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: 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”).