[fullmetal]

A couple of times, the UCLA runner would break through the defensive line, and flashbacks from Nic Grigsby\'s romp against Stanford last year would cloud my vision, but the secondary was there for the tackle.  If Stanford can stop the runner consistently at the line of scrimmage, that would probably help my heart out some...

Marecic deserved to get a touchdown though.  He\'s essentially playing twice the number of games any normal collegiate player would :)

Sherman, post-interception, lateraled the ball to a fellow DB, who made valiant attempt to gain yards by didn\'t really go anywhere after that.  The ensuing offensive possession was a four and out iirc--a conservative (and incorrect, imho) run up the middle was stuffed for loss of yards, and things just didn\'t go anywhere, I think.  I think the following UCLA possession was where the air tackle on the punt returner happened...Harbaugh was on tv falling over backward in disbelief and protest after a Stanford player ran by the punt returner and was flagged after the punt returner caught the ball in a squatting position and sat down backwards on the ground.  Best acting job since the World Cup.

[fullmetal]

A couple of times, the UCLA runner would break through the defensive line, and flashbacks from Nic Grigsby\'s romp against Stanford last year would cloud my vision, but the secondary was there for the tackle.  If Stanford can stop the runner consistently at the line of scrimmage, that would probably help my heart out some...

Marecic deserved to get a touchdown though.  He\'s essentially playing twice the number of games any normal collegiate player would :)

Sherman, post-interception, lateraled the ball to a fellow DB, who made valiant attempt to gain yards by didn\'t really go anywhere after that.  The ensuing offensive possession was a four and out iirc--a conservative (and incorrect, imho) run up the middle was stuffed for loss of yards, and things just didn\'t go anywhere, I think.  I think the following UCLA possession was where the air tackle on the punt returner happened...Harbaugh was on tv falling over backward in disbelief and protest after a Stanford player ran by the punt returner and was flagged after the punt returner caught the ball in a squatting position and sat down backwards on the ground.  Best acting job since the World Cup.

[gbiddulph]

It\'s difficult to complain when you go to So Cal and shut out a Pac 10 opponent, but I still have some concerns.  Luck looked pretty bad most of the night.  Do we think a)he was having a rare bad night b)there is something wrong physically that the secretive Harbaugh is not revealing c)the UCLA coverage was really good?

Our defense looked really good most of the time, but
UCLA was still in the game until the third quarter and a couple of plays here and there and UCLA could have been within 13-7, and who know what happens then.

Our special teams looked pretty good, and obviously the offensive line is playing really well.  I think the losses of Skov and Owusu hurt us a bit last night, but the teams that lose key players and still wins are the teams that do well.

[gbiddulph]

It\'s difficult to complain when you go to So Cal and shut out a Pac 10 opponent, but I still have some concerns.  Luck looked pretty bad most of the night.  Do we think a)he was having a rare bad night b)there is something wrong physically that the secretive Harbaugh is not revealing c)the UCLA coverage was really good?

Our defense looked really good most of the time, but
UCLA was still in the game until the third quarter and a couple of plays here and there and UCLA could have been within 13-7, and who know what happens then.

Our special teams looked pretty good, and obviously the offensive line is playing really well.  I think the losses of Skov and Owusu hurt us a bit last night, but the teams that lose key players and still wins are the teams that do well.

[JohnR34231]

I didn\'t think Luck played that badly.

Yeah, his passing was a little off, but he still threw for 2TD\'s with no INT\'s. He also ran the ball effectively and didn\'t turn it over. Some of our former QB\'s should have had off days like that.

I think all the Voldemort hype has resulted in an extremely high level of expectation for the guy, one that he\'s not going to be able to live up to every week.

Anyway, in the last two years we now have gone down to LaLa land and won by a combined margin of 69 points. Gotta believe that\'s unprecedented in the history of the program. I know it\'s unprecedented since I\'ve been following it.

[JohnR34231]

I didn\'t think Luck played that badly.

Yeah, his passing was a little off, but he still threw for 2TD\'s with no INT\'s. He also ran the ball effectively and didn\'t turn it over. Some of our former QB\'s should have had off days like that.

I think all the Voldemort hype has resulted in an extremely high level of expectation for the guy, one that he\'s not going to be able to live up to every week.

Anyway, in the last two years we now have gone down to LaLa land and won by a combined margin of 69 points. Gotta believe that\'s unprecedented in the history of the program. I know it\'s unprecedented since I\'ve been following it.

[gbiddulph]

I guess bad for Luck is all relative.  He had at least four or five passes that were just off the mark.  He made up for it with some great running.  As you point out he also didn\'t throw and INTs, and those are the things that allow an opponent back in the game.  Overall, he scored a B, which is pretty darned good but not up to the level I think most fans are hoping to see.

[gbiddulph]

I guess bad for Luck is all relative.  He had at least four or five passes that were just off the mark.  He made up for it with some great running.  As you point out he also didn\'t throw and INTs, and those are the things that allow an opponent back in the game.  Overall, he scored a B, which is pretty darned good but not up to the level I think most fans are hoping to see.

[washingtonismoney]

One addition: Anthony Wilkerson only got 3 carries for 12 yards, and it was only against second-stringers, but still: he looks athletically different than our other running backs--he runs harder and more powerfully than they do. I wouldn\'t be surprised to see Wilkerson usurp Gaffney\'s spot in the depth chart later in the season (Gaffney, I thought, was mediocre last night.)

[washingtonismoney]

One addition: Anthony Wilkerson only got 3 carries for 12 yards, and it was only against second-stringers, but still: he looks athletically different than our other running backs--he runs harder and more powerfully than they do. I wouldn\'t be surprised to see Wilkerson usurp Gaffney\'s spot in the depth chart later in the season (Gaffney, I thought, was mediocre last night.)

[CrazedZooChimp]

Luck definitely didn\'t look sharp, but I think part of that is he didn\'t look like he was trying to force anything.  I\'m wondering if/guessing if a lot of the balls he threw short, for example, were thrown low like that to avoid potential interceptions by UCLA\'s top notch DBs.  I actually wish we\'d tried running the ball more from the outset, and I\'m hoping this is just part of getting the off-season rust off for Luck.  Can\'t complain about a turn-over free shutout too much though.

I do want Owusu and Skov to come back soon though.

[CrazedZooChimp]

Luck definitely didn\'t look sharp, but I think part of that is he didn\'t look like he was trying to force anything.  I\'m wondering if/guessing if a lot of the balls he threw short, for example, were thrown low like that to avoid potential interceptions by UCLA\'s top notch DBs.  I actually wish we\'d tried running the ball more from the outset, and I\'m hoping this is just part of getting the off-season rust off for Luck.  Can\'t complain about a turn-over free shutout too much though.

I do want Owusu and Skov to come back soon though.

[washingtonismoney]

One last Luck note: most of the exegesis on his bad game credit him for his legs and give him demerits for his throws. But he had 6.3 YPA, which is certainly subpar--but comfortably in the just-below-average territory.

[washingtonismoney]

One last Luck note: most of the exegesis on his bad game credit him for his legs and give him demerits for his throws. But he had 6.3 YPA, which is certainly subpar--but comfortably in the just-below-average territory.

[Redrum]

against DBs with legit Pac-10 talent and experience.  UCLA\'s DBs were the only part of the team (other than kicker Kai Forbath) that wasn\'t considered a mystery or a problem going into the game.  That doesn\'t magically explain why so many of the passes were too high,  but maybe Luck had dropped acid and thought every receiver was Coby Fleener.

[Redrum]

against DBs with legit Pac-10 talent and experience.  UCLA\'s DBs were the only part of the team (other than kicker Kai Forbath) that wasn\'t considered a mystery or a problem going into the game.  That doesn\'t magically explain why so many of the passes were too high,  but maybe Luck had dropped acid and thought every receiver was Coby Fleener.

[Mick]

Marecic deserved to get a touchdown though.  He\'s essentially playing twice the number of games any normal collegiate player would :)

Does he get two scholarships?

[Mick]

Marecic deserved to get a touchdown though.  He\'s essentially playing twice the number of games any normal collegiate player would :)

Does he get two scholarships?

[fullmetal]

Yeah, I hope Marecic isn\'t taking up two spots ;)

Luck\'s legs are a weapon.  I have to believe he\'s being held in relative check to save his body and knees, but he was a good dual-threat QB in HS.

And you know what?  He\'s (thus far) doing better than Garrett Gilbert.  Now there\'s a team with offensive woes...and some defensive ones too, unless Wyoming is better than UCLA (*entirely* possible).

Luck made the throws that counted, and that\'s all that matters in a game that you win 35-0 :)

[fullmetal]

Yeah, I hope Marecic isn\'t taking up two spots ;)

Luck\'s legs are a weapon.  I have to believe he\'s being held in relative check to save his body and knees, but he was a good dual-threat QB in HS.

And you know what?  He\'s (thus far) doing better than Garrett Gilbert.  Now there\'s a team with offensive woes...and some defensive ones too, unless Wyoming is better than UCLA (*entirely* possible).

Luck made the throws that counted, and that\'s all that matters in a game that you win 35-0 :)

[yvonne]

Please, fullmetal, have you sunk so low as to be cheering for a quarterback named Gilbert?

[yvonne]

Please, fullmetal, have you sunk so low as to be cheering for a quarterback named Gilbert?

[fullmetal]

cheering?  it\'s actually schadenfreude...or are my lines too closely spaced together for you to read between them?  Gilbert was rated higher than Luck by at least one spot coming out of HS.

[fullmetal]

cheering?  it\'s actually schadenfreude...or are my lines too closely spaced together for you to read between them?  Gilbert was rated higher than Luck by at least one spot coming out of HS.