UCLA Football: Are 9-Wins an Improvement or Should It Be The Norm?

After going 4-8 in 2016, the UCLA Football team will look to get more wins in 2017. Should this be considered an improvement or should getting a minimum of 9 wins be expected every year?

A few weeks ago, Bleacher Report had projected the UCLA Football team to win 9 games in 2017. They pointed to the fact that new offensive coordinator Jedd Fisch’s offensive mind would improve the struggling Bruins and resurrect QB Josh Rosen for his junior year.

With the defense still being the best part of the team, the Bruins, per BR, should go 9-3. For some UCLA Football fans, this is an improvement that they would gladly take. But there is a differing opinion.

Since UCLA won at least eight games in Head Coach Jim Mora’s first three seasons, with two of those being back-to-back 10-win seasons, it seems there should be a standard as to which the Bruins are measured by.

This leads to another belief from Bruin fans that 9-win seasons are a must and if UCLA gets to 9 wins in 2017, it is not an improvement, but rather what they should be doing every single season.

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UCLA has recruited very well since Mora arrived and though it is not at the level of Alabama, Ohio State and USC, it is still a huge improvement for the previous regime. UCLA has also brought in quality coaches which has made certain position groups very good.

Unfortunately, it has not completely come together, especially last season when the run game dissolved, the pass game was grounded and Rosen was out for half of the seaosn with a shoulder injury. It was an anomaly, but one that still has UCLA Football fans scratching their heads.

With this talent, how could the Bruins not beat Texas A&M, Stanford, Washington State, USC and Cal (just to name a few)? Several factors, which have been dissected over and over since the end of the season, are responsible for the forgettable 2016 season, but those factors, regardless of what they are, are unacceptable.

By the numbers, 9-3 is a significant improvement from 4-8, but with the talent and development that this team is exhibiting, 9-3 should be the norm while 10-2, 11-1 and 12-0 would be improvements. Heck, I’ll even throw in just getting to the Rose Bowl as an improvement.

Next: UCLA Football: 2017 NFL Combine Wrap-up

UCLA knows what they have and knows what they can accomplish. If it does not happen in 2017, then unfortunately it will be a major setback for the Bruins, one that could have Mora’s hot seat blazing. So will they improve or will they get back to form? We get a first glimpse in a few weeks when spring practice starts.