UCLA Football: The Next Step

The Bruins stretch at UCLA's Spaulding Field

Scott Robinson

It was another beautiful day in the Westwood neighborhood.

What a shame the fans were not there to share it: The crowd has now thinned out substantially.

The recruits did not seem to notice, however. At today’s practice were the following:

Name	Position	Year
Troy Williams	QB	2013
John Ross	WR/DB	2013
DaMari Scott	WR	2013

Imagine what winning will do for recruiting…

The Bruins are now roughly half-way done with their spring practices—only eight more until the Spring Game. So far, if one were forced to name the three major differences from one year ago, they easily could be surmised as follows: tempo, true competition and game simulating drilling.

All the things a coach might want to get better.

There’s still a lot of work to be done, though.

Wrinkles

Today, a number of the same drills seen throughout spring practice added a few more folds in complexity.

This certainly bodes well for the new coaching staff.

On the one hand, this “next step” might reflect a better grasp of Coach Mora’s expectations. On the other, these wrinkles might push to the margins some previous starters.

Either way, the Bruins win.

UCLA Football: Back to the Basics

Practice Onlookers at UCLA's Parking Lot 8

Scott Robinson

The stands, although still near full, were nothing like they were only one week ago.

No, Primetime and John Stamos did not walk through the door.

An overcast day must have weeded out the bandwagon from the faithful. Despite the clouds, and a cool nip in the air, the True Blue spectators brought a jacket and took to Parking Lot 8.

On the field, the team surely did not notice—they played through each drill, kept the hustle apparent and continue to exhibit the sort of drive necessary to make sure all the small things are being learned.

Players are communicating. They chip at the opponent. They talk after plays. The coaches are in their ear—and they are listening.

Case and point: RB Damien Thigpen ran a flat in front of WR’s coach, Steve Broussard. Post-catch, Thigpen sprinted up the left sideline—But that wasn’t good enough.

“Outside arm! Outside arm!” Broussard yelled.

With his head high, Thigpen shook it off and stuck the pigskin in the appropriate arm on the next play.

To some, these are the basics of football. To this team, this is a learning curve: the arena, coaching staff and tools are there for the taking. Now this team has to just keep it up.

Another example of this growing need to get better: QB Brett Hundley delivered a perfectly spiraling 30-yarder to a streaking WR Shaquelle Evans—who promptly dropped the TD. As Evans ran back towards the huddle, while the next team jumped in, him and Hundley discussed the drop. Later in the 11-on-11’s, Hundley threw the same ball, this time facing the opposing end-zone, and Evans spooled in what would have been a beautiful six points.

They’re learning. And, they’re getting better.

Never Settle

Today’s practice continued to maintain the expected high level of intensity. Another “dust-up” occurred between RB Dalton Hilliard and DE Brandon Willis.

Between the piped in fan noise and the focus on tempo, these drills continue to embody a tangible experience, as practice should be.

Furthermore, the coaching staff seems to maximize each sort of drill—Whether that’s five QB’s passing simultaneously or a hurry-up allowing for three to four plays in the span of one minute.

They want more.

On the recruiting front, UCLA stocked up on another offensive lineman in Fallbrook High School’s 2013 OT Sean Dowling (6’6 / 265). While attending practice Dowling gave a verbal to the Bruins, despite garnering offers from Arizona, Colorado, Duke, Navy, San Diego State and Washington State.

UCLA Football: Slurpee Swag

Sinbad & Keyshawn Johnson at UCLA's Spaulding Field

Scott Robinson

With his head swung around over his left shoulder, WR Jerry Johnson reached out with one arm in an attempt to reel in a poorly thrown ball.

Running what looked like a 10-yard out during a 7-on-5, the ball came his way, he reached and touched it, but didn’t have it.

As it is with most drills these days at UCLA, the next wave of Bruins jumped into place, only seconds after Johnson ran off to the sidelines.

One moment later, none other than Keyshawn Johnson, three-time NFL Pro-Bowler, got into Number Nine’s ear.

The very next chance Jerry jumped in, two hands were used and a catch was made.

I asked Johnson about what knowledge Mr. Seven-Eleven imparted:

“[He said] go for the ball with both hands, instead of trying to be spectacular and make a one-handed catch. Do what’s necessary to make the play.”

Makes you wonder what the Trojan fan-base has to say about their alumni tipping off pointers to what appears to be an up-and-coming program.

“It was good hearing from a person like him,” continued Jerry Johnson, “He knows the game, he’s been through it before, you know, he’s a veteran.”

Tackle This

With hits left and right, physical play was constant. As players collided, especially with Pauley in the backdrop, echoes of helmets cracking smacked in the air throughout all of practice.

With this marking the second day in pads, the energy on the field continued to stay up. Perhaps the best indicator of this high-energy is the fact that the defense and offense are barking at each other through-out their scrimmaging drills.

On one particular play, where WR Johnson faced up against DC Aaron Hester, a pass from QB TJ Millweard sailed low and away; Johnson pointed as if to tell Millweard to get it higher and he’ll catch it.

Hester thought otherwise—He spat out in defiance: “NO, NO, NO, NO!”

UCLA Football: Two Yards Too Short

UCLA's Spaulding Field, Saturday Morning

Scott Robinson

What audacity.

Two yards from the sideline, amidst a sun-drenched morning at Spaulding Field, RT Brett Downey slowed down his pace as the next offensive line unit hopped in for the subsequent drill.

Suddenly, Coach Mora, with veins bursting from his forehead, abruptly stopped the play. Stepping out from behind the defense, Mora belted out at Downey in a hoarse scream:

“Run your ass off the field or run out there!”

Mora pointed to the exit of Spaulding.

“Over-the-wall” sure seems silly under such expectations of hustle: Apparently, this new coach’s mantras has teeth to go along with his coach-speak.

Responsive, Downey ran everywhere from that point on.

Seems as though these messages are being received.

When the right tackle was asked about the incident, he replied: “It’s intense. They’re expecting perfection.”

To be sure, this regime has made it clear: There is no acceptance of a complacent mentality. Players are expected to get on board or get out.

With the morning’s outburst came Coach Mora’s point: Players are now competing for any spot, even on the practice team.

My Way or the Highway

If one theme could be derived from today’s practice, it’s this: The players must hustle to be on the field. Period.

And with this message, comes the fruition of the delivery: basics are being dealt with, finally. On all fronts, be it the running backs, defensive lines (what have you), the staff is communicating their expectations consistently.

From the looks of it, there is a method to this madness. In lieu of a sideline rant, where a coach would pop off and appear ready to shear clean his quarterback’s head, this staff is delivering the “teach-able” moments at the appropriate time: Practice.

UCLA Football: The Bruin Hustle

UCLA Tight End Joseph Fauria

Scott Robinson

As evidenced by the variance in snaps, the QB position appears to be at the forefront as this spring’s most important decision for Coach Mora. Luckily for the coach, the quarterbacks threw with a little more certainty and confidence today as the separation in the race began to unveil itself.

Working with the first group, comprised of Kevin Prince, Brett Hundley and Richard Brehaut, the coaching staff continued to impart game-tangible lessons as the practice progressed. In the second group, and showing slightly less accuracy today, were TJ Millweard, Jerry Neuheisel and Mike Fafaul.

Between the three quarterbacks vying for the starter role, Prince might have shown the best performance of the day. Prince hit Fauria and Shaq Evans in stride on a couple plays—definitely better in timing and shoulder placement than on Tuesday. Hundley showed improvement in the medium to longer passes, with two exceptionally zipped spirals into a slant by Jerry Rice Jr. and post pattern by Jordan James, respectively.

Richard Brehaut, however, looks like the most well-rounded QB. Not the best spirals, nor necessarily the most accurate but today he seemed to hit the most receivers with catch-able balls.

Of the RB’s, Dalton Hilliard continues to show incredible accelerating speed and soft hands. Despite having some trouble holding onto the ball again, Hilliard displayed—a number of times—the ability to cradle in a tough pass and turn up-field. Such a play-maker, one that can deliver the after-the-catch yardage, was sorely missing from last year’s offense.

Between Hilliard, James and Lucien, Mazzone will have quite a few options.

Tempo, Tempo, Tempo

The squad looked even faster in practice today, as they continue to learn the expected pace between drills. With what appears to be a greater bang for the buck in this quicker practice regimen, the energy also incidentally continues to rise.

UCLA Football: Football is Physical?

UCLA's Head Coach Jim Mora

Scott Robinson

Today represented the first football practice for Coach Mora in two years, three months and a little change.

And he was not the only one excited at the advent of the spring season.

Actually, the Bruins’ kin, fans and friends packed full the first practice’s stands—the excitement was palpable. Coach Mora, decked in black shorts and a gray UCLA shirt, heralded this practice as only the beginning.

“I’m pleased with the effort—Pleased with the attitude,” said Mora as he sipped on his Gatorade Rejuvenate after Day One. Flanked by the media and their cameras, the coach looked as though he’s done this kind of thing before.

When asked about a starting QB, Mora was quick to quip: “[We] have to let it happen.” A calculated but experienced response—which should be expected from the sort of coach that was born into a NFL coach’s family and then spent 25 years of his own in the league.

Meanwhile, Mora’s process of vetting out such a starter began with Kevin Prince taking the one’s, Brett Hundley the two’s and Richard Brehaut the three’s. Alongside them snapped TJ Millweard, Jerry Neuheisel and walk-on Mike Fafual, who has a slingshot of an arm, by the way.

One practice down, 14 more to go.

Change? Prove it.

While it was clear this was the first team practice, there was certainly a level of focus unlike any seen in the recent past.

Clearly, this coaching staff is attempting to prepare the team with tangible exercises—ones meant to replicate actual game-play with the purpose to translate onto Saturdays.

One example: Defensive players were clearly instructed to strip the ball, as every moment of contact between them and the offense led to the grappling of arms. Another: the QB’s appeared to throw against a changing defense—specifically looking for the open man.

UCLA Football: Spring Practice Starts Tuesday

Scott Robinson

The UCLA Football team starts practice this next Tuesday, April 3rd.  I will be there with live updates!

If you have any particular questions for coaches or players you'd like to hear from, tweet at me:

@UCLASportsBlog

For all the most up-to-date information, be sure to also follow:

@BruinsBall

2012 UCLA Bruins Spring Practice Schedule:

Tuesday, Thursday Practices [Spaulding Field, UCLA Campus]:
4/3 & 4/5 – 3:45 PM
4/10 & 4/12 – 3:45 PM
4/17 & 4/19 – 3:45 PM
4/24 & 4/26 – 3:45 PM

Saturday Practices [Spaulding Field, UCLA Campus]:
4/7 – 9:30 AM
4/14 – 9:30 AM
4/21 – 1:00 PM
4/28 – 1:00 PM

Spring Game [The Rose Bowl, Pasadena, CA]:
5/5 – 5:00 PM

Follow Spring Practice at BruinsBall.com