With Michigan graduate transfer Wilton Speight heading to Westwood, Go Joe Bruin examines how the pro-style quarterback will fit into UCLA football head coach Chip Kelly’s run-based spread offense.
Not only is UCLA football getting a transfer quarterback in former Michigan Wolverine Wilton Speight, but it looks like he has met the criteria needed to enroll in a UCLA graduate program, something that has limited the Bruins from receiving grad transfers in recently.
RELATED: Michigan QB grad transfer Wilton Speight is heading to Westwood
So with that out of the way, we now look at another hurdle the former Wolverine will have to face: meshing with UCLA’s new system.
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From an initial stand point, the transfer is a bit perplexing, simply because it seems like a contrast of styles as Speight has been running a power-based style under Jim Harbaugh at Michigan the last few seasons. That is quite different from Chip Kelly’s run-based spread offense that is looking to utilize the triple-option, the run-pass option and the zone read. But we will get into that in a second.
Let us first address the issue with depth. From an outsider’s standpoint, it seems that UCLA was doing fine with depth as Devon Modster, Matt Lynch and Austin Burton are currently in Westwood learning the ropes of Kelly’s new offense. The situation gets better this fall when freshman Dorian Thompson-Robinson (a dual-threat QB that looks to be a perfect fit for Kelly’s system) joins the Bruins for camp.
The only problem is that between these four signal callers, there is a total of two starts and only six games of experience between them (those stats being owned mostly by Modster and Lynch).
Speight, despite suffering a season-ending injury four games into Michigan’s 2017 campaign, has a total of 16 starts in 23 games at a Power 5 Conference school. If Kelly is looking for experience, even for the one year Speight will play for UCLA, he brings more than any other Bruin. But now let us look at how Speight and Kelly can mesh, because at first glance, it doesn’t look like they would naturally fit.
How will Wilton Speight fit into Chip Kelly’s system? (cont.)
It has been speculated many times over about what kind of offense Chip Kelly will bring to Westwood. Will we see the break-neck tempo that he made famous at Oregon? Will it be similar to the NFL-tested offense that he ran with the Philadelphia Eagles? Will it evolve into something else?
So far this spring practice, we have seen a gradual progression with the offense. To start the spring, Kelly and his coaches have focused on fundamentals across the the board.
Related Story: Implementing the option in UCLA's run game
The offensive line is learning how to work in the new system, receivers are learning to move quicker, running backs are being taught fundamentals like simple ball handling and the quarterbacks (all of them) are working on how to bring all of this together. But it gets better.
This got kicked up a notch about a week ago when the offense showed elements of the triple-option (runs up the middle, QB keepers, runs/pitches to the side, passes in the flat, etc.). The offense looked very similar to what Navy ran last season (and coincidentally, UCLA has apparently hired Navy’s OL coach to an administrative role). So with the offense going full option, where does Speight fit in?
How will Wilton Speight fit into Chip Kelly’s system? (cont.)
For more in-depth information on Speight, I talked with Matthew Bartlett, co-site expert for FanSided’s Michigan site, GBMWolverine.com, “Speight is a pocket passer with the ability to allude sacks and complete passes down the field. He scrambles when there is no better option.”
To simplify Speight’s game (which does not totally do the young man justice), he is a pro-style pocket passer. He has a strong arm, he can elude the pass rush and, if needed, can scramble out of the pocket when a play breaks down. At Michigan, Speight rarely spent time outside the tackles and was not prone to optioning the ball, two things that Kelly’s QBs have to get comfortable with. So how will this experiment work in Westwood?
Speight’s Career Stats
- Completions: 257
- Attempts: 437
- Comp. Percentage: 58.8
- Yards: 3,192
- Yards per Completion: 7.2
- Touchdowns: 22
- Interceptions: 10
- QB Rating: 132.2
Bartlett continued, “It’s definitely not ideal to switch from pro-style to spread-option. He took a majority of his snaps from under center and mostly threw from the pocket. You won’t see him throwing on the run all that much. I personally don’t think Speight could run that offense at a more efficient level than the rest of the QBs on UCLA’s roster. For that offense I want a quick athlete. If Kelly can shape the offense around Speight’s skill set, he may be successful. I can’t imagine Speight being faster than any quarterback on the roster either.”
It is a hard truth, but just because he does not fit the system, does not mean that it cannot be done. Speight is definitely coming to Westwood this fall, so I cannot imagine him wasting his last season of eligibility, which means he has to adapt. So what can we expect with him officially at UCLA playing quarterback?
How will Wilton Speight fit into Chip Kelly’s system? (cont.)
There is no doubt that Chip Kelly will work around Wilton Speight’s talents, but above all, the new Bruin QB will have to do what the new coach requires.
Speight has a strong arm that’s gives him the ability to throw the ball more than 30 yards down field, but that is probably not something we will see a lot of with Kelly (but don’t count it out).
With the power he puts behind the ball, Speight will be able to zip balls to receivers within 15 yards. When utilizing the run-pass option (RPO), a QB looks to hand off the ball to a running back first, but has the “option” to throw the ball to an open receiver for a quick pass if the defense is dedicated to stopping the run.
Along with his receivers, Kelly also looks to employ tight ends as he did with the Philadelphia Eagles, which will help move the the short yardage passing game. Kelly hasn’t normally looked to grab chunks of yardage on pass plays, but would rather get down the field with a lot of quick plays. But if a receiver takes a short pass play and breaks off a 50-yard run (for example) I don’t think Kelly will mind.
As for the run, Speight has been used to simply hand off. From what was seen in spring practice, he will have to incorporate the zone read and triple-option into his game. So not only will he be required to hone his skills on reading defenses, but he will also have to learn how to get the ball to a second running back option.
As for the option to keep it, Speight has been known to run out of sticky situations, so if he is required to run, he has know-how.
Another thing he has to get used to is the pace. Not only will he be required to go faster than he did at Michigan, but will need to work in 10-15 more snaps per game. If he can do that, then there should not be much to worry about. Unfortunately, we will not know until fall.
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It seems that Speight has a long way to go, but if Kelly sees something in the quarterback that can help UCLA to be successful in 2018 (or at least bridge the gap to a more stable roster in 2019), than let the coach run the program as he sees fit. There is reason such a big deal was made when UCLA hired Kelly. What is happening here is just another part of his genius.