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UCLA Football: 5 Takeaways From the 2016 Season

By Mike Regalado

Sep 17, 2016; Provo, UT, USA; UCLA Bruins head coach Jim Mora reacts after a play in the first quarter against the Brigham Young Cougars at Lavell Edwards Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Swinger-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 17, 2016; Provo, UT, USA; UCLA Bruins head coach Jim Mora reacts after a play in the first quarter against the Brigham Young Cougars at Lavell Edwards Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Swinger-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 15, 2016; Pullman, WA, USA; UCLA Bruins running back Nate Starks (23) takes the hand off from UCLA Bruins quarterback Mike Fafaul (12) during a game against the Washington State Cougars during the first half at Martin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: James Snook-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 15, 2016; Pullman, WA, USA; UCLA Bruins running back Nate Starks (23) takes the hand off from UCLA Bruins quarterback Mike Fafaul (12) during a game against the Washington State Cougars during the first half at Martin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: James Snook-USA TODAY Sports /

Here are 5 takeaways from the disappointing season that was for the UCLA Football team as they went 4-8 in 2016 and will miss the post-season.

Ok, so that happened. The UCLA Football team’s season is over and it isn’t even December yet.

The Bruins are done after a 4-8 season. There is no bowl game, Just spring practice to look forward to.

So now UCLA has to look ahead, and while they do that, let us look back at 5 takeaways from 2016 season.

1. The Offense Was A Failed Experiment

There were so much hope with Kennedy Polamalu becoming the offensive coordinator and bringing in a little bit of power to the offense. Some Bruin fans had reservations because of the quick change in scheme, but most were optimistic seeing as it would add a new dimension to the Bruins.

That didn’t happen. From bad offensive line play to the inability to run the ball to the fact that the Bruin receivers had way too many drops was a sign that this was not working.

The Bruins also wanted to utilize more tight ends and add the fullback position to help out with this offense. Though the TE spot was often used, the fullbacks soon became nonexistent.

It was a good idea, the Bruins just could not execute this new style of offense after three years of the spread.

Unfortunately, Kennedy Polamalu, paid the ultimate price for it. A day after UCLA’s final game of the 2016 season, he was relieved of his duties as OC and running backs coach. UCLA Football Head Coach Jim Mora now has to look for his third offensive coordinator in three years. That will not help stability.