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UCLA Football: 50 things to look for in 2018 with 50 days until kickoff

By Mike Regalado

WESTWOOD, CA - NOVEMBER 27: Chip Kelly speaks to the media during a press conference after being introduced as the new UCLA Football head coach on November 27, 2017 in Westwood, California. (Photo by Josh Lefkowitz/Getty Images)
WESTWOOD, CA - NOVEMBER 27: Chip Kelly speaks to the media during a press conference after being introduced as the new UCLA Football head coach on November 27, 2017 in Westwood, California. (Photo by Josh Lefkowitz/Getty Images) /
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PASADENA, CA – NOVEMBER 11: Josh Rosen
PASADENA, CA – NOVEMBER 11: Josh Rosen /

11. The Oklahoma Test

The Bruins have one of the hardest schedules in the nation and that is quite evident by their Week 2 opponent, Oklahoma. Welcome back to college football, Chip Kelly! Now get to work. UCLA gets a heavyweight right out of the gate, which will tell us exactly where the Bruins stand to start the Chip Kelly era. After a home opener against work-in-progress Cincinnati, the Bruins have to put on their big boy pants and somehow try to survive in Norman against one of last season’s College Football Playoff teams.

12. Back to school slump

One of the things that affects the Bruins every year is the start of the school year. The UCLA football program has the luxury of beginning the season before the school year, unlike most schools on the semester system (UCLA is on the quarter system). The Bruins could start the season strong, but once school starts, attention is going to be pulled in twain. Instruction begins September 27, the day before UCLA travels to Colorado for a Friday night game, their first Pac-12 Conference game of the season.

"KEY STAT – Soso Jamabo’s six touchdowns is the most by any Bruin returning this season"

13. How quickly will the team mesh?

During the spring, we saw a lot of progress with both the offense and defense. During the Spring Game, we saw that the Bruins have a long way to go. Though they will be a lot more in tune with each other during the fall, it will be a completely different game when they step onto the field on September 1. They will not be a well-oiled machine, but they will be on the right path. So do they mesh sooner or later?

14. Who will play center?

With depth issues on the offensive line, the Burins had to move DE Boss Tagaloa over to play center. He did alright, but he shared time anchoring the line with Zach Sweeney. Though they did a decent job, things need to improve exponentially. That could happen with freshman Chris Murray joining the fray. He has the raw talent to handle the center spot, while Tagaloa moves over to guard, maximizing UCLA’s OL talent.

15. The new coach’s swagger

DL Coach Vince Oghobaase wants the Bruins to play with more violence. LB coach Don Pellum’s suit game is strong. DB coach Paul Rhoads has Division I experience as a position coach, defensive coordinator and a head coach. Special teams and OLB coach Roy Manning loves to be alive. This is a good coaching staff.