Go Joe Bruin
Fansided

UCLA Football Fall Camp 2018: 5 things to look for this fall

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) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 5
Next
PASADENA, CA – NOVEMBER 24: Patrick Laird #28 of the California Golden Bears runs past Adarius Pickett #6 and Keisean Lucier-South #11 of the UCLA Bruins during the third quarter at Rose Bowl on November 24, 2017 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
PASADENA, CA – NOVEMBER 24: Patrick Laird #28 of the California Golden Bears runs past Adarius Pickett #6 and Keisean Lucier-South #11 of the UCLA Bruins during the third quarter at Rose Bowl on November 24, 2017 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /

4. The Development of the Defense

Believe it or not, UCLA has a lot of playmakers on defense. Just because they had one of the worst running defenses in the nation last season doesn’t mean they were void of talent. One thing that the new coaching staff is going to be able to take control of is developing and bringing out that talent.

During the spring, players seem to quickly attach themselves to this new defensive philosophy. It was a stark contrast to the conservative style UCLA played last season. The new defensive coaches want their players to be more aggressive and “violent”. Several Bruins took to the change and look very comfortable in the new schemes.

The Bruins are moving for my 4-3 defensive scheme to a 3-4. This is to help improve run defense as well as utilize the tools they have for pass rushes off the edge.

We should also expect improvements in defensive fundamentals like tackling. Simple things like that will make a world of difference for the defense. The coaches want their players to attack the ball, but they need to know how to do it properly. When they pull all of that together, we should see a squad that looks nothing like the team that took the field in 2018.