UCLA Football: A Casual Thursday

UCLA's Spaulding Field

Scott Robinson

With the sun out, the Bruins went to work on a “casual” Thursday—dressing in black shorts and without their pads.

This time, however, Coach Mora bucked his black trend with a white long sleeve and matching cap.

Call it a dress rehearsal for the Spring Game: Today’s practice, with the play clock ticking, was primarily comprised of scrimmaging—as though everything were on the line.

Clock reads zero? Back it up five yards.

A receiver jumped early? Flags flew and a referee blew his whistle.

Holding? Back it up ten yards.

Coach Mora, not letting one second drop between the waves of groups, would grab a football and hustle down to a particular point on the field. Slamming the ball on the ground, he would then holler: “2^nd and 12” or “3^rd and 3.”

With the play clock rolling, timing was everything.

At one point, with Coaches on both sides of the lines screaming out plays and checks, QB Richard Brehaut stood under center. The play clock wound down and with a collective coaching wince and turn, time expired.

Mora, without hesitation, backed the ball up and the next play transpired as though it would on a Saturday: five yards behind the original line of scrimmage.

Of course, without pads on there was no tackling.

UCLA Football: Full Speed Ahead

UCLA's Spaulding Field Tuesday afternoon

Scott Robinson

It seems when Y Joseph Fauria is of proper health, he will be less focused on messing with the Special Teams. In what is becoming a tradition, Fauria will kick or throw the ST’s practice unit’s ball, as he makes for his warm-up routine.

Fauria, along with fellow Y Darius Bell had a partial day, with pads on during individual drills only to draw down for sprints at the end of practice.

Missing from practice was OG Jeff Baca, out with the flu, and LB’s Patrick Larimore (who has not been seen since his injury) and Jordan Zumwalt.

Also still out of pads were: OT Wade Yandall, OT Torian White, RB Damien Thigpen, RB Malcolm Jones (but ran sprints) and WR Devin Lucien, who left practice early with what Coach Mora called a “tweaked ankle,” or a left ankle sprain.

But back at were LB’s Eric Kendricks, Aaron Wallace and WR Jerry Rice Jr., whose dad was also spotted in attendance. Also along the sidelines was Bruin alum, Marcedes Lewis.

To top it off, half of Loyola High School’s football team was there too.

But apart from the growing glamor, between movie stars and ex-NFLer’s, this particular team is evolving. Now grasping what the coaching staff is throwing at them, the Bruins are in a groove when it comes to drills.

Coach Klemm now interrupts his cohorts a few steps further into their block.

Coach McClure’s unit is tossing around assistants—Legs in air and all.

But the learning curve continues: If its not “up-downs” with the offensive line, then its push-ups with Coach Martin.

UCLA Football: "Way to Work"

Saturday morning at UCLA's Spaulding Field

Scott Robinson

Nestled somewhere between good and pretty good was today’s practice. As the team huddled at the end, Mora’s demeanor was quite different from Thursday’s.

“Way to work,” Mora said. “Way to work…”

Learning curves are accelerating now as spring camp is becoming ever more game-like. Referees, crowd noise and situational scrimmaging can now be perceived as only the beginning.

Also growing closer to the speed of an actual football game were two QB’s: Brett Hundley and Richard Brehaut.

QB Kevin Prince took a step back, opening the door for both Hundley and Brehaut to take longer goes with the one’s.

With the better throwing performances came better receiving acts: WR’s Shaq Evans and Jerry Johnson showed an array of tough catches despite defensive hands a-plenty.

But with the scrimmaging, also came today’s emphasis: reality.

During the 11-on-11’s, not only were the linesmen keeping with what would have been the actual down and yardage, but plays that saw defenders sneak through for potential sacks were then also taken into account. This meant, whenever DE Datone Jones or NT Brandon Willis, broke through the pocket for what would be a sack, the next play the corresponding spot was put where the sack would have occurred.

Also, this meant every time a false start occurred, the ball was moved back the appropriate five yards. And this happened a few times—which is understandable, given the amount of movement on the offensive line.

Troubling, though, was an instance in which both RB Jordan James and WR Shaq Evans were clearly not lined up and moved prior to the hike. The teaching moment followed; Mora, with hands on both the helmets of James and Evans, stopped to explain the importance of lining up correctly—especially when five yards backwards could be the result.

This coach has an eye for detail, apparently.

UCLA Football: Mora's Transitive Property

UCLA's Spaulding Field

Scott Robinson

Coming across the play was LB Isaiah Bowens, just recently lining up with the one’s due to the barrage of injuries befalling upon the line-backing core. One second before the tackle, the RB rolled to the ground with his helmet directly impacting Bowens’ knee.

The sound of helmets and pads cracking was next, quickly followed by a handful of trainers jogging in concern towards the player lying on the field. Bowens’ hands clutched his knee, while he rolled on the ground.

It was a rough play, with a rough ending: Bowens’ injury looks like it may be one that will put him on the sideline for a while. He required two helpers to get off the field. When Coach Mora was asked about him after practice, he said:

“I don’t, obviously, know the severity of it yet, but it’s a knee sprain… They took him in, and we’ll see where he is…”

Just a few plays before, Bowens laid a powerful hit on RB Malcolm Jones—sending Jones to the ground with an audible thud, heard even fifty yards away.

But that’s football; Physical, painful and costly. An MRI is expected to determine Bowens’ extent of injury.

Good thing Coach Mora has a few players in the fold coming this summer to shore up the LB depth issues, because as of today, the following are out: Jordan Zumwalt, Patrick Larimore, Anthony Barr, Aaron Wallace and now, Isaiah Bowens.

Seeing Bowens’ spot, after his injury, was both Ryan Hoffmeister and Jared Koster. Already in the mix was LB Aramide Olaniyan, who followed up a strong Tuesday with another great practice.

Olaniyan picked up a fumbled ball by RB Jordan James; A difficult play considering he was in the midst of tackling only to adjust for a scoop of the ball.

But beyond Olaniyan is nothing but a question mark. Hoffmeister and Koster might have trouble seeing the light of day once the new crop comes to town.

The 2012 recruiting class is looking ever more important as the injuries pile up. From the class, expected to compete for some field time at LB are: Aaron Porter (6’2 / 230), Kenny Orjioke (6’4 / 225), Jeremy Castro (6’3 / 245) and Nate Iese (6’4 / 235).

Wise decision, not conceding the year of 2012.

Feels Good…

Coach Mora was at it again at practice, this time delivering a few choice words to OG Alberto Cid. During the 11-on-11’s LB Eric Kendricks got into it with OT Brett Downey, pushing and shoving—And just when it appeared to be sewing up, Cid came in tow and then the “gassers” began.

Heard from the bleachers was Mora, again in the trending Johnny Cash get-up:

“You’re killing your football team!”

UCLA Football: Gray, but a Good Day

UCLA's Spaulding Field

Scott Robinson

The crew behind the picked-up pace seem to be enjoying themselves lately. At the very least, there was a smile adorned on Coach Mora’s face as the team continued their work on Day Ten.

Coach Mora, in what must be the college football version of a Johnny Cash get-up, looked pleased with his black hat, black long sleeve and black gym shorts.

After practice, Mora confided: “It was a good day for us.”

Notwithstanding the injuries to the LB core, with Patrick Larimore (concussion), Jordan Zumwalt (stomach), Aaron Wallace (concussion) and Anthony Barr (quadriceps), the coach was still in high spirits after practice.

Rightfully so: The defense is starting to look pretty good.

Again with the first team was LB Isaiah Bowens, who was flanked by LB’s Damien Holmes, Eric Kendricks and Keenan Graham. Also getting time with the one’s was LB Aramide Olaniyan, who had another strong performance when given the opportunity.

During the 11-on-11’s, Olaniyan found himself in the right spot to intercept a ball tipped by DC Anthony Jefferson, who also had a great day.

Later on in practice, Jefferson was involved in another dust-up with WR Tyler Scott—To the point that it required Coach Ulbrich to step in and toss the players aside. Even with the scramble, Jefferson’s name is beginning to get noticed.

Coach Mora on Jefferson: “Gets a little better everyday… He’s becoming a legitimate player to me. He’s tough, he’s aggressive, he’s physical, he’s playing with more confidence…”

“All good teams know how to finish.”

With the gray sky and a chill in the air, it was the perfect sort of day to test the team’s consistency

“I think having this kind of weather helps a little bit,” said Mora.

Whatever the case, today’s efforts pushed through until the end.

Between the strong secondary showing during the 11-on-11’s (quite a few picks again) and the level of intensity witnessed at the end of practice in the Oklahoma-type Drill, the defense continues to flesh out a stout and consistent mentality.

They are here to dominate.

UCLA Football: Turn Up the Music

UCLA's Spaulding Field Saturday morning

Scott Robinson

As the first few drills took place, today’s practice brought with it a new mentality of confidence. With music now on the loudspeakers, the NFL theme song piped through the as the Bruins began practice installing their respective playbooks.

Unlike Thursday, the stands were packed full and along the sidelines roamed a party of coaches and recruits.

Today, spectators even camped out along Parking Lot six, looking over the East side of Spaulding from various levels in the structure. Entering this morning, UCLA held a coaching clinic—College jerseys of the respective staff present were shown along the fence separating Spaulding from Pauley’s construction site.

There was a feel out there unlike any other practice: a business mentality was at the forefront. From the get-go, even when players were stretching, the Bruins were attentive and quick to direction.

The energy was also evident: Another near dust-up pitted Cassius Marsh against Kevin Prince—One has to like the cut-throat attitude carried by the team nowadays.

Rounding out the practice was a good amount of 11-on-11’s, yielding further insight into how the depth charts might look once the remaining 2012 recruits arrive this summer.

The One’s

Starting with the defense, there appears to be a consistent group working as the first team (“the White jerseys”).

UCLA Football: A Situational Education

UCLA's Pauley Pavilion behind Spaulding Field

Scott Robinson

It was a down day for the Bruin quarterbacks as interceptions came often during 11-on-11 scrimmaging.

At the onset of the day was Coach Mora slinging the old pigskin to QB Brett Hundley. As mentioned by other sources following practice, this pigskin is not old.

In fact, the new ball being used appears slightly different. As they had catch, QB Hundley could be heard saying to Mora: “The laces feel slippery.”

Mora responded, “Yeah, they feel a little high.”

Whatever the problem might be with the football, the QB’s showed they did not have a solid grip on it today. Between QB’s Kevin Prince, Richard Brehaut, Jerry Neuheisel and Brett Hundley, there were at least three INT’s.

But even with the dismal display of quarterbacking, this team is learning and continues to work.

Starter Who?

If one QB had a good showing during Day Eight, it would be Prince. Today, he exhibited less of an attachment to his receiving corps—on at least three different instances, Prince shook off his primary and turned his head to opposite field.

One pass, Prince hit WR Tyler Scott specifically because of his shake off—He looked down WR Devin Lucien, pulling DS McKay off the top, allowing WR Scott a one-on-one and a subsequent completion in stride.

Prince’s throws seemed crisper and displayed less “happy feet” despite being pushed out of the pocket a couple times. On another throw, Prince plopped a 30-yard pass right into WR Lucien’s hands along the sideline—It was quite a pretty toss.

Brehaut, meanwhile, had one of his worst practices. In addition to throwing a ball up for grabs, he fumbled a snap and often had trouble during the 11-on-11's; at least one throw was tipped at the line of scrimmage.

Of the younger QB’s, TJ Millweard showed one particular toss that was very impressive. Looking downfield to a covered WR Roosevelt Davis, Millweard delivered it where only his receiver could catch it—And if the WR did not reel it in, there was no chance anyone could. Davis, leaning back to his right shoulder, dipped down and snagged the ball, even with three defenders around.

At this point I would say Millweard might have the most upside.