All summer, the UCLA defense has heard about how good it can be this season, with 10 returning starters and the guidance of coordinator DeWayne Walker.
Today, those Bruin defenders finally got to make some hits.
Friday was the first day of full-contact practice for Karl Dorrell’s team. The defense had been patiently waiting for a chance to do what it does best: tackle.
“The defense had a great day today,” senior defensive end Bruce Davis said. “We had a chip on our shoulder because we like to hit any chance we can “¦ we wanted to go fly around.”
Dorrell was also pleased with the veteran defensive group.
“The defense looks good,” he said. “I really like how this team is practicing.”
It was a hot morning at Spaulding Field, but the team practiced for almost three hours and scrimmaged at the end of the day.
After five days of practice, the Bruins are noticing a different feeling during this preseason camp. With 25 seniors, it’s no surprise that the practices have run smoothly, and, for the most part, the team has looked pretty sharp.
“There’s a lot more focus and a lot more leadership,” Davis said. “We have a bunch of veterans who know how to practice “¦ it’s all business.”
Last year the Bruins held their opponents under 100 yards rushing and yielded less than 20 points per game. UCLA led the Pac-10 in sacks; Davis himself had 12.5. And, perhaps most importantly, the Bruins had their best defensive performance of the year against USC, stalling the Trojans’ offensive machine en route to a 13-9 victory.
But the UCLA defense isn’t focusing on last year.
“We want to go from being one of the best to the very best in the country,” Davis said. “Everybody wants it a little more, we just want to win.”
Even with the consistent play of the defense, the offense had its moments when the team scrimmaged for the first time this week. Dorrell saw it as an even matchup, outside of the goal-line situations, which the defense dominated.
It was a difficult week for the offense as new coordinator Jay Norvell installed five days worth of information. But the coaching staff likes what it has seen.
“We like what we have in place ““ we just have to make it all work,” Dorrell said. “I really think this offense has a chance to be pretty special.”
Davis and the rest of the defense have some sympathy for their teammates. Last year, it was their challenge to learn a new system under Walker; now it’s the offense that has to learn a new coordinator’s scheme.
“That offense that they’re trying to learn is not an easy one; it’s definitely an NFL system,” Davis said. “But I’m liking what I’m seeing. Coach Norvell is a guy just like coach Walker, they both know exactly what they want.”
Tomorrow, the Bruins will have their first two-a-day practices, with a morning practice at 9:45 a.m. and a second practice at 3:30 p.m.
NOTES: Running back Ryen Carew practiced but was held out of the full-contact drills today with some nerve issues in his neck and shoulder. He was scheduled to undergo tests later in the day.
It was an untimely injury for the Bruins. They already lost one running back for the season after freshman Raymond Carter suffered a torn ACL in his knee earlier in the week.
“(Carew) is now next in line for the tailback position,” Dorrell said. “We have got to get him back healthy.”
Michael Pitre missed practice because of a bone bruise in his knee. Dorrell was unsure of the seriousness of the injury.
Rodney Van returned to practice after sitting out the past three practices with a left ankle injury. Chris Horton once again saw limited action due to a hamstring injury.