ASU’s Bolden: “I’m Beating Myself Up a Bit”
Omar Bolden, ASU’s typically brash sophomore defensive back, says he is beating himself up over his recent poor play. And if the ever-cocky Bolden is concerned, then so are we.
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He seemed so brash as a high school senior when he tossed aside USC’s ballcap and revealed a previously-hidden Arizona State cap during the press conference in which he announced his college choice.
He seemed so unshakable when he not only held his own as a true freshman last season but actually started the final nine games of the year.
So we were more than a little concerned to learn that Omar Bolden is discouraged by his struggle to adapt to the Sun Devils’ new, softer coverage philosophy. Quoth Bolden in the East Valley Tribune, “I’m not going to lie. I’m a little discouraged. I’ve been disappointed at my performance. I’m beating myself up a little bit.”
Look, everyone is frustrated with Bolden’s play of late. His pass interference calls handed Stanford a touchdown, UNLV beat him man-to-man on several occasions including once in the end zone, and Georgia’s A.J. Green absolutely torched him after he talked smack following a big play early in the game.
But as a fan you look to guys like Bolden, guys with that USC swagger, to spit mama jokes in the face of discouragement and doubt.
There’s no one for the coaching staff to throw out there and give Bolden a breather. A pair of junior college transfers and clearly options 2a and 2b opposite Bolden, as Pierre “the hammer” Singfield opened the season as the starter and Terell Carr supplanted him against Georgia.
So it’s up to Bolden to rediscover the swagger that had the Sun Devil Nation so excited when he jilted USC in favor of ASU in the video below, which gets good about 60 seconds in.
For the sake of ASU’s season, we’re going to need the brash Bolden back—and soon.
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Be sure to check out our farewell to Camp Tontozona and our assessment of Rudy Carpenter’s legacy.
Carr and Singfield (I think that’s his name) have looked better than him….I think we all know the Cal game will show if the team knows how to respond.
SO why dont we just go back to the harder coverage be played last year then? We are not getting the INTs we used to and our corners are not looking as well.
I’m going to have to agree with Kurtis. Why are we trying to pound a square peg into a round hole? I understand different coaches have different philosophies, but I think maybe we’d adapt to accomodate a player of Bolden’s caliber.
The problem is the coverage. Our corners lineup ten yards off the line of scrimmage – no wonder they can’t make plays on the ball. Bolden needs to stop flapping his jaws so much on the field, but the problem is with the coach not the player.
The scheme is a definite problem. 10 yards is way too much cushion (unless you’re covering Usain Bolt). I can understand 3 – 5 yards, but 10 yards puts your CB’s in too much of a guessing situation and it encourages them to get lazy and watch the QB instead of the WR.
I’m also guessing that the current coaches are teaching them to play the WR instead of the ball, which I think is a huge mistake. If you can make a play on the ball, you don’t have to play the WR. Turn your head around and find the ball.
Instead of lining them up 10 yards off, presumably to hide their deficiencies, how about you coach them up on proper technique. Just a thought.
[...] Unfortunately, Omar Bolden didn’t give him pointers on pulling the old switcheroo on the Trojans. [...]