Football’s offensive line continues to adjust to recent tweaks

UCLA’s offensive line has two players who have earned All-American distinctions. It also holds two of the offense’s three captain positions, one of whom, center Jacob Brendel, offensive line coach Adrian Klemm called “mature beyond his age.”

Despite maintaining some of the accolades and attributes of a group of seasoned linemen, the Bruins’ front is still very young. UCLA’s oldest offensive lineman, left guard Xavier Su’a-Filo, is just a junior and until last Saturday, the starting group wasn’t entirely set.

Against a porous New Mexico State run defense, UCLA unveiled an offensive line that had flipped on the outside, featuring redshirt sophomore Torian White at left tackle and sophomore Simon Goines at right. The two played these positions all of last season, but the lineup was flipped for the first time when spring football began in April.

Klemm said that while White has always physically looked the part of a left tackle, it took several months for him to grasp the mental aspect of the position, which requires no second-guessing in order to keep the quarterback upright.

“His football IQ has risen, and as it’s rising, he’s able to handle more and his anticipatory skills have risen at left tackle,” Klemm said. “He saw the progression and we felt more comfortable putting him back at left.”

White, who will now protect the blind side of redshirt sophomore quarterback Brett Hundley, said that because left tackle is a position he has played before, his new spot on the line hasn’t required much breaking in.

“I feel comfortable on both sides now, right and left, and not to be frustrated on either side,” White said. “The only thing is that the muscle movement is a little different, so I have to stretch a little bit more.”

The right tackle job is clearly Goines’ for the moment, but he has a new competitor on his heels in the form of Caleb Benenoch. The freshman out of Katy, Texas captured the right guard position on the first day of fall camp but was beaten out by fellow freshman Alex Redmond in the days leading up to UCLA’s season opener against Nevada.

Klemm mentioned that a true tackle is harder to find, but because a talented Benenoch can play both tackle and guard, his moving to the outside provides him with an opportunity to get more time in the rotation.

“Obviously Alex beat him out, but Caleb is pretty dang good, so I’d like to get him in the rotation,” Klemm said. “(Benenoch and Goines will) battle it out and whoever does well that week, that’s the guy that’s going to start. It’s been Simon, but as Caleb gets better…it’s just going to make them better.”

 

Redmond’s Early Success

Ranked by Rivals as the No. 17 offensive guard in the Class of 2013, five spots behind freshman offensive guard John Lopez, who has yet to see action as a Bruin, Redmond has been a pleasant surprise so far for UCLA and now rounds out a completed starting five on the line.

Heading into the Nebraska game, coach Jim Mora said he was slightly worried that the stage might be too big for the newest addition to the starting lineup. But Redmond drastically exceeded expectations, playing with intensity and an attitude that Mora said he enjoys from a player in the trenches.

“He’s physical and he’s athletic and he’s got a little bit of a mean streak to him, which I think you like for inside guys at guards and center,” Mora said. “He doesn’t seem to be overwhelmed at all.”

His eagerness to learn and continue to improve in blocking schemes has likewise earned the admiration of his teammates.

“I love the kid to death. He’s awesome,” White said. “He still has some improvement like we all do, but we have faith in the kid.”

 

Morris Transfers

On Monday night, multiple media outlets reported the transfer of freshman offensive lineman Christian Morris, who intends to enroll at Ole Miss to be closer to his home in Memphis, Tenn., and his ill grandmother.

Mora said Tuesday that Morris would be released from UCLA so that he would be able to enroll elsewhere.

“We’re just hoping that he finds happiness in his life and has success,” Mora said. “You don’t need to turn it into a conflict. He wanted to go closer to home for whatever reason. I want him to be happy.”