OK, it may
seem like a stretch, but for those of us out there on the first day of spring ball it was hard not to notice that Chow was spending an inordinate amount of time having his QB’s perform a drill in which they all lined up on a line facing one direction and then simultaneously on Chow’s mark pretended to take a snap, drop back, and look for a receiver. The QB’s then stopped, turned 90 degrees, and did it all again. Then they stopped, turned another 90 degrees and did it yet again. And again, and again, and again, and well….. you get the idea. Over and over and over again - many, many, times. And I couldn’t help but focus on Coach Chow and this new drill of his that I’d never seen before.
So I’m watching this deal closely and wondering what Coach Chow could be looking for. And as I’m watching it unfold one thing becomes completely obvious - BO is AT LEAST a full step slower than anyone else on our roster in his drop and his read with no actual center snap and no rush. Every single time - from every direction - without exception. Again and again they went. Again and again, BO was last of the five. It became very clear to see as they were all lined up in a row and running the drill simultaneously from the same angle as they rotated directions. And we all know it was being filmed, and the film will show the results of the action from all four directions in repetitive fashion - BO is by far the slowest of the five in simple physical motion and physical reaction time from snap to drop to read.
I mentioned to some of the bums who were sitting near me at the time that I didn’t think it boded well for BO to be slacking in this area on the first day of practice and most agreed that while it didn’t bode well - it was still only the first day of spring. Now we hear that PC is named the early starter and I have to figure that Coach Chow saw something in BO from the very start of day one that he didn’t like - and it was the lack of physical quickness that we have all seen haunt BO at times while playing for UCLA.
Anyone who doubts that Coaches Chow and Neu don’t know what they’re doing with our QB’s needs to review their opinion carefully - as needless to say, they are among the very best in the business in this area. 
April 15th, 2008 at 12:05 am
Having gone to the practice too and not having spoken to anyone about it, I’m glad I wasn’t the only one that noticed what you wrote about. And how about BO possibly being behind Kevin Craft. Craft looked super eager at practice and wanted to get as many reps as he could in every drill.
April 15th, 2008 at 12:40 am
I think it all comes down to mobility and a very unsure o-line. I think Chow and Neuheisel are resigned to the fact that the QB is going to have to do some running for his life. This was before the most experienced offensive lineman retired (Lanis retired today…bummer). Craft and Cowan fit the mobility bill, but not Olson. I hear Craft is actually more mobile than Cowan. Know anything about this Edward?
April 15th, 2008 at 8:28 am
Very strong read. Thanks for the post!