Go Joe Bruin continues the position group analysis of the UCLA Football team post-2016 as we now examine the offensive line heading into 2017.
There was a lot of hope going into the 2016 season, but things quickly went awry for the UCLA Football team, especially up front on offense.
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The offensive line lost three starting linemen and a possible transfer. Though the writing was on the wall, not a lot of people saw how bad the Bruins would be up front this season. Well, maybe Go Joe Bruin writer Michael Hanna did in his article The Philosophical Gamble That Could Define the Jim Mora Era.
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The State of the Offensive Line
The state of the O-line is in limbo. After 2015, the Bruins lost three starters and graduate transfer Jake Raulerson was denied admission. The Bruins were scrambling to put together a solid line that was strong at some positions and weak at others.
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Tackles Conor McDermott and Kolton Miller were hands-down the best linemen, but there was not much depth behind them. The interior linemen had depth, but the talent needed to be developed.
Add that to a sudden change in philosophy and things went a little haywire.
The result… UCLA could not run the ball to save their lives and the weak QB protection got Josh Rosen knocked out of Game 6 and the season. Miller was also injured midseason and did not see anymore playing time and now UCLA has to deal with McDermott graduating and possibly off to the NFL.
Oh yeah, and there is that little issue with OL coach Adrian Klemm. What does the future hold for a coach that had such bad production with his line and now has a show cause label on him?
Key Losses
LT Conor McDermott – graduation
C Cristian Garcia – graduation
2017 Recruits
Jaxson Kirkland – 3*, Jesuit HS/Portland, OR, 6’7″, 305 lbs.
Kanan Ray – 3*, Sierra Canyon School/Chatsworth, CA, 6’4″, 275 lbs.
Ronald Rudd – 3*, Chaffey College/Rancho Cucamonga, CA, 6’7″, 308 lbs.