahim Moore is a true freshman. For depth, there's cornerback Courtney Viney - all 150 pounds of him.
Add up the concerns, and the list is long enough to discourage the most upbeat coaches. Well, it's almost that long.
"I do think there's reason for optimism," said Neuheisel, who admittedly wouldn't let facts block his rose-colored view.
"I choose to be relentlessly positive," he said with a smile.
Later, he offered specifics.
"Kevin and Chris are on the verge of blossoming into very good players," he said. "Hopefully, it can be as soon as Monday night."
His second reference was to Chris Forcier, a redshirt freshman quarterback who is presumably the next guy up if Craft wrenches a knee while tripping over a sprinkler between now and kickoff.
Never mind the inexperience in the secondary. Neuheisel also is encouraged by his defense. And that's not just wishful thinking.
Karl Dorrell, Neuheisel's predecessor, at least succeeded in building a defense. DeWayne Walker, Dorrell's defensive coordinator, is still running the defense, whose strength is right up the middle with tackles Brigham Harwell and Brian Price, and linebacker Reggie Carter.
There's a less tangible reason for Neuheisel's optimism. His team is seemingly motivated by low expectations.
"I think this group has a little chip on its shoulder," Neuheisel said. "They feel as though they've been cast off as also-rans. That may be what comes to pass, but they're anxious to show they're better than that."
They will get their chance Monday night on national television against the 18th-ranked Vols. Even an unwavering optimist can appreciate the challenge.
"I know we have a formidable foe," Neuheisel said. "I know we have to play our best to be in the game."
Sports editor John Adams may be reached at 865-342-6284 or adamsj@knoxnews.com.
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Comments » 33
Snakebrown13 writes:
I think the Vols like playing with a chip on their shoulder too...
jawjavol writes:
Down here in Atlanta the coverage of the Vols leaves me unsure exactly what type of offense we will run. I understand the basics but I cannot wait to seee the personality of this unit.
If we can keep the defense off the field I think it will improve their numbers IMMENSELY.
In the meantime I am stuck listening to comparisons of No-Show Moreno to Hershey Walker and Massaquoi to Lindsey Scott.
And one more thing. I am so thankful that We had a class act like John Ward who knew when it was time. Larry (FROGGY) Munson has got to be the biggest joke of an announcer ... ever
Seven days till ITS FOOTBALL TIME IN TENNESSEE!
coaltrain1300 writes:
yeah man! we have 2 chips on our shoulders. florida and georgia. Ucla has no idea what a chip is in this contex.
tnmantravel#531151 writes:
Wow!!!
J. A. didn't mention his man love in this article
I am soooo surprised
MrBamSeydu writes:
Tennessee is out to prove something too...
These days, we're picked 3rd in the East as often as Nick Saban changes jobs (which is just about every year).
waterskier3#226480 writes:
we're favored by 7 so if we blow this game.... i'm not sure what will happen the rest of the season..
we should be ok because we're catching ucla at the right time for an easy win.... GO VOLS!!!
Need_2_Know writes:
coaltrain:
"yeah man! we have 2 chips on our shoulders. florida and georgia. Ucla has no idea what a chip is in this contex."
er, context?
RockyTopVolFan writes:
I hope we help them realize their expectations.
TNfaninMS writes:
Need2know - i think he meant kotex! Just a thought
GO VOLS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
murrayvol writes:
Kosmo: There's a lot of fans like 0073 everywhere from middle school sports to the NFL. And they're not going to be changing anytime soon.
txsvol#372416 writes:
We owe our National Championship in 1998 to Clint Stoerner, 'Rooster' Outzen, and a whole team full of fine football players, led by Al Wilson, Tee Martin, etc.! Wonder if JA has done research on Outzen, Ten Years Later!?! Maybe we're due again!?! Go Vols! SAVol
ravensearay writes:
Tennessee by 30!!!!!!
Bigger_Al writes:
Adams is probably happy to be in L.A. and out of Knoxville where he can interview players and coaches that will actually talk to him.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Bad news Gen W. Rumour has it that a famous chain has stocked a portable glazed truck. Unconfirmed at this time.
Going by Ralph's tomorrow for 8 large. Have to give two to Carol and Amanda at Helen's Restaurant. Keeps mega bananna pudding helpings coming after all-you-can-eat catfish. Hmmmm, fritters.
Will be watching Thursday for the C-5A coming over that Dupree told me carries the coaching staff to Pasadena.
Doldrums are starting to blow out as Fay continues to drown the middle SouthEast. 114,000 gallons of orange koolade shipped, most laced with Grey Goose.
Nearly here, ladies and gents.
THE_VOL writes:
QB won't matter - UCLA is gonna pound pound pound cause they know too that TN has NO defensive tackle depth. It's the old "keep it close til the 4th quarter and hope for a break" gameplan. Anybody think ChuckieCheeseChavis and FOOLmer can figure that out and force the youngster to beat em through the air???? Naw, didn't think so.
Hopson2008 writes:
Kosmo - Right on
Wasn't Outzen the second string qb behind Weinke?
CoverOrange writes:
THE_VOL, Chavis' game plan has always, always, been focused on stopping the run and forcing the pass. That's why we always, always, get burned on third and long.
Ralph_Crampton writes:
UCLA has been busy in the l;ast month "poor mouthing" their team that it has convinced some true Vol fans that the game is going to be a walk in the park for the Volunteers to win. Don't be fooled, I check daily the Los Angeles Times, Bruins head coach is not close to repeating "poor me", instead he is talking kind of hopeful that the game should be very competive game and the Bruin head coaches are high on their defense to stop Vol offense. For the first time Rick admitted that his defense is loaded with top players, a defense hopefully that can force turnovers etc. Vol fans, i'm afraid we are in for a pier-six brawl in that horrid heat in the Rose bowl. Vols must not make too many mistakes..like laying fumbles on the ground, or we come home with our tail between our legs, a loser again out in California, which has been a graveyard for Tennessee teams down thru the years.
MOOREVOLS writes:
It's funny how everyone rips Outzen now, but he beat Florida that year along with a couple of other teams. He'd taken over the starting QB job with about 3 games left in the season. He lead Florida State to the championship game and everyone thought he was the greatest QB in the world at the time. Tennessee supposedly had no chance against Outzen and the mighty Seminoles.
Maybe our defense just played a good game that day?
givehim6 writes:
I hope UT plays UCLA like we played CAL in 2006, not 2007. Guys do not listen to the media, play lights out!
GoVol writes:
Kosmo - How is JA's following statement 'provol'?
"Outzen, of course, is the most famous opposing third-string quarterback in UT history, thanks to his performance in the national championship game 10 years ago."
My take on JA's comment is that TN only won because we were playing against a third string QB! JA is talking about FL St. subpar play, not UT's superior play. He doesn't say UT played well, but that FL. St. played poorly. Not at all 'provol' as you stated IMO.
junder13 writes:
MOOREVOLS, I'm sorry bro but I gotta disagree with you regarding Outzen. Yes, he did help FSU beat Florida, but Florida was not its usual dominate self that year. Outzen was only a soph. and had started one other game against Wake Forest, a game he had no TDs and 1 interception. Coming into the NC game, Outzen had 1 TD and 2 ints. He only completed 9 of 22 pass attempts against us.
Outzen never started another game the rest of his career as a back-up. He was hardly considered to be a great QB and that was the biggest knock on FSU coming into the game. FSU, if you remember, had an incredibly good defense that year, which is why they kept it close. The massive offensive line, Travis Minor and Peter Warrick helped too. Our defense played incredibly well, however, and Tee & Price made some big plays that got it done. Oh, and Goodrich's int returned for a TD was crucial too. Finally, we held Warrick to only one reception for like seven yards or something.
Great game, but Outzen was NEVER considered a good--much less a great--QB.
rrvolfan#230816 writes:
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Adams tries to "Craft" article - FAILS!!!
John Adams - what an idiot
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BigOrangeVol writes:
How has California been a graveyard for UT teams?
Phillip is 1-2 since 1994.
We lost by 2 in '94; won by 6 in '97 and lost by 14 in '07.
In the last 20 years we are 2-2-1.
I guess if you go back to 1940-1981 we were 1-5 but I really don't see how games 27-67 years ago figure into the equation today.
We've only played USC (0-3), UCLA (2-3), UCSB (1-0), Cal (0-1) and Colorado (0-0-1) in California during the past 68 years.
Neyland lost to USC in the Rose Bowl in '40.
Barnhill lost to USC in the Rose Bowl in '45.
Dickey lost to UCLA in '67.
Battle lost to UCLA in '75.
Majors lost to USC in '81.
Fulmer lost to UCLA in '94 and Cal in '07.
Battle beat UCSB in '71.
Majors beat UCLA in '89.
Fulmer beat UCLA in '97.
Majors tied Colorado at the Pigskin Classic in '90.
iwastherein98 writes:
National television and national cable?? What a dumb sentence. Have you ever heard of anyone refer to ESPN as national cable?
It's still national television robvols because it's broadcasted nationally. I understand you have to pay for it but everybody but your great grandmother has cable now.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Gen W -1:25- this Carol owns Helen's Resturant on Hwy 56 (Gainesboro grade). Wonderful meat and three, full of foothill folks and a few characters.
Amanda is a great waitress who shares my luv fer apple fritters from Ralphs. Carol told me not to ever bring Amanda a fritter and leave her out.
Got the message, Weight Watchers be danged.
The little eatery you mentioned is now a barbershop, I believe, if its the one by the tracks- near the library. Good memory.
Doldrums leaving us. Thought about the "perfect storm" as I glided into Jax last Thursday on that coaster.
invisiblekid writes:
Well, at least UCLA has the "passion bucket".
warriorman86#667191 writes:
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rrvolfan always posts like this and holds grudges from middle school
rrvolfan-what an idiot
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pdhuff#552644 writes:
I just hope I have the Dish TV satelite-cable-rabbit ears-aluminum foil whatamuycallit bill paid so I can espy the tilt.
Coming real soon......
EricBerryIsYourFather writes:
sounds like robvols has a serious problem with the cable companies. Take it somewhere else.
BigOrangeVol writes:
Thank you Marshall McLuhan.
TheVolMan writes:
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rrvolfan tries to be witty - FAILS!!!
rrvolfan - what a Weenie!! Keep up that boycott of the KNS!!!
Great article, John.
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Ralph_Crampton writes:
It appears that the strong suit of this UCLA team is its defense..if we cannot start out running the ball it appears we are behind the eight ball and will be the entire game. The team that can run the ball effectively almost always win.
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