UCLA 43, Washington State 7
by Grady Clapp on Nov 14, 2009 6:07 PM PST
Email
PrintUgh.
Just awards tonight.
Player of the Game: Kevin Lopina. 7/14, 102 yds, 1 TD versus 0 INT. Also 33 yards on 4 rushing attempts, and we'll forget about his fumble momentarily.
Unsung Hero: Jeffrey Solomon earns his first award by being the only Cougar to reach the end zone, and the only receiver to catch more than one pass. Finished with two receptions for 54 yards.
It was over when... Chane Moline capped off the Marshall Lobbestael interceptionfest with a two yard run to put the Bruins up 14-0. With 5:16 left to play in the first.
Play of the Game: The 46-yard Lopina to Solomon touchdown pass. I can't remember anything else positive happening in this game.
Lowlight of the Game: The absolutely unacceptable 68 yard touchdown run by UCLA quarterback Kevin Prince. Like I typed from the stadium in the gamethread, sometimes it's like Paul Wulff wants me be in favor of firing him.
Stat of the Game: Total yards: UCLA 557, WSU 180. And this was not in Southern California weather.
59 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
Yea, I was really angry with Wulff decision making today...
I don’t really care whether or not he is fired or not. I’m going to focus on my favorite sport now: basketball.
MVSU is actually staying relatively close to gonzaga…
What gets me
Are the things well within his control. I get that the players are bad and/or young.
But 12 men on the field? Subbing in three players at the very last second on a goal line stand when you have all three timeouts? Letting Lobbestael destroy what little confidence he probably had left in himself?
These things fall on Wulff. And they don’t bode well for the future.
Those are completely unacceptable errors by a DI coach.
I know it seems like he is the easy target, but a lot of these problems cannot be blamed on lack of talent. I dont know what he says to the guys before the game, but its obviously the wrong thing, seeing as we are outscored in the first quarter by what seems about 500-3.
with you on the 12 man and subbing thing
but you’d want to give Lobster a chance to bounce back early in the game. You do some coaching on the sideline and give him a shot. 2 of the 3 ints were off audibles by Lobbestael, and he wasn’t under pressure on any of them.
I wrote some notes on good things I saw, but honestly, who gives a flying f*** right now?
I wish I could turn it off. This must be what rock bottom for an addict is like.
by TiltingRight on Nov 14, 2009 11:49 PM PST up reply actions
i'm not entirely convinced we make any more mental mistakes than the average team
but ours are highlighted because we have nothing positive going for us.
but with the talent gap so wide, you’d think there would be an exaggerated emphasis on discipline (ie: Navy against ND last week.)
Now that basketball has started.......
…….does anyone really care about this team anymore?
by spokanecougar on Nov 14, 2009 6:25 PM PST reply actions 1 recs
This feels a lot like the way basketball spun out of control
Sampson to Eastman to the Coach never to be coaches again (can we call him Program Killer?)
Price to Doba to Wulff
That’s eerily similar if you think about it. We are one of the worst D-1 programs in the country right now just like we were under Program killer.
The only difference at this point is that Wulff seems to have the ability to recruit. The Coach never to be mentioned again could recruit a lick. It is tough to pin the first part of the game on Wulff with 3 picks out of Lobbestahl’s first 5 passes but we seem so overmatched we barely resemble a college football team.
I hate to put Doba in there because he is such a great guy but he resembles what Eastman did to a good program.
Thats pretty good
Hopefully Wulff isn’t here for 4 years though if things are still this bad though.
Also, if we follow the basketball similarities, will we hire a very good, very well respected old coach, out of retirement of course, to rebuild the program and then hand it off to his son (who actually sticks around unlike in basketball)?!?!
by spokanecougar on Nov 14, 2009 6:53 PM PST up reply actions
What I don't understand
Wulff had a pretty good reputation as a coach coming in. Different level but I don’t remember anyone saying he was a hack. They absolutely must figure out one side of the ball. As bad as the defense looks from a pure talent standpoint I think they will have a Pac 10 level defense by next year. I really don’t know if it is possible to say the same for the offense.
WSU will have a "pac-10" quality defense, NEXT YEAR?
Where do you guys come up with this?
by ReidForrest4Heisman on Nov 15, 2009 8:00 AM PST up reply actions
Where do you come up with
100% of the things you say on this site?
In terms of talent
DE=Long, Kooyman, Rankin
DT=Turpin, Wolfgramm as seniors, Spitz, Laurenzi a year older and bigger, Clayton, Robinson, Buckley
LB=Bland, Hoffman-Ellis, Barrington, Beck, Burns
S=Daniels, Atofau (hopefully), Locker, Toomer, Nwachaku
CB=Simmons, Heyward, Washington, Carpenter
That’s a Pac 10 Quality defense on paper in terms of talent. The question is whether they can stay healthy and whether this staff can coach them up. It is also young but the talent and speed should be up to a level where they are competitive. Whether they are competitive is another thing.
Markle, yes
I knew I was missing someone at linebacker. The potential is there and I’m not saying I expect the ’94 Palouse Posse. I do expect to look like a Pac 10 defense next year.
I know they are young and the pieces have to fall right but if this staff can’t get the defense going then someone better find the staff that can get it done.
I say Dick Bennett for football
We’d actually have a defense. He’d probably run every down – that’s got to be the football equivalent of Bennett Ball, right?
Then, in three years when Tony gets fired at UVa for not living up to their ridiculous expectations, he can coach football at Wazzu.
This post has been brought to you by liquor.
Jeff Tuel is my player of the game, not Lopina
Like the plus/minus stat in basketball, anyone that actually played in the game was a huge minus. Since Tuel didn’t play, he at least broke even. Therefore, my player of the game.
Reid Forrest is my player of the game until we win
He is the best player on the team
by spokanecougar on Nov 14, 2009 9:16 PM PST up reply actions
Forrest gave up the safety today.
So he’s disqualified, too.
by TiltingRight on Nov 14, 2009 11:40 PM PST up reply actions
Walden gave the honor of "POG" to.....
Nobody
by ReidForrest4Heisman on Nov 15, 2009 8:01 AM PST up reply actions
You know its bad
when even Jim Walden’s thrown in the towel.
I feel bad for Wulff
It seems like every game something horribly wrong happens that I don’t necessarily think is his fault…like an opening kickoff returned for a touchdown, or Marshall Lobbestael changing the play at the line of scrimmage on a third and 1 to throw an INT I could have caught on the flippin 30 yard line. I’m not saying Wulff’s done a great job on the field, but the kids (and I really do mean KIDS) just don’t seem to even let him get his game plan started.
There were a few of those things in this game.
It’s pretty typical though, that the crap just compounds itself when the team’s not doing well.
by TiltingRight on Nov 14, 2009 11:50 PM PST up reply actions
Maybe Wulff can teach the kids to tackle?
Perhaps watch game film? Perhaps execute a 1 yard play? These weekly happenings are results of inept coaching
by ReidForrest4Heisman on Nov 15, 2009 8:03 AM PST up reply actions
Is it your contention
that they don’t watch game film? They don’t practice tackling? They don’t run plays in practice? They teach players how to hold a football when running in Pee Wee ball yet our backup QB still didn’t do it properly. Looks like they are trying to squeeze blood from a turnip.
Our starting QB threw 3 picks before the end of the 1st freaking quarter…you won’t stay in any games doing that.
It's my contention...
That what ever Wulff is trying to do, is obviously not working. He’s not a teacher, He’s not a recruiter, He’s not a game planner, etc. Overall findings, he’s in way over his head. He’s riding with the Harley Gang while riding a tricycle.
by ReidForrest4Heisman on Nov 17, 2009 10:00 AM PST up reply actions
Grady, I commend you for this post and taking the time to write it.
I have very close to nothing more to say about this football team. I’m watching Kevin Prince’s ridiculous run on the side bar now. Ugh.
CougCenter WSU's second main blog
I'm over cougar football.
I just don’t care whether we win or lose anymore (like we have a chance to win). Most of the guys on the team seem like they are cocky and arrogant and they are LOSERS! Can’t stand them at the moment.
I doubt I’ll watch even the Apple Cup at this point.
What's Sad is that Wulff feels his job as HC is validated by this...
Doggedly, Wulff said, “Saturdays have been tough on us. Every other aspect is going extremely well. If you’re around these guys, it’s a different world today than it was a year ago at this time.”
LMFAO, do Cougar Nation a favor and resign Wulff. You are an embarrassment to our University. I propose a lifetime ban off campus.
by ReidForrest4Heisman on Nov 15, 2009 7:55 AM PST reply actions
The Good Ship Wulff
is taking on water. I never thought there was a chance they might fire him 2 years in but lack of results are lack of results. I don’t know if he makes it out of this year after the last couple of weeks.
I did
I really wouldn’t have thought it was possible and I think he will get another year. It wouldn’t shock me given the results, the need to increase donations, and the lack of hope if they made the decision to let him go.
It wouldn’t shock me is very different than I expect it.
I see what you're saying
Something totally unexpected would have to come along (i.e. a big donor willing to foot the bill) for it to happen, I’m pretty sure.
What if the big donors take their money and run?
They might not have a choice if a couple big donors say “if he stays our money goes”. You have a major stadium project you have to make happen to stay relevant. If you are getting killed at the gate (it looked like a PHS game in the 2nd half on Dad’s Weekend) and donors are upset at what they are seeing the ADs hand might end up pushed.
Yes, they probably would need to find someone to help foot the bill to fire Wulff and hire a new staff. They would most likely need to go out and pay a coach and staff around $2M/year. They also need to go out and find a coach willing to come in although I think that isn’t a tough sell if they are willing to foot the bill.
I don’t want to see Wulff get fired. He’s done a nice job upgrading the talent base but on the field it is a total mess. These are tough decisions because while you know you cannot afford you also have to answer the question of whether you can afford to deep-six the program into oblivion.
I'm labeled a troll?
Yet people like “BornCoug” can spit rhetoric that Wulff has done a quote “NICE JOB” uprgrading the talent base. This site is a joke? Are you kidding? Losing every game by minute 3 of the 1st quarter is “upgrading the talent base.”
by ReidForrest4Heisman on Nov 15, 2009 6:10 PM PST up reply actions
Here's a hint.
You can’t just say “Wulff sucks. Didn’t you see the game?” or something to that affect. BornCoug could be talking completely out of his A-hole but at least he puts together a cogent argument. You can follow his thinking, and picture what he sees, EVEN if you think it’s completely detached from reality.
Give examples of what you see in the game, or patterns you see in the game that illustrate the case you’re making.
Use your big boy words. ;-)
by TiltingRight on Nov 15, 2009 6:53 PM PST up reply actions
Detached from reality?
Is that on letting Wulff go? I honestly never fathomed it as a possibility even after the debacle in Arizona. However, after the showing on Dad’s weekend and talking to some people I think it is a possibility. Still not likely but a possibility. When I listen to Wulff try to find the bright side he sounds like a coach fighting for his job.
I know we don’t have the money to fire him but it isn’t “detached from reality” from a pure business standpoint. That’s how bad things are right now. To think of firing a coach after 2 years is amazing but some of the things we are seeing actually push us in the direction as hard as it might be to fathom.
Wasn't taking you on, B.C.
Just pointing out that he can think you’re full of it and disagree with you, but he needs to make the case rather than just saying so if he wants to post about it.
by TiltingRight on Nov 15, 2009 9:13 PM PST up reply actions
I agree with TR
… I’m clearly of the “Wulff isn’t getting it done” opinion, but I’m trying to put together cogent arguments that at least are worthy of some debate. The CougCenter guys have not “unwelcomed” me for it.
Damn, my eyeball tastes good.
I suggest following his advice from now on
Or take yourself to a message board where the sort of thing you’ve written so far passes for analysis.
Didn't want to step on your toes
Hope you don’t mind.
by TiltingRight on Nov 15, 2009 9:14 PM PST up reply actions
Hey, this community belongs to all of us
We all have a vested interest in protecting the high level of discourse we’ve all cultivated together.
by Jeff Nusser on Nov 15, 2009 10:08 PM PST up reply actions
What are you missing?
Wulff has upgraded the talent on the team. That’s why you are a troll. Most of the talent Wulff has recruited is redshirting. The kids playing like a Dan Spitz are an upgrade even though they aren’t ready to play. Spitz has more talent than Toby Turpin. Simmons and Heyward are more talented than Nwachaku or Roberto Pellum. Hoffman-Ellis and Bland are better than Hallston Higgons.
You are the joke.
that would fall under the category of "attacking a guy who has a different opinion than you"
Damn, my eyeball tastes good.
This thing is so out of and I don't know how to judge it.
I recorded the game and just got done watching it today. That was tough to watch..
How could Wulff plan for 3 interceptions thrown in the 1st quarter? This is Marshall’s line 2-6, 6 yards, 3 ints…horrible. For one, he shouldn’t allow Marshall to audible. I think 2 interceptions came on audible’s. Leave that up to NFL QBs. I have to say our defense did better than I thought, especially because they had to deal with 5 turnovers in the game…3 ints, 1 fumble and a safety. Boy doesn’t that sound good. How many defenses have to deal with that? I think the defense has the right systems and a good defensive coach, we just need players, which is obvious.
At times I felt like I was watching a high school football team play a bad college team. Especially, when our own blocker runs into our punt returner. #17 just seemed clueless.
I don’t what to say for our offense. I guess K-I-S-S…Keep It Simple Stupid. The Coug offense would probably do better if we were predictable. 1st down run, 2nd down run, 3rd down…throw it if wide open, if no one is open then throw it away. Or just go deep every time to Forzani and Karstetter.
Forzani
Lobster’s three picks were bad and frustrating enough. The throw that pissed me off just as much was him laying Forzani out to dry on a WR screen of all things. He had already thrown 3 to the other team and he throws a simple WR screen high and upfield to Forzani, allowing him to be pasted with his entire body exposed.
Crap like that further reinforces why I now understand burning Tuel’s redshirts. The picks were bad enough, especially since he was staring his receivers down and had his feet set with no pressure. But not being able to throw the simplest of passes and hanging out your receiver in the process is just as bad.
Pretty much nothing positive out of that game. Even our heisman candidate fumbled a snap for a safety. I’m starting to question why I keep driving over for games.
I agree
When I saw ML throw that ball to Forzani I couldn’t believe how bad that play looked. Is it me or does our WR screens seem like they are 2-3 seconds slower than every other team that runs them? Most WRs have time to at least catch the ball and turn up field. Our WRs are just trying not to drop the ball, because they are getting hit as soon as they catch it. Snap, drop step and throw…those are the motions for the QB during a screen pass and it is as if the other teams are reading it. It shouldn’t talk long for our QB to do those steps. Maybe our QBs are tipping the defense off, their footwork is slower, their arms are weaker , accuracy is bad and the blocking receivers do a horrible job of blocking. I don’t know…it is just ugly.
QB Importance
Just think how much better the team would be with a legit QB. We wouldn’t have had those interceptions and the QB fumbles. We could run plays that relied on the QBs arm strength (i.e. WR screen plays) and accuracy. Sometimes offense is the best defense, because if we can sustain drives (even without scoring), that keeps our defense off the field. UCLA had the ball on offense almost a whole quarter (11+ mins) more than us.
Right now we are not good enough to set up the passing game with the running game, so we could set up the running game with the passing game (i.e. quick slants to protect the QB). Unless, our offensive line improves in the run game, Tuel and Halliday will be important in what the Cougs do in the future. Even though I like Tuel, I am still unsure of his arm strength.
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Community Guidelines
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Certain photos copyright © 2012 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
