SB Nation User Blog: njbruin

ESPN Summarizes the Pac-10

njbruin — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 20:46:06 -0000

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=3152283&lpos=spotlight&lid=tab4pos2

The word that sums up the Pac-10 is "disappointment", which really does describe it perfectly. It was a really bum year for the Pac-10. It's also a good word for UCLA football, which was supposed to be the year the team finally rose up and took its rightful spot among the Pac-10 elite. Instead, it was more miserable, boring, and sloppy football. I am sad to say I bought the hype.

Anyway, they have an all-Pac-10 team on the page. While its no surprise that there are no offensive players from Karl Dorrell and Coordinator #whatever, you would think there would be tons of players on the defensive side. After all, they were led onto the field by God's Gift to UCLA and Defense, DeWayne Walker, and no other team can say that.

Here it is!
Defense
DL Lawrence Jackson, Sr., USC
DL Sedrick Ellis, Sr., USC
DL Nick Reed, Jr., Oregon
DL Dexter Davis, So, Arizona State
LB Keith Rivers, Sr., USC
LB Robert James, Sr., Arizona State
LB Spencer Larson, Sr., Arizona
DB Antoine Cason, Sr., Arizona
DB Terrell Thomas, Sr., USC
DB Patrick Chung, Jr., Oregon
DB Kevin Ellison, Jr., USC
P Keenyn Crier, Fr., Arizona

Wait, what? If God's Gift to UCLA and Defense couldn't lead any players to the All-Pac-10 team, what does that make the guy that led Arizona State's defense? And Arizona's?

"It is what it is"

njbruin — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 16:04:03 -0000

I know that nobody here at Bruins Nation believes that BS about how this is year is turned around because we are still in the hunt for a Rose Bowl berth.

Well, it seems like the people that vote in the polls do not believe it either.

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/rankingsindex

UCLA is not in the top 25 of either poll, of course. However, if you look at the "Others Receiving votes", UCLA is not listed there either.

The AP's "other" are Arkansas 138, Texas Tech 119, Connecticut 41, Michigan 19, Air Force 19, Kentucky 13, UCF 11, Oregon State 5, Troy 3, Tulsa 1, Wake Forest 1, Penn State 1.

The USA Today's "other" are Texas Tech 116, South Florida 100, Connecticut 54, Air Force 31, Penn State 19, UCF 18, Michigan 17, Wake Forest 7, Rutgers 6, Mississippi State 4, Oklahoma State 4, Michigan State 3, TROY 3, Tulsa 2, Houston 2, Fresno State 1.

I realize polls are heavily weighted towards overall record but keep in mind Oregon was a top 10 team. Obviously the voters knew of that game because they dropped Oregon down. However, they clearly knew what a hollow victory that game was and not a single voter thought UCLA was worthy of the top 25 after that win.

Not a single one.

MJD tearing up NFL

njbruin — Mon, 11 Dec 2006 20:31:35 -0000

I just wanted to make a quick post today about how Maurice Jones-Drew is turning into a dangerous, dangerous weapon in the NFL. He ripped up Colts Defense yesterday with a 3 TD game. Admittedly its not hard to rip up that D, but hes been impressive all year. A small article on ESPN summarizing the week's games can be found here

He currently has 12 TDs, more than any other rookie in the No Fun League (including a certain running back drafted out of South Central). Nine running, two receiving, one return. Twelve touchdowns is a great season for practically anyone, let alone a rookie. Even better, thanks in large part to the ground game he is helping establish the Jags are in the playoff hunt and IMO he is on the short list for NFL Rookie of the Year honors. At least, he should be (the talking heads on TV seem to have already given it to Marques Colston).

This sort of thing is great for UCLA and recruiting. We need as many UCLA players to succeed in the NFL as possible. I would've loved to see him play in Westwood this year but you gotta admit, he was ready for the next level.