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.
Walk the Line
As it was a beautiful day in Westwood, one could not ask for better football weather. Nicking the sunny trend, you guessed it: again in all black was Mr. Jim L. Mora.
He must wear it for the “broken-hearted,” or perhaps QB Prince, after today’s performance.
When asked after practice about any leader’s in the QB race, Mora responded:
“I’ll announce it when it’s appropriate to announce it. You know, when it becomes apparent.”
Facing off against the two’s, Prince attempted to sling a ball to WR Sam Handler. Diving for the pick, however, was DS Dylan Price, who nearly came up with it. The next play, Prince hit crossing WR Roosevelt Davis for a nice seven or eight gain. But then, on what would have been a 3rd and 3, Prince held onto the ball too long (would have taken a sack) and the play ended with a last-chance attempt toss towards WR Logan Street (incomplete).
With everything on the line, 4th and 3, Prince then proceeded to hand-deliver a ball to DS Erick Zumwalt, missing his receiver by about eight feet. With a clean lane to the endzone, Zumwalt returned a Prince thrown ball for a touchdown on behalf of the defense. That’s the third practice in a row that one of Prince’s throws was returned for a pick-six.
Prince then got another go at it, again versus the two’s, this time starting over on what would have been the offense’s own 15 yard-line. First snap Prince was sacked by a bulldozing NT Seali’I Epenesa. Second snap, Prince threw long for an incomplete pass intended for WR Davis. The one highlight of the drive, a zipped ball complete to a slanting WR Logan Sweet, put Prince back where he started. But then Prince was sacked again, this time by NT Wesley Flowers.
Another completion to WR Tyler Scott again returned Prince’s team back to their original line of scrimmage.
The very next play, Prince again heaved up a ball for grabs (with way too much air under it) and in an acrobatic “jump-kick” type interception, DS Dalton Hilliard (now playing both offense and defense) snagged the ball, kicking WR Davis as he came down.
Speaking of Hilliard, he had quite a day. Mixing with both the defensive first and second groups, Hilliard was heavily involved. On a play where RB Malcolm Jones skirted past LB Mike Orloff, Hilliard came over the top for a nice, powerful tackle.
Later, while with the one’s and facing QB Brehaut, Hilliard, paired with DE Owa Odighizuwa, stomped through to the back-field and stuffed the RB. The next play, Hilliard nearly came up with another interception, missing Brehaut’s toss by a mere few feet.
While working with the second team, again against Brehaut, Hilliard took down RB Steven Manfro. Then he followed up with some hands in WR Scott’s eyes, causing another incomplete pass by Brehaut.
With the sort of RB log-jam ahead of him, and when coupled with his stellar performance today, I imagine Hilliard will see more time at safety.
Mora on Hilliard:
“You got to love that attitude, man. You know, that willingness to do whatever it takes to help the team. So we brought a white jersey out here and a blue jersey out here and he swapped ‘em… He loves playing the game.”
“You learn something everyday.”
Based on today’s performances, QB Brett Hundley’s was easily the best of the three left in the stable.
While working against the first defense, the QB-RB tandem of Hundley and Jones punched out three strong runs consecutively. The last of the three ended with Jones carrying three defenders, bruising his way forward for a couple extra yards.
After another nice swim move over the middle by NT Epenesa, Hundley’s next play showed off his legs. Making two miss, Hundley juked through the middle for a nice keeper, culminating in a ten yard gain.
But perhaps the highlight of Hundley’s day came with a measurable level of improvement. On a streak pattern, countering a heavy blitz package, RB Jones was wide open up the middle. Literally, Jones did not have anyone near him, except for his defender DC Aaron Hester, a good five yards behind him.
However, Hundley missed the throw, putting too much on the ball which landed a few feet in front of the sprinting Jones.
The next play was what impressed. With a similar heavy blitz breaking through, this time Hundley cocked back and delivered a beautiful ball to Jones again—Good for a touchdown.
Hundley would have a few more pretty passes through the situational scrimmaging; One good to WR Evans over the middle (20 yard gain) and another that should have been caught by Evans (slipped through his fingertips) as he crossed through the endzone.
QB Brehaut, meanwhile, had another up and down day. His best moment occurred with a nice 20-yard spiral in to WR Jerry Johnson, who had to fight off DC Marcus Rios to maintain the ball. DC Aaron Hester, who was shaken up on the play before, was quick to jump back in after Rios was beat.
Hester is quite the competitor.
Another nice Brehaut play, largely due to a strong stiff-arm by the receiver, found WR Scott in some space coming across the field. Brehaut’s pass hit him perfectly in stride as he crossed over the middle.
As Scott ran to the sideline, he put the ball on his outside arm and delivered a powerful stiff-arm to the defender, placing the corner on the ground. Scott then proceeded up the left to score, bringing with him a contingent of blue jerseys down to the end-zone.
At the conclusion of practice, Mora commented:
“This week was really good for us. We got a lot of situational work done. Today the energy was great, the tempo was great...”
Practice Notes:
Remember to ask for players or coaches to report on! Tweet us who you'd like us to cover at @BruinsBall!
Requested Players:
-Marcus Rios (Thanks, @USMale7): Worked with the one’s again today. As mentioned earlier, was beat by WR Jerry Johnson, but looks incredibly gifted. Physically, could use a few more pounds, but is quick, young, but very gifted. He will definitely provide the much-needed depth at corner, forging the way for the remaining 2012 potential DB’s incoming in Ishmael Adams, Paul Perkins and Randall Goforth.
-Steven Manfro: Working with multiple groups. No particular play today that stood out, but he continues to do the “little things.” He’s so physical, no matter the situation, so look for him to be in the back-field if not specifically just for blocking. There were a lot of swing passes his way, but the defense has appeared to adjust to the playbook—although, Manfro is always hard to take down. When RB Jones got nicked up during the scrimmaging, Manfro occasionally took snaps with the one’s next to RB Johnathan Franklin.
-Stan McKay (Thanks, @PeterNLay): Been consistently slotted next to DS Tevin McDonald as a starter. Of the two, McKay is probably the better hitter, but a little slower and less adept in footwork. McKay’s strength, however, compliments against the running game—While McDonald might be slanted towards passing defense. With the lumber McKay brings, he is the sort of ranging safety that an opposing RB might peek at prior to the hike… “Where’s McKay…”
UCLA’s next practice is this next Tuesday, May 1st at 3:45PM.
Follow Spring Practice here on BruinsBall.com and Twitter: @BruinsBall
