UCLA Football: Three takeaways (concerns) from non-conference play

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PASADENA, CA – SEPTEMBER 01: Dorian Thompson-Robinson #7 of the UCLA Bruins enters the game after an injury to Wilton Speight #3 during the second quarter against the Cincinnati Bearcats at Rose Bowl on September 1, 2018 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /

The UCLA football team has unfortunately started the season 0-3 and there are three things that have led to the Bruins’ slow start. Go Joe Bruin examines what has happened in the first three games to get to this spot.

The UCLA football team is not doing well and even though head coach Chip Kelly has a plan, right now it is not working as well as it could.

Though we have to continue to be patient with the process, there are three concerns I have that seem to be holding this team back from breaking out.

Now understand, there is a reason Kelly is running the team and I am here behind a computer, but these simple observations seem like they are the only things holding UCLA back from making huge strides. Let us start with tempo.

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1. Tempo

Or lack thereof. One thing UCLA fans were expecting was a fast-paced football team. Not just because that is what Chip Kelly made famous at Oregon, but because that is what we have been hearing about ever since spring ball.

Snapping the ball was fast. Transitioning from drill to drill was fast. Even the players were saying that practice was fast.

So why is it not fast on the field?

From what we have seen in the first three games, the Bruins can barely get organized. It is apparent that the system has not been fully mastered and it is taking some time for everyone to get on the same page.

If not everyone is ready to go when needed, then there is no way the offense can move at a fast pace. They can barely move at a slower pace.

But there is also something else that is slowing things down and this seems to be self-inflicted. Substitutions have slowed the Bruins’ push forward. For example, Kelly does not settle on one or two running backs in not just the game, but on drives. With players running back and forth to the sideline, after almost every play, it slows the pace down considerably.

Wednesday at practice, Kelly said that he is not concerned with tempo as much as he is the production. Hopefully, we can see more production as the season continues.