SAN BERNARDINO — In the opening game of last season, the Bruins were under siege.
Play after play, Virginia blitzed UCLA. Sometimes the Cavaliers blitzed from the edge, sometimes they charged up the middle. They even threw in some delayed blitzes from defensive backs.
The Bruins looked unprepared. Then-quarterback Brett Hundley incurred five sacks and 14 backfield hits, and the UCLA offense mustered only one touchdown. The team escaped with a win, but left offensive line coach Adrian Klemm saying this:
O-line coach Adrian Klemm on his group’s performance v. UVA: “It was one of the shittiest performances I’ve seen.” pic.twitter.com/Ol4N9l9N1V
— Chris Kalra (@chriskalra) September 2, 2014
Fast forward almost one year, and coach Jim Mora is doing everything he can to ensure that situation will not repeat itself. He’s bringing more defensive pressure than he ever has during a fall training camp, preparing his quarterbacks and offensive linemen for the season opener on Sept. 5 against Virginia.
“We’re bringing a lot of heat. … Much more (than in previous years),” Mora said. “So (the quarterbacks) are having to earn their completions and earn their yards and it’ll sometimes look sloppy.”
It’s imperative that Mora bring more blitzes in practice this year because UCLA will likely be facing more of them in games. The Bruins no longer have the veteran Hundley at quarterback, and the candidates to replace him are all inexperienced – particularly incoming freshman Josh Rosen.
“The entire group (of quarterbacks) – all of us are pretty inexperienced,” Rosen said. “So most teams are gonna initially test us and try to throw as much at us as they can.”
And that’s exactly what the UCLA defense has done with Rosen so far in fall camp. Not only have the linebackers blitzed Rosen relentlessly, they’ve also taunted him at times, testing his focus.
“It’s just people heckling to see how (I) respond,” Rosen said. “(Rising junior linebacker Myles Jack) tries to have conversation with me across the line of scrimmage.”
Rosen just remains silent and lets his play do the talking. Sometimes it works to a tee.
On a fourth-and-goal play during Tuesday’s practice, with the game clock winding down, Rosen stood tall in the pocket and lofted a touch pass to the corner of the end zone for a scrimmage-winning touchdown.
Video: On a 4th & goal play, Josh Rosen hits Thomas Duarte on a fade for a TD. pic.twitter.com/wP8NkaO4qt
— Matt Joye (@mattjoye) August 19, 2015
“Stay focused, be calm and just play – I think (Rosen) embodies that,” said rising senior wide receiver Jordan Payton.
Rosen embodies it on and off the field. When he finished practice, he walked over to a herd of media reporters, who pressured him with questions.
One reporter asked Rosen, “What do you think you’ve done that’s working in your favor in the quarterback competition?”
“Execute the coach’s plan,” Rosen said, ending his answer there.
As the interview continued, Rosen was interrupted by Jack, heckling from a distance.
“Hey Josh,” Jack yelled, trying to break the rising freshman quarterback’s concentration.
“There’s Myles trying to have a conversation,” Rosen said with a laugh.
Then Rosen continued on with his answer.