UCLA Football: OL Zach Sweeney to medically retire, causing depth issues

The UCLA football team lost another player this week, though this one is due to injury as redshirt freshman offensive lineman Zach Sweeney is medically retiring from football after sustaining a shoulder injury.

Things got worse for the UCLA football team on Tuesday as it was announced that they will be down another offensive lineman. Bruin head coach Chip Kelly has revealed that Zach Sweeney will be medically retiring.

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Sweeney, who has been playing center and guard for the Bruins has sustained a shoulder injury which is forcing him to quit football. Though he will no longer suit up in the blue and gold, Sweeney will continue at UCLA in pursuit of his degree.

As for the offensive line, they will get thinner due to the loss. Sweeney has been inserted into the line in backup roles, but with his absence, the Bruins now have to plug that hole with other big men, though that is easier said than done as the line is not only thin but full of young, experienced players.

UCLA does get some relief with this situation as Boss Tagaloa, who was suspended for the first three games, returns to the Bruins. Last week he was spotted working with the first team at right guard but was listed as a backup at center on the most recent 2-deep depth chart. Sweeney was also listed as a backup center on the chart.

Tagaloa’s return came just in time, but it does not help the fact that the Bruins are scarcely thin on the line. On top of that, the Bruins are having issues executing their game plan. In three games, the Bruins have only been about to average 319.7 yards of total offense per game, which puts them at 118th in the nation (out of 129).

Though the Bruins have other issues to attend to, the loss of Sweeney does them no favors. We will see exactly what Kelly can put together as the Bruins get back on the field against Colorado after a bye week.