August 1, 2007
Dallas Star Telegram: UCLA #20
From a DD reader, reporter Wendell Barnhouse of the Dallas Star Telegram is naming his pre-season picks with a lengthy analysis of each team. Coming in at #20 is Dorrell’s team. Just another heads up on see-saw picture of predictions of how this team will do this year. The expectations we have will not change, Pac-10 title + BCS bowl.
One thing does stand out in Barnhouse’s analysis: our pass defense ranked #87 last year. Did we miss that?? That is item #2 that Walker must address (#1 is coming up with a strategy to beat the spread offense). Here is Barnhouse’s overall analysis:
Analysis: The three nonconference opponents — BYU, Utah and Notre Dame — are challenges, but all three are winnable games. The first four Pac-10 road games — Stanford, Oregon State, Washington State and Arizona — are tougher than they appear. The Bruins might do well to lose just one of those four. After last year’s upset and USC’s preseason stature, the regular-season finale against the Trojans in the Coliseum will be worth watching.
Well we agree that our OOC games are “winnable.” As for the rest, Barnhouse pretty much has it right. Not bad for a Southern paper. And that is not all Barnhouse got right. Check out his “story lines” for UCLA football this season:
Story lines
1. How will the instability in the coaching staff (Jay Norvell is the fourth offensive coordinator in the past five seasons) impact the offense?
2. How much can a play-making defense improve in DeWayne Walker’s second season as defensive coordinator?
3. Are the 2007 Bruins more like the team that lost four in a row or the team that upset USC in the regular-season finale?
Is this guy reading DD?? Nice job. He would do well to include a question about the OL, who are also on their 4th coach in 5 years! Anyhow, read the entire analysis it’s a good read.
