With UCLA football’s Spring Practice in full swing — and me missing out on the damn practices — things have been pretty consistent: Mora and company, through the first two days have demanded a faster, more aggressive tempo than years past. Expectations are high, and the level of intensity is higher.
Day Three is no different. Although a little late, let’s take you around the Interwebs to update you on the third day of UCLA’s Spring Practice, which, mind you, was played in full pads for the first time this year.
BruinsBall.com: Scott Robinson, whom your humble narrator met at the first day of Spring Practice, has been absolutely tearing up his coverage of UCLA football’s Spring Practice, easily surpassing the coverage Jon Gold’s been providing at Inside UCLA. In this post, Scott discusses how the evidence of culture change on the field kicked up an extra gear, noting that players seemed lethargic to start off. Mora then responded by rallying his troops and getting pissed off at them, which led to an uptick in intensity, once more. He also suggests a shift in the QB competition, and perhaps some QBs who fell behind. We won’t tell you that, so just click on over, yes?
Inside UCLA: As we noted, Jon Gold’s been at every practice and hasn’t done a bad job of covering what’s been going on at Spaulding at all. This practice report, however, seems pretty dry, but it’s not void of gems. Gold discusses, mainly, the emergence of Dalton Hilliard, who’s been a complete animal at RB (after switching over from defensive back) all three practices.
The L.A. Times: Bill Plaschke — I’m not a fan, Bill — actually has a nice, pro-UCLA piece that highlights the kind of attitude Jim Mora is taking with his team, emphasizing the profanity Mora uses, something Plaschke notes Mora was pretty embarrassed about. Overall, not a bad read from someone who normally seems clueless.
(Thank God I’m not an aspiring sports journalist anymore, otherwise all this writer-bashing might actually hurt me.)
UCLA: Video with Jim Mora, post-practice
Mora continues to stay on-point and gives legitimate reasons for being aggressive and passionate. He talks about pushing his players hard and his profanity-laced practice.
That’ll be it for today. I should be back at Spaulding for my own little practice and notes on Tuesday.
GO BRUINS!!!