UCLA Football Spring Practice Preview: Wide Receivers
Continuing our Spring Preview series, we now shift from the offensive backfield and take a look at the wide receiver position. If there’s excitement about the riches at the running back position there should be just as much excitement about what’s lining up out wide for the UCLA Football Bruins.
Under Chip Kelly the Oregon Ducks had a highly efficient passing attack based off their ability to spread opponents thin and run the ball at will. Some might oversimplify it and say that they Ducks ran to throw the ball and while that doesn’t do it justice it will suffice in this situation. However Kelly never really had such a wealth of talent outside like he does now with the UCLA Football program.
Now what do I mean by that being an over simplification?
The Chip Kelly offense is predicated on creating mismatches in space by spreading the field while forcing defenses to respect every motion and formation in terms of defending the run and pass. That’s admittedly not the most thorough dive into the philosophy of the offense but you can clearly tell what a strain that puts on defenses. Now imagine that Kelly was able to do this without much four and five star talent and then look at the UCLA Football roster including the freshmen coming in and you can’t help but salivate.
Related Story: UCLA Football Spring Practice Preview: Running Backs
It won’t be a complete walk in the park however. The Bruins could have used Jordan Lasley‘s ability to stretch the field and his reputation as a deep threat would have further strained defenses. However with his early departure for the NFL the Bruins will need to find a new go to receiver and look to bolster their depth with Eldridge Massington, Alex Van Dyke and Darren Andrews also leaving UCLA.
Still, this receiving group is one of the most talented that Kelly has had a chance to work with and with WR coach Jimmie Dougherty returning for another year with this group fans should have a solid reason to believe this won’t be anything less than a stellar year for this group no matter who the QB is.