I know you are probably still tallying NCAA Tournament brackets or devising schemes to convince freshman Jrue Holiday to return to the Bruin basketball team, but don’t forget about coach Rick Neuheisel and the football team.Spring football practice begins today at Spaulding Field, and Neuheisel and his assistants have a busy month ahead of them: 13 practices and a spring game April 25 at the Rose Bowl.
UCLA football has the pieces to win eight games next season, to be the type of team that contends for a Pac-10 title and reaches a decent bowl game. But because the team lacks experience ““ a lot of those important pieces are freshmen and sophomores ““ these practices are especially crucial. Aside from overall growth and development, coaches must evaluate several individual players at important positions.
Offensive coordinator Norm Chow will most likely select a new quarterback, monitor a deep but inexperienced backfield, and try to rebuild the offensive line. New defensive coordinator Chuck Bullough will try to maintain the energy and enthusiasm former UCLA coordinator DeWayne Walker instilled in the Bruin defense. Bullough must also address the defensive tackle spot that star senior Brigham Harwell held last season.
But let’s start with the quarterback position. Kevin Prince is the first name you need to know. The freshman did not play in a game last season, but he practiced with the first team offense and is now listed at the top of the Bruins’ depth chart. His talent and arm strength were apparent late last year, and Prince recently announced he will not leave UCLA for a Mormon mission. He’s the early favorite, and he could be named starter if he plays well this month.
Prince will compete with incoming freshman Richard Brehaut, a highly touted recruit who enrolled at UCLA early to participate this spring.
And then there’s Kevin Craft. The redshirt junior threw 19 interceptions last season, and it looks like he will fill a backup role. Still, he’s tough and competitive. You can’t count him out (although you can count out his old backup, Chris Forcier, who transferred from UCLA). As Prince, Brehaut and Craft compete at quarterback, a host of tailbacks will vie for the starting position Kahlil Bell held last season.
Christian Ramirez is the second name you need to know. The tailback impressed Neuheisel and Chow last spring before academic issues forced him to sit out the 2008 season. He’s a tough and versatile runner. Ramirez could win the starting job, but there are plenty of young backs behind Ramirez on the depth chart. Freshman Derrick Coleman played in 10 games last season and averaged 5.4 yards per carry. Freshmen Milton Knox and Aundre Dean came to UCLA with more hype, but both redshirted last season. Now Knox and Dean will have to work their way back up the depth chart.
All the runners and passers rely on the offensive line, the unit that most hampered the Bruins in 2008 and the one that needs to improve most this spring.
The third name you need to know is Jeff Baca. The left guard is the anchor of the offensive line. He’s only a freshman, but he is a vocal leader who spoke out after the team’s loss to USC last season. Also, freshman Nate Chandler has moved to right tackle and bulked up to 290 pounds. He came to UCLA as a tight end.
The UCLA defense returns more starters and won’t shift quite as much this spring. Still, the players must acclimate to Bullough, their new coordinator. I’m most interested to see how junior Jerzy Siewierski adjusts to a starting role at defensive tackle, where Harwell started last season. Also, Glenn Love was just a special teams contributor last year. Now he will start at strong safety.
And you can never forget special teams, where UCLA must find a new punter and holder to replace the departed Aaron Perez.
So, really, give Holiday a minute to think before you worry about the 2010 Final Four. These football practices are meaningful, and, unlike the always private basketball squad, they will be open to the public.