While defense labors, passing game clicks
Wide receiver Taylor Embree catches the ball on Saturday against California. Embree currently leads the Bruins in catches, 21, and receiving yards, 286.
By Matt Stevens
Oct. 20, 2009 10:27 p.m.
Coach Rick Neuheisel often verbally evaluates his team’s energy after practice, but Tuesday he didn’t really need to comment.
Defensive coordinator Chuck Bullough seemed to be everywhere at once, screaming at each interval. Helmets were clashing ““ really clashing, like players meant it. The feel of a military boot camp of sorts, with commands of “Let’s go,” pervaded Spaulding Field, yet very little of what was being screamed was actually discernible from the noisy clamor.
The defense, angry and hurt from the team’s most recent loss, showed its frustration after giving up a whopping 45 points to Cal.
But on the other side of the ball, there was sophomore receiver Taylor Embree, calmly and quietly catching each and every ball thrown his way.
Redshirt freshman quarterback Kevin Prince would drop back, Embree would jump, he’d suddenly stretch in midair like a taught rubber band, and he’d catch the ball.
Minus the snap of the ball to his pads, there was no noise, just simple routine.
While the story of the week has been the UCLA defense, the anger and the renewed intensity, what may have been lost in all this was the efficiency of the offense last Saturday, which was overshadowed by the end result.
“Honestly, I think that we just connected on some stuff we hadn’t been able to connect on,” senior receiver Terrence Austin said of the passing game. “(Against) Oregon we threw a couple deep passes, and we weren’t able to execute. (Against Cal) we had some stuff downfield. We still had plays taken away from us, pass interference, dropped balls. We probably could have had a 400-something yard passing game. We’re looking forward to doing some more of that.”
Facing the Bears, Prince began to look a lot more like he did before suffering a jaw fracture in week two. Visibly more comfortable in the pocket, Prince threw for 311 yards, a career best.
Embree was on the other end of 89 of those yards. The sophomore co-led the team with five receptions and continues to lead the team on the season with 21 receptions for 286 yards.
While Prince stopped short of calling Embree the “go-to guy,” he did say the two share great chemistry.
“He catches the ball on time,” Prince said. “He rarely drops it. I don’t want to jinx him … but he rarely drops the ball.”
While that may be true, Neuheisel sees several areas where Embree can improve. In fact, he thinks the receivers need to be better as a whole.
“Taylor is a very consistent player,” Neuheisel said. “Sometimes he gets too eager to make plays, and he forgets to do the discipline of his routes, and that breaks down. He’s a good pass catcher … but we’ve got to be more consistent as a receiving corps. That’s just a fact.”
Embree, who plays opposite Austin, will most likely become the No. 1 receiver next season after the senior graduates. Also departing will be redshirt senior Logan Paulsen, a pass-catching threat at tight end. Very soon, Embree may find a great deal more weight on his shoulders. But midway through his second year in the program, Embree feels ready now.
“I definitely feel more comfortable,” he said. “I feel like I’m ready to take on the responsibility of making the plays and being the No. 1 receiver.”bY Matt Stevens
Bruin Sports senior staff
Coach Rick Neuheisel often verbally evaluates his team’s energy after practice, but Tuesday he didn’t really need to comment.
Defensive coordinator Chuck Bullough seemed to be everywhere at once, screaming at each interval. Helmets were clashing ““ really clashing, like players meant it. The feel of a military boot camp of sorts, with commands of “Let’s go,” pervaded Spaulding Field, yet very little of what was being screamed was actually discernible from the noisy clamor.
The defense, angry and hurt from the team’s most recent loss, showed its frustration after giving up a whopping 45 points to Cal.
But on the other side of the ball, there was sophomore receiver Taylor Embree, calmly and quietly catching each and every ball thrown his way.
Redshirt freshman quarterback Kevin Prince would drop back, Embree would jump, he’d suddenly stretch in midair like a taught rubber band, and he’d catch the ball.
Minus the snap of the ball to his pads, there was no noise, just simple routine.
While the story of the week has been the UCLA defense, the anger and the renewed intensity, what may have been lost in all this was the efficiency of the offense last Saturday, which was overshadowed by the end result.
“Honestly, I think that we just connected on some stuff we hadn’t been able to connect on,” senior receiver Terrence Austin said of the passing game. “(Against) Oregon we threw a couple deep passes, and we weren’t able to execute. (Against Cal) we had some stuff downfield. We still had plays taken away from us, pass interference, dropped balls. We probably could have had a 400-something yard passing game. We’re looking forward to doing some more of that.”
Facing the Bears, Prince began to look a lot more like he did before suffering a jaw fracture in week two. Visibly more comfortable in the pocket, Prince threw for 311 yards, a career best.
Embree was on the other end of 89 of those yards. The sophomore co-led the team with five receptions and continues to lead the team on the season with 21 receptions for 286 yards.
While Prince stopped short of calling Embree the “go-to guy,” he did say the two share great chemistry.
“He catches the ball on time,” Prince said. “He rarely drops it. I don’t want to jinx him … but he rarely drops the ball.”
While that may be true, Neuheisel sees several areas where Embree can improve. In fact, he thinks the receivers need to be better as a whole.
“Taylor is a very consistent player,” Neuheisel said. “Sometimes he gets too eager to make plays, and he forgets to do the discipline of his routes, and that breaks down. He’s a good pass catcher … but we’ve got to be more consistent as a receiving corps. That’s just a fact.”
Embree, who plays opposite Austin, will most likely become the No. 1 receiver next season after the senior graduates. Also departing will be redshirt senior Logan Paulsen, a pass-catching threat at tight end. Very soon, Embree may find a great deal more weight on his shoulders. But midway through his second year in the program, Embree feels ready now.
“I definitely feel more comfortable,” he said. “I feel like I’m ready to take on the responsibility of making the plays and being the No. 1 receiver.”
