He fumbled, then returned for a special teams coverage and then unless I missed something that was it. We miss him. What's up?

Muhammad not getting carries is my question about the running game, was he hurt? Tre did a decent job but Khal could have opened things up.

I think Muhammad and Enwere are better.

Also hasn't dome a thing this year. I know he was Injured, but right now platooning Muhammad & Enwere gives us a better chance to win.

I have to believe Muhammad was hurt too. Between the 20's he has to be our best option. We need his explosiveness. I can't believe we were going with Watson if Muhammad was available. I would have given Lasco another shot too. Damn, I can't believe we couldn't get 5 yards in 2 plays. Utah was there for the taking!!

Lasco needs to learn how to run from Booker. He has a weird habit of diving forward at the end of runs instead of lowering his pad level and driving forward with his legs. And the worst part is that when he dives, he does it with the ball in one hand and away from his body. He's fast and strong, but he has terrible technique as a runningback. Where is Ron Gould when you need him?

Lasco not being healthy hurts. Enwere and Muhammad have physical talent but don't know how to find holes as well as Lasco. They try to run over defenders instead of around them, and that rarely works.

SurvivorOf1and10fkaLEA;842568864 said:

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Lasco needs to learn how to run from Booker. He has a weird habit of diving forward at the end of runs instead of lowering his pad level and driving forward with his legs. And the worst part is that when he dives, he does it with the ball in one hand and away from his body. He's fast and strong, but he has terrible technique as a runningback. Where is Ron Gould when you need him?

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I think most of his fumbles on those dives.

SD said after the game that Lasco is fine health-wise. He said that he needs more time to get back to where he was...

Connor Letourneau ‏@Con_Chron 10 minutes ago
Dykes said Lasco, who didn't play after the first quarter, wasn't physically ready to play tonight. Second week that's happened.

Lasco will get a week off but I think his injury is going to be a problem the rest of the season.

All signs are really beginning to point to a hip pointer for Lasco.

Yup, Lasco isn't right physically. Hip injuries can be a big problem.

Honestly, Cal's offense misses Lasco a LOT. Just him being able to get 7-8 yards often enough helps greatly.

Lets hope he gets better for the stretch run.

B.A. Bearacus;842568998 said:

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Connor Letourneau ‏@Con_Chron 10 minutes ago
Dykes said Lasco, who didn't play after the first quarter, wasn't physically ready to play tonight. Second week that's happened.

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Interesting. On KGO after the game, he said otherwise, but didn't sound all that convincing...

Lasco is the best receiver of the RB's, we could have used him as an option at the end of the game. How many passes did we throw to our RB's last night?

Pre-season, we all felt that if we just had a merely bad defense, this team could be great. It turns out we have a *good* defense -- but the offense has regressed.

I have to think that it's all about Lasco. His absence is the difference between this year's offense, and last year's. I'm not sure if it's physical, mental, or both (I suspect the 2 are feeding each other), but he's not right, he's not playing, and the offense is not clicking.

JSC 76;842569149 said:

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Pre-season, we all felt that if we just had a merely bad defense, this team could be great. It turns out we have a *good* defense -- but the offense has regressed.

I have to think that it's all about Lasco. His absence is the difference between this year's offense, and last year's. I'm not sure if it's physical, mental, or both (I suspect the 2 are feeding each other), but he's not right, he's not playing, and the offense is not clicking.

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Suspect OL and starting RB out...that's two big chunks of the machine. Lasco cranking out 7-8 yards was huge in getting Goff some time because the D has to cover a swift Lasco. No Lasco and it's all on the OL. Not good.

That's exactly what I was thinking. Maybe the RB's were busy blocking their front 7?

Lasco came in and fumbled in his first snap. Not to mention his lack of production last week. Combined with backups who have been very good. Makes sense he didn't come back in...

touchdownbears43;842569256 said:

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Lasco came in and fumbled in his first snap. Not to mention his lack of production last week. Combined with backups who have been very good. Makes sense he didn't come back in...

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I agree. Until it's clear that Lasco is back, we should utilize our other RBs. More Khalfani and Watson and a little less Enwere, in my perfect world. I'm a Lasco fan, mind you, and I'm really rooting for him to regain his form. If he does, he'll be drafted.

I feel good about our future at this position, by the way.

chazzed;842569653 said:

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I agree. Until it's clear that Lasco is back, we should utilize our other RBs. More Khalfani and Watson and a little less Enwere, in my perfect world. I'm a Lasco fan, mind you, and I'm really rooting for him to regain his form.

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But is one carry enough to know whether or not he has his form? What puzzles me is that the injury seems to be to his hip. If he is not fit as a RB why is he playing on special teams?

We miss Lasco and our center who left at the last minute. Other injuries to OL have also hurt. The rest is facing better defenses.

Go Bears!!

Go!Bears;842569657 said:

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But is one carry enough to know whether or not he has his form? What puzzles me is that the injury seems to be to his hip. If he is not fit as a RB why is he playing on special teams?

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When he promptly gives the ball away, I think one carry may be enough. That was our 2nd turnover within a few minutes and we couldn't risk any additional ones. It could be all in his head, but over the last two weeks he hasn't seemed sharp. There's no need to rush him back because of our depth.

chazzed;842569664 said:

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When he promptly gives the ball away, I think one carry may be enough. That was our 2nd turnover within a few minutes and we couldn't risk any additional ones. It could be all in his head, but over the last two weeks he hasn't seemed sharp. There's no need to rush him back because of our depth.

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Agree,I am wondering if Lasco's hip still not a 100% and it's affecting him.
In Texas, KM fumbled and he was pulled out for a few reps, subsequently returning and playing rather well. Hope big Lasco gets back to form soon...great kid and great athlete.

chazzed;842569664 said:

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When he promptly gives the ball away, I think one carry may be enough. That was our 2nd turnover within a few minutes and we couldn't risk any additional ones . It could be all in his head, but over the last two weeks he hasn't seemed sharp. There's no need to rush him back because of our depth.

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As it turns out, we could.

Y'all should watch Dykes's presser, posted in another thread. It sure sounded to me like it was a coach's decision not to play him further.

sketchy9;842569670 said:

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As it turns out, we could.

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Within reason. You're not going to force Goff not to throw, since that is such a vital part of our offense. He just made poor decisions last night.

Where it really hurts is in pass protection - Lasco is by far the best RB at picking up blitzes.

When the pressure is on to have a successful play, it seems our default is to call a pass play likely because, well, that's what we do. So it matters not at 3rd and 5 who's in the backfield. Lasco was hurt but still in at the end of the UCLA game last year; we went ahead anyway. If we think the pass is our strength, then that's what we're gonna do, maybe even despite apparent running successes. Why? Because, well, that's what we do, darn it! (And we're pretty darned good at it.)

Now, should Lasco have returned? No if injured. Maybe if not. Will never know how he would have done. Sometimes it works out. Watched Dom Williams of the Cougs drop two passes early, but he was crucial later in their last-minute tying drive, and caught a tough last-second over-the-shoulder tying pass in the endzone for the victory over the Ducks.