UCLA Football Spring Practice Preview – Defensive Line

Just like the offense, the UCLA football team’s defense is going through some changes which directly affects the defensive line, the next unit in our Spring Practice preview.

UCLA Football is changing. The offense, defense and special teams are all going through major transformations since the end of the 2015 season which raises several questions about how the Bruins will perform in 2016.

RELATED: UCLA Football Spring Practice Preview – Special Teams

We have already looked at some of those changes with the quarterbacks, running backs, receivers, offensive line and special teams, so now we examine the defenisve line heading into Spring Practice.

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UCLA was eighth in rushing defense in the Pac-12 last season, which is a big reason why Defensive Cordinator Tom Bradley is switching up formations.

Bradley and Head Coach Jim Mora worked with a 3-4 system last year, which often incorporated a fourth lineman (having an outside linebacker start near the line of scrimmage), but it seems this year UCLA will permanently make the 4-3 defense their base.

As for the roster, Pac-12 First-Team All-Defense honoree Kenny Clark has departed for the NFL Draft. He was the second leading tackler on the team last season which means he leaves a big hole, however Eddie Vanderdoes has decided to return after suffering a season-ending injury in the Bruin’s first game of 2015. His decision to come back gives the Bruins the aggressiveness, experience and talent that Clark had, so a smooth transition in the middle of the line will benefit everyone in this unit.

So with EV returning, how will the rest of the line look?

Projected Depth Chart

Defensive End: Takkarist McKinley (6’2″, 250 lbs.), Jacob Tuioti-Mariner (6’2″, 275 lbs.), Rick Wade (6’6″, 255 lbs.)

Defensive Tackle: Eddie Vanderdoes (6’3″, 305 lbs.), Matt Dickerson (6’4″, 275 lbs.)

Nose Tackle: Eli Ankou 6’3″, 305 lbs.), Nick Terry (6’4″, 295 lbs.), Ainuu Taua (5’11”, 295 lbs.)

Defensive End: Deon Hollins (6’0″, 230 lbs.), Keisean Lucier-South (6’4″, 215 lbs.)

UCLA has several players that have made improvements in the last year, which means there is a lot of talent behind the starters.

Going from the inside of the line out, Vanderdoes will reclaim his spot at tackle. He is fully rehabilitated and ready to get back on the field. That alone will not improve the effectiveness of the line, but it helps, especially with the coaches looking at what players can work best with EV.

UCLA Bruins

Ankou gained a lot of experience filling in for Vanderdoes. He was very active fronting the line and looked a lot more comfortable with his role as the season progressed.

The ends will be interesting to watch because the defense has a lot of players that can attack the edge. Next season it is imperative that UCLA improves on stopping the run, but the Bruins also want to improve on the pass rush.

With the defense settling into the 4-3, UCLA will have more defined roles for Hollins and Lucier-South. Last season Hollins was a linebacker that played on the line, so the adjustment should not be a stretch, though he will have to get used to more line assignments.

The Bruin’s other edge rusher, McKinley, has done well getting pressure on opposing QBs, but has not yet shown that he can consistently get sacks. Behind him we will get to see how Tuioti-Mariner and (a big bodied) Wade have improved. Tuitoti-Mariner made great strides last season so his development could give the Bruins more strength on the outside.

The same goes for Dickerson who is another youngster that was forced into more playing time last season with Vanderdoes out. Though he had his growing pains, he showed he can make plays, so his development will be key going into next season.

Next: UCLA Football Spring Practice Schedule

Spring will be a chance for everyone to learn the new system as well as show the coaches what is working and with what players, especially those that will help stop the run. Sans Vanderdoes, there are going to be several position battles with the defensive line so what we see at the start of practice, will mostly likely differ from the Bruin’s first game of the 2016 season on September 3 at Texas A&M.