Rick Neuheisel promised a quick transition, and just four days into spring practice, the Bruins are showing more intensity and the drills are more competitive.
On Monday, the Bruins practiced in full pads for the second time, and Neuheisel thought the offense had its best day yet. Quarterback Pat Cowan completed a long bomb to wide receiver Marcus Everett in 7-on-7 drills. Ben Olson threw a similar rainbow to Gavin Ketchum in the same drill. Bruin tailback Christian Ramirez had a good day, too.
“Our defense has gotten used to having their way, but the offense responded today,” Neuheisel said. “I think it’s a good wake-up call for our defense.”
The offense struggled in the first few practices of the spring because it was learning a new offense installed by Offensive Coordinator Norm Chow.
While there are still many kinks ““ several false starts drew Neuheisel’s ire Monday ““ the offense certainly looks like it is improving.
“It’s all a process right now because everyone is new to the offense,” quarterback Kevin Craft said. “I’m new to all these guys and the offense. It’s coming along slowly, but we’re making progress.”
Craft is another quarterback competing for the starting job along with Olson, Cowan, freshman Chris Forcier and redshirt sophomore Osaar Rasshan.
Craft enrolled last week after transferring from Mount San Antonio Junior College. The 6-foot-5-inch quarterback has looked sharp so far. He has good mobility and arm strength and is still in the mix for the starting quarterback job.
“My approach is just to come out every day and focus on myself,” Craft said. “You can’t think about anything else other than what you can do and what you can control. If you don’t think like that, you start beating yourself up.
Although Olson and Cowan get the most reps with the first-team offense, all five quarterbacks are still getting equal opportunity. Neuheisel said that tomorrow will be a very important day for the quarterbacks because the team will scrimmage for about half the practice.
“I’m seeing good things with all of them,” Neuheisel said. “As we get further into spring, we’re going to start limiting some reps, though, because we need to get a team ready to play.”
NEUHEISEL SYMPATHIZES: After practice on Monday, Neuheisel spoke about how disappointed he was to see the UCLA basketball team fall to Memphis in the Final Four on Saturday.
“To be in three straight Final Fours speaks volumes about the program,” he said. “My hat is off to Ben and his staff and certainly all the players. I’ve got my fingers crossed that (the players) all like each other enough to come back.”
QUICK HITS: Freshman safety Glenn Love hurt his hand and left practice to have X-rays. … UCLA recruit Jerry Johnson was at practice. The 6-foot-3-inch wide receiver from Venice was one of the top recruits in the 2008 class. … Defensive tackle Brian Price went down in practice but said the injury wasn’t serious.