FARMER REAPS REWARDS AT SPLIT END.Byline: Jon Wilner Daily News Staff Writer Danny Farmer Danny Farmer, born 1977, is a former National Football League and University of California, Los Angeles wide receiver.[1] In 2000, he was drafted in the fourth round (103) by the Pittsburgh Steelers. did not need to think it over. He knew immediately. ``As soon as the coaches told me I'd be switching positions, I was excited,'' he said. ``I knew it would give me a chance to be more involved.'' UCLA UCLA University of California at Los Angeles UCLA University Center for Learning Assistance (Illinois State University) UCLA University of Carrollton, TX and Lower Addison, TX coach Bob Toledo Bob Toledo (born March 4, 1946, in San Jose, California) is an American football coach, recently hired as head coach at Tulane University. He is best-known as the thirteenth head coach at UCLA. has made a slew of prudent personnel changes in his first season in charge, but few have worked better than the decision this week to move Farmer from the third (or slot) receiver to split end. Intended to get Farmer more involved in the offense, it worked perfectly: he led UCLA with five catches for 121 yards and a touchdown in its 38-14 victory over Washington State. ``Danny is a very reliable factor. He can catch a BB,'' offensive coordinator An offensive coordinator typically refers to the coach on a football team in the National Football League or College football who is in charge of the offense. This position aids the head coach by designing and scripting plays, delegating work to offensive position coaches during Al Borges Alan Borges (born October 8, 1955 in Salinas, California) is an American college football coach and the current offensive coordinator of the Auburn University football team. said. ``With a guy like that, you have to find a place. Today was indicative of what he can do.'' Farmer caught a 52-yard pass from Cade McNown Cade McNown (born January 12 1977 in Portland, Oregon) is a quarterback who played in the National Football League. He attended played college football at the University of California, Los Angeles. to set up one touchdown and a 38-yard scoring pass from Jim McElroy James Charles McElroy, Jr. (born October 4, 1953 in Cotton Plant, Arkansas) is an American former professional basketball player. A 6'3" guard from Central Michigan University, McElroy played in the National Basketball Association from 1975 to 1982 as a member of the New in the third quarter to give the Bruins a 28-7 lead. ``We tried that play in the first half but had to audible out of it,'' Farmer said. ``I just told Jim to throw it, and if he did I'd catch it. There weren't supposed to be two defenders back there. There were supposed to be none. But it worked anyway.'' A redshirt freshman recruited to UCLA as a volleyball player, Farmer was one of the biggest surprises of the early season. In his first game, at Tennessee, he had five catches for 115 yards, including an 88-yarder that kept UCLA close in the fourth quarter. He led the Bruins in receiving against Northeast Louisiana, as well, with four receptions for 55 yards. But after nine catches in two games, UCLA's opponents changed their approach. They began double-teaming Farmer, especially in third-down situations, and his effectiveness waned. In the next six games, he had just nine catches. ``It was a little frustrating, but it just made me work that much harder,'' he said. After the passing-game debacle against Stanford, Toledo moved McElroy from split end to flanker flank·er n. 1. One that flanks, especially a soldier so positioned as to protect the flank of a column of troops on the march. 2. , made Eric Scott the starting split end and Farmer the backup. (He would also play as the slot receiver when UCLA went to three wideouts.) All three played integral roles in the victory: McElroy with two catches and a touchdown pass, Scott with a blocked punt, and Farmer with his big plays. He wasted no time getting involved, with a 10-yard catch on third-and-4 on UCLA's first possession. He grabbed a 12-yarder later in the first quarter, then caught the bomb from McNown and the receiver option from McElroy. |
|
||||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion