POSTGAME THREAD: Again, we ask -- success?
by Jeff Nusser on Oct 24, 2009 5:08 PM PDT
in WSU Cougar Football
25 comments
Once again, there are reasons to be excited.
Jeff Tuel has his first 300 yard passing game, completing 28 of 41 attempts for 354 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions. That's a shiny 68 percent and 8.6 yards per attempt -- easily season highs for any Cougar quarterback. Johnny Forzani was responsible for 116 of those yards, including 68 on another long touchdown catch and run. Jeffrey Solomon had seven catches, and Gino Simone and Jared Karstetter each had six.
And yet, once again, there are reasons to be skeptical.
Coming off a week in which it generated six turnovers, the defense showed what will happen if it only gets one, giving up 49 points -- 35 of them in the first half. Jahvid Best ran all over the place again, gaining 158 yards on the ground. That, sadly, was actually less than half of Cal's rushing total of 322 yards. With the running game going again, Kevin Riley looked like an all-Pac-10 passer -- 11 of 17, 213 yards, three touchdowns (and one pick).
The total damage? Just 557 yards.
Beyond that, special teams had a flashback to week one, giving up a 54-yard return on the opening kickoff and also a 76-yard punt return for a touchdown. There were kickoffs out of bounds, there was a missed field goal. (Reid Forrest, however showed who the best punter in the Pac-10 is -- take that, Brian Anger!)
So, I once again ask you.
Success?
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You guys are definitely much improved over last year and Tuel looks like he’ll be good for you over the next three or four years. BUT don’t make a big deal out of his 300yd passing game. This Cal defense is the defense that made UCLA look like a juggernaut.
Also someone tell Brandon Jones to shut up and play the game. He talks mighty about wanting to cover Best and he gets burned by Best on the TD reception and TD run and by Marvin Jones on the TD reception.
In other words, Go Bears!
He's a Cougar defensive back
At this point, we’re just glad he’s not in jail
by Grady Clapp on Oct 24, 2009 6:35 PM PDT up reply actions 3 recs
I just about gave myself a hernia
I laughed so hard at this….
by TiltingRight on Oct 24, 2009 7:14 PM PDT up reply actions
I wish I could rec that one twice.
CougCenter WSU's second main blog
by Craig Powers on Oct 24, 2009 9:45 PM PDT up reply actions
Well, considering we've had a quarterback do that exactly zero times this year before today
I think we’re entitled to make a big deal out of it, Cal defense or not.
We haven't a QB do that in TWO years...
Last time was Brink in the 07 Apple cup…
Coaching changes......
Ok, this is not a fire Paul Wulff post, depending on the rest of the season I am fine with him coming back next season as we are a young team. HOWEVER, I am not so much in favor of either our offensive or defensive coordinators returning next season or our special teams coach.
Bruiser is the RB coach, too
He could keep that title while someone else takes the ST reins.
by TiltingRight on Oct 24, 2009 11:47 PM PDT up reply actions
Concerns
Our final scores are significantly better than last year. It is just curbs enthusiasm that our opponent has put us away after the first quarter every week. The real question: are we better than last year? YES. But why on earth can’t we make it a game before its put out of reach? Is it coaching? Players? what? Or are we even better than 2008 or do teams just let up?
I couldn't agree with you more LACoug. But it looks like the reigns are finally
off. Tuel threw 30+ times this game. Fantastic. Enough of this conservative garbage.
by ptowncoug3012 on Oct 24, 2009 8:55 PM PDT up reply actions
Brian Anger, eh?
I think Reid Forrest loses out in a name contest. He is still the best punter, he just doesn’t have the best name.
You should’ve seen Anger last year, or hell even against UCLA. He had some MONSTER 70+yd punts against Stanfurd and ASU.
In other words, Go Bears!
I can't believe I just watched a punter's highlight tape
I’m impressed though. I just wasted 5 minutes watching a punter, but the kid has a boot
by Brian Floyd on Oct 25, 2009 12:04 AM PDT up reply actions
that 76 yarder was nuts
Vote for Butch!
by spencer peaty on Oct 25, 2009 8:05 AM PDT up reply actions
I liked the O's performance
But three things have me REALLY worried after this game. The penalties, the STs regression and the tackling. All things that were dealt with or under control earlier in the season are suddenly a problem in our first game to open the SECOND HALF of the season.
I hope, HOPE HOPE HOPE, that so many rusty players back from injury on the line (and still lots of young faces there) are the reason for a lot of the penalties (I counted 5 false starts, 3 on one drive), but really no excuse for over 100 yds of penalties.
St’s… I don’t understand how they’ve regressed so bad.
Tackling… see above.
They’ve GOT to get this stuff fixed this week, because it’s Prime Time vs. ND next Saturday.
85% of you think this game was something other than a negative after coming off a BYE.
WOW
Damn, my eyeball tastes good.
Haven't you beaten this dead horse enough?
You don’t like Wulff, don’t think he’s a good coach, nothing that happens short of a win is going to convince you otherwise, think we should have higher standards than to accept what’s been happening … blah, blah, blah.
Listen: This team lost by 63 points to essentially the same Cal squad a year ago. This team had 157 yards of total offense against Cal a year ago. On Saturday, they lost by 32 and had more than 400 yards of total offense — including Jeff Tuel’s first 300-yard passing game.
Sure, the defense and special teams were atrocious, but it’s not wrong of anyone to think that this was a step forward.
Moving forward
I didn’t get to see this game since it wasn’t televised, but there is no doubt that the Cougs are improving. True, it may be another couple of seasons before you guys are again in contention for a top-3 finish, but when compared to what is happening in Tempe and Westwood, I’d say you’re looking good.
Hopefully B Jones will learn that he needs to shut up and play. As for the rest of your team, progress is a bitch — it starts way too slowly and can be agonizingly frustrating. But there isn’t much doubt that it is there.
Good luck the rest of the year!
On ATQ I'm known as JSoCal Oski
It's spelled J-etc
This is the first time I remember Jones saying anything
Mostly, he’s just worked his butt off while at WSU. Clearly, there were some personal issues there that caused him to say some stuff. I would imagine he feels sufficiently humbled at this point.
by Jeff Nusser on Oct 26, 2009 10:00 AM PDT up reply actions
I think With Jones there was some bitterness there. He came in as a highly regard recruit with some even saying that he was faster than Best. In 2007 (i.e. the epic collapse) Best performed well while I don’t think anyone even remembers Jones playing. Plus there are rumors that he had some personal off-field issues and when he approached the Cal staff of transferring they were somewhat glad. Again rumor.
I think he just let it get to his head. He should learn from Monty who I still respect even though he called Berkeley shitty :p
In other words, Go Bears!
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