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UCLA Football: Go Joe Bruin’s Hot Takes on Spring Practice

By Mike Regalado

Sep 12, 2015; Las Vegas, NV, USA; UCLA head coach Jim Mora looks on against the UNLV Rebels in the second quarter at Sam Boyd Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joshua Dahl-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 12, 2015; Las Vegas, NV, USA; UCLA head coach Jim Mora looks on against the UNLV Rebels in the second quarter at Sam Boyd Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joshua Dahl-USA TODAY Sports /
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The writers of Go Joe Bruin got together to givenout hot takes on what we expect to see in Spring Practice for the UCLA Football team.

UCLA FOOTBALL RETURNS! SORT OF!

It is time for Spring Practice for the UCLA Football team and the writers of GJB are eager to experience the next chapter of the Jim Mora era.

Here are a few predictions andnhot takes on the Bruins as we begin Spring Practice.

Related Story: Can Rosen Once Again Be the Best QB in L.A.?

Ashley Tellier: Brandon Stephens had some flashes in the last game he was able to play. I sure hope we have a better RB situation than last year. Last year was painful.

Michael Chavez: Stephens is a slasher like Soso Jamabo but more compact which, in my opinion, is better for his long term success because he doesn’t have to gear down to cut and is more elusive in small areas.

Sep 26, 2015; Tucson, AZ, USA; UCLA Bruins running back Soso Jamabo (1) runs the ball during the third quarter against the Arizona Wildcats at Arizona Stadium. UCLA won 56-30. Mandatory Credit: Casey Sapio-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 26, 2015; Tucson, AZ, USA; UCLA Bruins running back Soso Jamabo (1) runs the ball during the third quarter against the Arizona Wildcats at Arizona Stadium. UCLA won 56-30. Mandatory Credit: Casey Sapio-USA TODAY Sports /

Mike Regalado: The backup QB battle is going to be watched very closely. I’m just glad we have two. Still, production of Josh Rosen under Fisch is going to be interesting.

David Goldman: I think Theo Howard is in for a big year if Rosen stays healthy. Darnay Holmes too should see a lot of the field on defense with all of the graduates in the secondary and get some offensive touches too.

Chavez: I like Darnay Holmes and especially what he can bring to this team on both sides. I just believe that this staff will focus on being more fundamentally sound and maybe if the seat wasn’t so hot for Mora he would be more apt for playing guys in some gadget forms. Now he did do that with Myles Jack but the situation is different there. I think it’s hard to justify creating a package for a player when your offense as a whole hasn’t even seen the field yet. Probably in year 2. Although I can also see the argument for getting a super talented guy as many touches as possible

Nathan Eberhardt: I think Howard, unshackled from Eric Yarber’s tutelage, should thrive under new Offensive Coordinator Jedd Fisch’s offense.

Related Story: The Top 30 UCLA Football Players of All-Time

Chavez: I really like Jacob Tuioti-Mariner and the way he played towards the end of the year. I think he becomes the base end for this line and is spelled by Matt Dickerson. Dickerson will fit inside, but with Boss Tagaloa and Greg Rogers, especially guys who fit the interior in a more prototypical fashion, I think MD will have a hard time not being out leveraged and is a better fit as a 5-technique in a 3-4 than as a 3 or 1-technique in a 4-3. Again he’s a base end that would be starting in most of the Pac-12

Michael Hanna: Hard for me to see any skill players breaking out with the offensive line being even less talented than last year. I’m expecting any breakout players to be on defense. I like the call on Tuioti-Mariner, and I’ll add Adarius Pickett, who should’ve been starting all of last season, and will finally be getting a real shot. I want very badly for John Johnson to win the corner spot opposite Nate Meadors and I think we’re gonna like what we see of Brandon Burton in an increased role.

Chavez: My only concern with Johnson is that he’s been hurt and his size limits him, but he does have some of the best natural corner talent on the team. Holmes and him will likely battle it out. DeChaun Holiday is supposedly moving to LB but I don’t believe he has the take on strength to play that close to the line. Nor do I feel he enjoys contact enough for him to thrive. Add into that the talent at LB and he might never really step onto the field. Oline will be interesting. There are some young guys that hopefully can push for starting spots.

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Hanna: We have no proven elite talent at LB. Think it’s like WR, we have a bunch of highly-touted bodies but we need to see them do something on the field. And anyway, Holiday should be playing WR and should’ve been from day one. Yeah I read Burton was moved to OL

Tellier: Another player I think will have a breakout season is JJ Molson. To my surprise, the highly-touted recruit struggled in his freshman year, to the point he had to share kicks through the season. He improved quite a bit over the fall, and I think part of that was his ability to get the nerves out. After all, Division I football stadiums are a much bigger stage than what the kicker experienced before. But with one season under his belt, I believe Molson will learn from his mistakes and maybe be as clutch as we all expected him to be last season.

Regalado: With inconsistency on the O-line, I’m hoping Kolton Miller continues to develop. He could be the key to a solid line and protecting Rosen. He will probably take over for Conor McDermott.

Chavez: Kenny Young‘s play was much better last year than at any point in his career and I can’t see it regressing

Next: Is 2017 the Year Jim Mora Regains Balance?

Stay with Go Joe bruin as we bring you the latest information regarding the UCLA Football team as they venture through Spring Practice. Go Bruins!