With Spring Practice in full swing, here are 10 items UCLA Football fans should take note of.
The UCLA Football team is nearly two weeks into Spring Practice and there are several things to look for as they make changes on offense and defense. Here are 10 to be aware of.
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1. Offense-UCLA has made it clear that their offensive identity is going to change. Just how much it changes remains to be seen but the major differences that have already been declared are tight ends and full backs.
While head coach Jim Mora has downplayed any dramatic changes to the offense in terms of philosophy, the idea of power sets are enough to excite any Bruin fan who is tired of wishing their offense could punish opponents. Despite signing a few classes designed to fit the spread game, this last class has all the makings of a tough, physical offense in the very near future.
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2. Defense-Of course if we are talking about one side of the ball we should mention the other. Last season the Bruins dealt with a myriad of defensive injuries that sapped size, athleticism and experience from the starting lineup and forced younger players to step up. The good news is this year those players have gotten bigger, have another year in defensive coordinator Tom Bradley‘s defense and the Bruins have added even more talented players to their roster.
There will be a greater emphasis on the 4-3 defense that seems to suit UCLA’s roster more effectively and will aid in stopping the run which was the Achilles’ heel last season. Who will step up and make their case for being in the two-deep will be something exciting to watch.
3. Special Teams-When you lose your four-year starter at kicker there is naturally some concern. When you lose all of your specialists except the kick returners, panic might start to set in. This coaching staff did not panic though and instead reloaded a unit with some of the best freshmen in the country.
When you have a quarterback like the Bruins do, you want to do everything you can to ensure he doesn’t just survive, you want him to thrive.
However, they are still freshmen. Having a smooth execution during Spring doesn’t necessarily mean everything will go off without a hitch in a game but becoming acclimated to the college game as early as possible is the best case scenario.
4. Josh Rosen-If you were alive last year then you know Rosen had one of the most impressive freshmen seasons in college football history. As goes Rosen, go the Bruins therefore it is important his development continues even though he is nowhere near being raw. UCLA hired Marques Tuiasosopo back from that other team across town to help continue molding Rosen.
Quarterback development or lack thereof was one criticism of the Mazzone regime and when you have a quarterback like the Bruins do, you want to do everything you can to ensure he doesn’t just survive, you want him to thrive. Who better to teach him than the 2001 Rose Bowl MVP quarterback Tuiasosopo?
Next: More Things To Look For At Spring Practice
10 Things, Continued…
5.Offensive Line-The Bruins have to replace three offensive linemen from last year’s unit. Perhaps the biggest hole on the line is at offensive center where Jake Brendel was a four year starter. His spot looks like it has been occupied by Scott Quessenberry for the time being but he’s undersized and will have a fight on his hands when Texas transfer Jake Raulerson comes aboard in the Fall.
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As of this posting time it is being reported that Quessenberry has struggled to anchor thus far in camp which has led to some shaky quarterback play. Kolton Miller and Conor McDermott anchor the line at right and left tackle respectively. Those two bookends are massive walls that will hopefully make it difficult for edge rushers.
I expected Kenny Lacy to lock down a starting guard spot but so far Najee Toran and Poasi Moala are inside. Both are scrappy, blockers with a nasty streak to them but may be overmatched as pass blockers. Of course it is only spring but keep an eye on the development of the offensive line as we work our way towards the season. A bad line means trouble for Rosen and trouble for Rosen means trouble for UCLA Football.
UCLA Bruins
6. Running Backs-Paul Perkins is gone and will likely see a nice pay check from the NFL in just under a month. Looking to replace him as the bellcow of this offense are a trio of returners and a couple of talented freshmen that will arrive in the fall.
Nate Starks, Soso Jamabo and Bolu Olorunfunmi were with coach Polomalu last year so they know what he expects out of his backs. Although Starks is the old man of the unit, he doesn’t have a lot of tread on his tires but has occasionally been in the doghouse. Soso began to put it all together at the tail end of the season last year and has the most raw talent of any of the backs on the roster. Keeping his pads down and being more physical will earn him more reps.
Bolu is a violent bowling ball of a runner with surprising athleticism. On any other team he would be the undisputed starter but needs to shake his habit of constantly being a little dinged up. The new kids on the block will be Jalen Starks, who was brought in to play fullback but may become the hammer this team needs in the backfield, and Brandon Stephens has drawn comparisons to Perkins with his running style. Of course when you have this many talented guys you want them all to get touches but the question who establishes himself as the go-to guy?
7. Tight Ends– As we talked about earlier, the Bruins are now going to have an established tight end position but who are the ends on this team? UCLA hasn’t recruited any the past few years because of the offensive system, much to this writer’s chagrin, and the closest thing to a TE on the roster declared for the draft. A guy I have been lobbying for in terms of getting more touches in the offense is Nate Iese.
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A big bodied H-back with good speed and soft hands, Iese is without a doubt the starting TE for this team. Colby Cyburt is more an blocking TE and Austin Roberts has moved from wide receiver to the TE position to provide depth. The Bruins also signed Jordan Wilson this past recruiting cycle and former USC walk-on Caleb Wilson will join the team in the Fall.
A solid pass catching tight end can be a quarterback’s security blanket but there will be some trial and error as the Bruins figure out how to use their new toys.
Next: 10 Things, Concluded
10 Things, Concluded
8. Ishmael Adams-Ish has long been a fan favorite for his electric punt and kick returns and for making the big play in the back end. However following an arrest and suspension from the team last year he couldn’t quite round back into form. Couple that with all the bigger, talented defensive backs the team has brought in over the past few years and it isn’t a huge surprise that he’s been moved to receiver.
Always dangerous with the ball in his hands, the move helps mitigate some of the pain of losing the top three pass catchers from last year. I’m not saying he is on this level but Polomalu and Tuiasosopo had to endure years of watching the multi-faceted D’Anthony Thomas shred their teams. Perhaps they feel as though they finally get their on version of the “Black Mamba”.
Betsided
9. Cordell Broadus-His road to this team is a long and winding one. Originally committing to UCLA in 2015, Broadus then quit the team before fall camp began and decided to pursue film while in Westwood.
There was a great deal of talk about whether he even loved the game of football or if it was something his father had pushed on him. Blessed with solid size, good hands and deceptive speed, Broadus was good at the game but just didn’t seem to have that fire about it. Coach Mora has allowed him to return to the team this offseason and from all accounts he is doing everything right to prove he wants to play this game as a Bruin.
If he can develop a rapport with Rosen he could see steady playing time and win over a fanbase that this moment might not fully buy into his contrition.
10. Toughness-Being heavily interested in the UCLA football program since the Karl Dorrell days, It seemed like the Bruins were always the underdog. They were the gutty little Bruins that were constantly beat up on by bigger, stronger, harder teams.
That view didn’t change when Rick Neuheisel arrived. I’m not saying those players weren’t tough or that they didn’t play hard but their coaches didn’t inspire that fighting spirit. That all changed when Mora arrived on campus. In his first game as the UCLA head coach they squared off against the Nebraska Cornhuskers and demonstrated a hard edge. At that moment it felt like the program had turned a major corner.
Last year that edge was dulled. Blame it on injuries or scheme, it felt like the Bruins didn’t have any fight in them. A prime example of that was ASU‘s Kenny Ballage taking a handoff for 23 yards to the house with no fewer than four Bruins on him for 20 of those yards.
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I understand they were trying to strip the ball but not one Bruin could bring him down. Having a good offensive and defensive system and having athletes to run it makes a good team. A great team has an edge. UCLA needs to get theirs back.