UCLA Football Spring Practice Preview: Quarterbacks

The UCLA Football team is gearing up for some springtime football and Go Joe Bruin has your position-by-position preview, starting with the quarterbacks.

Things were looking a bit precarious at the quarterback position for the UCLA Football team at the end of last season. Though the Bruins found their their apparent to Brett Hundley in Josh Rosen, there was not a lot of depth behind the “Chosen One”.

The Bruin’s immediate back-up Jerry Neuheisel was graduating and behind him the picking were slim. Though they had quarterbacks Mike Fafaul and Jake Hall who are available and know the system, they were nowhere near the talent of Rosen.

That changed on National Signing Day when the Bruins got not just one talented quarterback, but two. Devon Modster and Matt Lynch had signed with the Bruins, giving them some much needed depth for 2016, which has now changed the game for UCLA Football.

Depth Chart

Nov 14, 2015; Pasadena, CA, USA; UCLA Bruins quarterback Josh Rosen (3) scores on a 37-yard touchdown run with 1:09 to play against the Washington State Cougars in a NCAA football game at Rose Bowl. Washington State defeated UCLA 31-27. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /

1. Josh Rosen – Rosen will once again take over the Bruin offense in 2016 after an incredible true freshman campaign. In 2015, Rosen threw for 3,668 yards, completed 60 percent of his passes with 23 TDs, 11 INTs and averaged 282.2 passing yards per game.

Though he should continue his success (imagine how much better he will be from his freshman to sophomore year), changes will affect how he performs in 2016.

Specifically, there will be two things to look for with Rosen in the spring: 1. how he adapts to more freedom in running the ball now that he has two solid backups and 2. how he adapts to the new power-oriented offense that new Offensive Coordinator Kennedy Polamalu will instill going forward.

2a. Devon Modster – Modster should be the heir to Rosen and the immediate backup in 2016, but we will have to wait until fall to see if that is true. The only reason he is on this Spring Practice preview is to give a projection of the future.

Modster is similar to Rosen as he has an incredible arm, has pinpoint accuracy and is very elusive. Modster can also run the ball, so it will be interesting to see how he plays in UCLA’s new offense. The only drawback is that he is not enrolling early, which gives the edge to Lynch in the back-up quarterback competition.

2b. Matt Lynch – Lynch is another dual-threat QB that has a strong arm and good field vision. There are some mechanic issues he needs to improve, but for the most part he comes in with some talent.

Lynch also has some legs on him, so it will be interesting to see how he performs in the read option and when he rolls out for passes. He is expected to enroll for Spring Quarter.

Analysis

As stated above, there will be two themes to watch for in Spring Practice. The first is how Rosen adapts to the change in the offensive system.

With UCLA moving to a more power-oriented offense, we should be seeing more power formations that utilize tight ends and fullbacks more than in the past.

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With this, we should see Rosen playing under center, so it will be something he has to adapt to. Though it will be a transition, it could also be a benefit as he could have a better handle on the offense.

Additionally, with the depth at running back and the addition of fullbacks, Rosen will have a lot less responsibility to shoulder.

The second thing mentioned above will be how much more freedom Rosen and the other QBs are given to run the ball.

Depending on how the Bruins run the read option (or any option), Rosen and Co. could be a huge factor in the ground game.

Next: Post-Signing Day 2-Deep Depth Chart

Though the UCLA Football coaches are not going to allow the quarterbacks to go out and run the ball with reckless abandon, they should play a big role in the run game now that he has two formidable backups. Needless to say, the UCLA QBs are going to bring some very compelling storyline this spring.