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: “2nd and 12” or “3rd 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.
But even without the hitting, it was more of a day of schemes—situational and individual.
“Urgency, Urgency, Urgency…”
With Spring Practice in the fold, the QB question is still aloof.
When asked specifically, “Have you figured out the quarterback rep’s?” Mora was quick to answer:
“I have.”
The media, cornering Mora with their pink wrist passes, continued to press:
“Will you share that?”
Playing the cards close to the chest was Mora and his response:
“I cannot, no, because I don’t want them to know.”
Again the QB’s were scattered in their repetitions, with each of the freshman trio (Jerry Neuheisel, Mike Fafaul & TJ Millweard) seeing time against both the first and second defenses.
Both QB’s Kevin Prince and Brett Hundley had so-so showings.
While working against the first team defense, Prince threw a ball either just out of the reach or with too much on it, as WR Shaquelle Evans simply could not handle it. The resulting tipped ball landed in the secondary’s hands for an easy interception.
Hundley, meanwhile, looked a little mixed up on a couple throws. One in particular, when attempting to find WR Evans, sailed wide right and high by about ten feet—and Evans had his back turned.
Another play, although a completion to RB Jordan James, should have been chalked up as a big-time sack by DS Stan McKay. McKay broke through quickly on an outside blitz leaving Hundley no time to find his hot route.
“Let’s Go, Let’s Go, Let’s Go!!!”
Having one of his better days was Brehaut, who had a good showing during a 2:00 drill towards the end of the day.
Cutting across the center of the field was WR Jerry Johnson, who snatched a well put Brehaut football towards the sideline. Johnson displayed perfect footwork, dragging his right leg as he cradled in the ball.
Initially, as ruled by the sideline referee, the catch was ruled out of bounds. But after the sort of hooting and pointing heard from the blue jerseys, the head referee came in and over-turned the call.
With some momentum gaining in the drive, Brehaut then found slanting WR Devin Lucien, who finagled his way eventually out of bounds after crossing both hash marks.
Always on point was WR’s coach, Steve Broussard, who was sure to remind Lucien of the situation: “Get out of bounds!!!”
The completion to Lucien moved the chains up about 15 yards for Brehaut’s next play: another beautifully zipped ball, this time to WR Evans, again over the middle.
Keeping within the scenario, Brehaut promptly brought the offense to the line and spiked the ball to stop the clock. Immediately following the spike, the special teams units sprinted onto the field for a FG attempt.
Spring Game this Saturday
Spring Practice’s ultimate measuring stick will commence this Saturday, at 5:00PM in Pasadena’s Rose Bowl. Live-tackling, scores and a “play it where it lies” mentality should be expected. The defense, who will boast a white jersey, will face off against the offense, in blue.
As Mora stated earlier, the QB question (at least relating to repetitions) should be spelled out on Saturday.
Mora on the Spring Game:
“I want to see how they will react to a different environment.”
With the Rose Bowl as the venue and perfect Southern California weather (Sunny / 78) expected, one could not ask for a nicer day to get a few questions, and maybe even a taco, answered this Saturday, Cinco De Mayo.
Practice Notes:
ST’s:
-Receiving punts were WR’s Shaquelle Evans and Devin Lucien. Spaulding can be gusty at points, but it appeared as though each Evans and Lucien had some moments of trouble tracking down the ball. This may be partly due to Locke’s sky-high punts. However, once they get the ball, expect speed and elusiveness—A couple qualities in punt returning lacking since Matthew Slater wore the blue and gold.
Working the other side, with the punt cover unit, was a mixture of following:
DS Dalton Hilliard
LB Ryan Hoffmeister
LS Kevin McDermott
FB David Allen
DS Stan McKay
LB Ryan Medina
DE Iuta Tepa
DE Owa Odighizuwa
With Hilliard and McKay manning the “gunner” positions, it should be fun to watch a group with a good amount of speed.
-P/PK Jeff Locke’s leg is quite impressive. He continues to rattle off punts with times of 4.6-5.1 second hang time. Combined with the speed of coverage, Locke’s punting looks like the ST’s unit will be forcing quite a few fair catches.
UCLA’s Spring Game is this Saturday, May 5th at the Rose Bowl. Gates open at 12PM for tail-gaiting.
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