Kibble and Bits
by John Berkowitz on Sep 30, 2010 8:03 AM PDT
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Boise State LB Winston Venable was suspended for half a game by the WAC for a flagrant hit on OSU WR James Rodgers, who will likely miss this week's game against ASU with a concussion. The Broncos are also on the cover of Sports Illustrated this week.
UCLA Kevin Prince has missed two practices this week with a swollen knee. Prince is listed as questionable for the WSU game on Saturday.
According to Bob Condotta, who interviewed UW AD Scott Woodward this week, the Pac 10 seems to be leaning toward a North/South alignment with a twist: breaking the league into three four-team pods which, guaranteeing the Huskies would play in LA and the Bay Area three out of every four, or four out of every five seasons.
Seattle U. and Denver appear to about to be invited to join the WAC according to Bob Condotta, who covers the Redhawks for the Seattle Times during basketball season. In a perfect world, both schools--together with Pacific--would be logical members for a 12 team WCC, who recently added BYU in all sports but football. However the WCC doesn't seem to be interested in expanding further at this point.
Due to financial concerns UC-Berkeley is cutting baseball, men's and women's gymnastics, and women's lacrosse. In addition, men's rugby will transition to a varsity club sport, a newly-designated status at UC Berkeley. The school boasted 29 sports before the cuts. Even at 24 sports, according to the university, Cal will rank tied for second in the Pac-10, and eighth nationally among public schools.
ESPN's Ivan Maisel credits a diverse group of coaches for the Pac-10's rise, and suggests that the conference is abandoning the status quo off the field, an on the field.
The Pistol offense is gaining some notoriety after UCLA knocked off Texas last week in Austin.
Invented in Nevada, the short shotgun setup - hence pistol - that places the quarterback about 4 yards behind center and a running back 3 yards behind the QB is now being used in varying amounts at Alabama, Arkansas, Duke, Indiana, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and UCLA, just to name a few.
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It's honestly nothing that big, either.
The way it was explained, the QB depth is the same, but having the running back lined up behind the QB gives them more options in the run game. With the RB to one side or the other, it becomes more obvious where the team is going to run, allowing the defense to key on a certain side.
With the pistol, it takes away that predictability and allows the offense to run either way or straight up the gut. Nothing huge, really, just a different look and a different way to manage the run game.
Just to clarify
The way it was explained, the QB depth is the same, but having the running back lined up behind the QB gives them more options in the run game
The QB is actually a yard or two closer to the line of scrimmage. In the pistol the QB is three yards back, in the shotgun the QB is about 5 yards back.
"Legends are made on the shores of Lake Washington"
"BOW DOWN TO WASHINGTON"
Depends on who's running it.
We ran it with the QB at the same depth (it was actually a question asked post-game) as the shotgun. Some teams run it closer. But yes, the QB will line-up 3-5 yards into the backfield in the pistol, depending on how the offense is installed.
by Brian Floyd on Sep 30, 2010 10:15 AM PDT up reply actions
Really?
The QB was at the shotgun depth and then the running back was still behind the QB, interesting. Are we sure Paul Wulff knows what he is doing??
"Legends are made on the shores of Lake Washington"
"BOW DOWN TO WASHINGTON"
Not his call, it's the OC's
But yeah, both Wulff and Sturdy said the QB was at the same depth as he would normally be in the shotgun.
It depends on what kind of run-game the team wants to run out of the pistol. WSU wanted to run up the middle more, using delays on the USC defense. A team that wants to option and work out wide probably goes with a little less depth.
by Brian Floyd on Sep 30, 2010 10:33 AM PDT up reply actions
I should also note the goal was to pass out of the formation a lot
So they gave Tuel a bit more depth to give him a bit more time and better field-vision. The line actually held up fairly well and he was able to get his throws off most of the time.
by Brian Floyd on Sep 30, 2010 10:38 AM PDT up reply actions
Not his call???
Are you kidding me? He is the head coach, isn’t he? Everything is his call, whether he chooses to delegate the decision is one thing, but he better have the final say over any/everything to do with the team.
"Legends are made on the shores of Lake Washington"
"BOW DOWN TO WASHINGTON"
Well yes, but choosing whether the QB is one step back or forward really isn't a big deal at all
The OC runs the show and in matters of QB depth, it really isn’t a big deal. He obviously help set the gameplan, but the small details are up to the OC. QB depth is a very small detail.
by Brian Floyd on Sep 30, 2010 11:10 AM PDT up reply actions
Disagree.
It’s a monumental change that could affect how well the formation works. Mike Holmgren was known for yelling at wide receivers for being a yard too close to the hash. Little things matter.
"Legends are made on the shores of Lake Washington"
"BOW DOWN TO WASHINGTON"
And, like I said, the decision was a conscious one
They wanted to throw out of the formation and use it to fit the running game they wanted. It wasn’t the wrong decision at all.
To me, it wasn’t a huge deal and the coaches downplayed it as such.
by Brian Floyd on Sep 30, 2010 11:19 AM PDT up reply actions
I'm not saying it was the wrong decision.
I am a little surprised by the decision, but I’m just saying that Wulff better have made or approved the decision.
"Legends are made on the shores of Lake Washington"
"BOW DOWN TO WASHINGTON"
It's nothing under the sun, but it's a trend that's gaining some steam this year.
It will continue to after UCLA’s upset of Texas. To me, it was simply what was working at the time for UCLA’s personnel. It somehow worked very well for them.
That said, they used it from time to time against Stanford, and they still didn’t do shit on offense.
Golden!
by Carl Shinyama on Sep 30, 2010 6:41 PM PDT up reply actions
Nothing new*
Dammit, I want “edit” button.
Golden!
by Carl Shinyama on Sep 30, 2010 6:42 PM PDT up reply actions
Pistol
I have to say, I was shocked by how many times I saw Alabama run out of the Pistol formation in their game against Arkansas. There is a certain awkwardness to having the RB just a few steps behind the QB, but I’m sure it will be copied heavily now that you’ve seen the big boys toy around with it. Hell, even WSU ran it a few times last week. Although, watching Tuel turn one direction while his RB was running the other direction was somewhat comical.
Damn, my eyeball tastes good.
I did get a good laugh out of that!
What would we do with out the Cougars?
( I agree with Brian, that stuff tends to happen when you install new stuff mid season, but it’s still fun to give the Cougs crap).
"Legends are made on the shores of Lake Washington"
"BOW DOWN TO WASHINGTON"
I was more suprised with the amount of Wildcat formation.
They didn’t do it that much with Ingram last year, from what I remember.
Golden!
by Carl Shinyama on Sep 30, 2010 6:37 PM PDT up reply actions
Kudos to WAC officials
The suspension is getting it right. Word is spreading in many circles that Boise State is a dirty team. A Boise game does not go by where I don’t see leading with the helmet stuff. In the OSU game I saw at least two helmet to helmet colisions involving leading with the helmet, I saw a facemask/horse collar that was never called and the line judge was 8 feet from the obvious no call. And how about Quiz getting pummeled well after the whistle had blown? “Playing thru the whistle” is something all coaches teach, but the one involving Quiz took it over the top. Their should’ve been at least 4 more personal fouls called on the BSU defense in the 3rd quarter alone. Glad to see the WAC step up.
All I saw was purple
Really?
A half-game suspension against UNM is right? Considering the fact that the WAC wanted to suspend him for a full game and Peterson lobbied for a reduction, it really doesn’t send the right message.
by Brian Floyd on Sep 30, 2010 10:17 AM PDT up reply actions
Agreed.
Who is Boise playing this week, New Mexico or New Mexico State? Either way, it’s an easy win, suspend the kid for the whole game and send the right message.
"Legends are made on the shores of Lake Washington"
"BOW DOWN TO WASHINGTON"
Agreed
But the message was sent and delivered. And maybe this is a little dig by the WAC w/ BSU leaving. I’m just glad folks that aren’t blinded by blue are beginning to see the same stuff I am seeing.
All I saw was purple
It's a crap message
Rodgers was knocked out of the game in the second half and likely will sit this week in a Pac-10 game that means a lot for OSU. Venable gets suspended for half a game against a terrible team after BSU lobbied for a reduction. It doesn’t send the right message at all.
by Brian Floyd on Sep 30, 2010 10:35 AM PDT up reply actions
Non message
The kid should have been suspended for multiple games.
UW Dawg Pound - SBN Seattle
by John Berkowitz on Sep 30, 2010 10:59 AM PDT up reply actions
Oh I agree
I’ve looked back over footage of the Boise State/Oregon game and LaGarrat Blount took a lot of heat (as he should’ve), but what we missed was that Blount was egged on by the guy that got his clock cleaned. I’m not advocating violence but that BSU kid deserved that knock out punch. And if you look at footage of the fans as Blount was being escorted out, BSU fans were egging him on even more. One fan actually attempted to throw a chair at Blount.
For those that think Chris Peterson is a great coach, I think a moment of pause is in order. Clearly from my perspective he doesn’t have complete control of his program. Time and again I see dirty play from multiple defensive players and the fans act more like they are attending an NHL game. I seriously doubt the fans mistake these kids as student athletes, because they think they have every right to heckle one.
All I saw was purple
You agree??? What am I missing?
First you say: The suspension is getting it right. Followed by: But the message was sent and delivered. John says it was a non message and wasn’t severe enough, then you agree??? I’m starting to think that you are really John Kerry, only he can flip flop that badly.
Then you call out Chris Petersen, give me a break. As much as I hate BSU, I would have taken Petersen as the Huskies coach any day of the week. Keep digging.
"Legends are made on the shores of Lake Washington"
"BOW DOWN TO WASHINGTON"
[Clarification]
First of all I thought the message was sent by the Western Athletic Conference. They (WAC front office) saw something that warrented discipline. The idea that they saw an issue with Boise State’s performance and acted upon it was the message.
Was it severe enough? Heavens no! James Rogers got laid out and he didn’t even have the ball. Venables wasn’t making a play on the ball carrier, so he cheap shotted the OSU guy in front of him from the blind side.
So to rehash: I thought the aknowledgement that the WAC saw the personal foul and the suspension that followed was getting it right. It would be worse if nothing happened- right? So from that angle the message was sent. But I also argree the punishment wasn’t servere enough. James is out for one game due to a traumatic concussion as a result of the dirty play of Venables. But Venables only has to sit out a half. Seems to me that Venables should sit as long as James is out w/ injury.
Does that clear things up?
All I saw was purple
You are missing the entire point.....
Peterson appears to be sending a message that head hunting is perfectly acceptable. That’s why people are so pissed off at BSU. The WAC shouldn’t have to step in and disperse punishment.
You are all over the place.
UW Dawg Pound - SBN Seattle
by John Berkowitz on Sep 30, 2010 11:48 AM PDT up reply actions
Crazi should be quotes:
I feel strongly with both or maybe all ways.
Or have a tough time making decisions: Why yes and no, why do you ask?
Losers care about "student-athletes".
Not calling you a loser Crazi, but only fandoms that aren’t winning care about that stuff. Give me the Jimmy Johnson Hurricanes, Oklahoma under Switzer, and the 1995 Cornhuskers. Felons win games. I think a decade of losing makes it easier to rationalize away others success.
Then call me a loser...
I prefer college sports to professional because of the (perceived) purity of the game. Nobody negotiates contracts or goes through hold outs. Nobody writes “Throw me the Damn Ball”, and nobody takes to the press to request a trade. These are young men who play for an education and a chance to better themselves through athletics.
So if a team full of felons wins…then call me a loser.
Completely agree......
I have lost a ton of respect for Coach Peterson in how he’s handled this pattern of head hunting
If it was truly karma, it would be Shareece Wright who's out this week
Wright was the one who laid the most BS hit on Locker (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jnhFY3BkXMI) that season. At least the hit Locker took against OSU was inbounds…illegal, but inbounds
by Purple Reign 91 on Sep 30, 2010 4:08 PM PDT up reply actions
WAC's daring suspension
First of all, I didn’t see the hit, so I have no comment on that. But, BSU is leaving the WAC. They jumped at the chance to join the Mt West, and they would probably leave the MWC for the Pac-nn just as quick. I don’t think the Big 12 would hesitate to penalize Colo or Neb this year.
Kills me to see sports getting cut
To me, it lowers the overall prestige of the league to lose a baseball program like Cal, but I guess it’s yet another sign of the economic times. Cal has a solid baseball tradition, and while I can’t speak for the other sports they’re cutting, knowing that high schools typically follow suit with college trends, I’d hate to see these sports cut even further for the kids at lower levels. (On a sarcastic note) You just hate to see kids have low-cost, constructive activities like athletics to participate in.
by Purple Reign 91 on Sep 30, 2010 10:44 AM PDT reply actions
I guess it is the Pac 11 in baseball.
UW Dawg Pound - SBN Seattle
by John Berkowitz on Sep 30, 2010 11:00 AM PDT up reply actions
Nope
10. Colorado doesn’t have a varsity baseball program.
by Brian Floyd on Sep 30, 2010 11:04 AM PDT up reply actions
I heard that CU is looking forward to Pac 12 baseball- and that their invitation was extended with the idea of putting a baseball program together. I’ve also heard that our new commish wants to push Pac 12 baseball into a revenue sport of sorts. It could happen. College baseball is becoming bigger and bigger and the new college world series stadium in Omaha could assist building up the buz of college baseball in general.
All I saw was purple
I can NOT believe I'm going to help out Crazi, but...
Call this my charity endeavor for the day.
June 10, http://www.dailycamera.com/cu-news/ci_15285404:
CU athletic director Mike Bohn said increased revenue the athletic department is expecting to receive in the Pac-10 could lead to the return of baseball and the addition of women’s sports such as softball and lacrosse down the road
Count CU Chancellor Phil DiStefano among those who want to see Division I baseball return to Boulder.
"Certainly I think CU should look at adding sports in the future," DiStefano said. "Baseball is one I would like to see (added), although as you know the weather here in the spring isn’t always conducive to playing with 36 inches of snow."
by Purple Reign 91 on Sep 30, 2010 2:25 PM PDT up reply actions
Pac 10 baseball
I would imagine that baseball would be a significant source of content for a future Pac 12 Network. The conference has always been among the strongest in the country in the sport, and giving it greater exposure via broadcasts would seem to be an easy win for the conference, as well as a way to fill out broadcast time for the network and add value to a Pac-12 Network subscription.
it's a shocker to me
I never would have figured that baseball would be on the cutting block for Cal, but I guess that goes to show just how bad the economic situation is there. And it makes you wonder if something similar might happen here. We all hope that a renovated Husky Stadium keeps us on the positive side of the ledger so we can support all of the non-revenue sports, but what if the football team continues to struggle and we’re only drawing 50,000 or so?
I'd be shocked to see any further cuts at UW
The baseball program is largely underwritten with a large check from local home-builder Herb Chaffey, and they’re finally slated to finish the baseball/soccer complex, a mere 13+ years after they started playing there in 1997. Coach Lindsay Meggs has gone to great lengths to build the program, though he’s pissed off a lot of locals by cutting ties with some folks who had long been connected to the program, including firing a younger former UW player working as an assistant coach who is battling cancer and has three young kids to think of.
The other men’s sports either have their own modern facilities and/or are relatively low-cost ventures. You definitely won’t see any women’s sports cut…too many potential Title IX conflicts.
by Purple Reign 91 on Sep 30, 2010 11:18 AM PDT up reply actions
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