They’ve heard it all before. The sobering statistics, the flak from the fan base and the incessant reminders that they only produced four wins last season.
Yes, the UCLA football team’s offense was far from productive a year ago, but on Saturday, it hit the reset button.
The offense that ranked No. 100 in yards per game and No. 116 in passing yards per game is in the rearview mirror. New players and coaches alike are ready to put their stamp on the 2011 version of the offense.
That offense made its debut Saturday at Spaulding Field in UCLA’s first full scrimmage of spring practice, marking the official halfway point of the four-week spring schedule.
Rising junior quarterback Richard Brehaut looked as comfortable as ever in the pocket, throwing an 18-yard touchdown pass to rising redshirt sophomore receiver Ricky Marvray on the offense’s second drive of the scrimmage.
“As time goes on, I just feel more and more comfortable,” Brehaut said. “I feel like I can really control this offense and lead this team.
“I thought we really set the tempo and moved the ball down the field, and we were always in field goal range. That’s something that I really liked out of our offense today.”
“We take a lot of reps together, and we read each other well,” Marvray said of the touchdown.
Brehaut was making all the right reads while his freshman counterpart, Brett Hundley, was left to improvise when his less-extensive knowledge of the offense failed him.
That’s not to say it didn’t work out for him, though.
A 50-yard dash to the endzone showcased Hundley’s tremendous athletic ability that brought him to UCLA as a 17-year-old.
“He’s definitely got some speed, and as soon as we start clicking together, he’s going to be an awesome quarterback here,” Marvray said.
The running game, consistent as it was a season ago, wasn’t left out of the party.
Rising redshirt freshman Jordon James danced out of multiple tackles on his way to 33 yards rushing, and rising junior F-back Damien Thigpen reversed field and leaped for the pylon to score the game’s last touchdown.
Coach Rick Neuheisel said the scrimmage was encouraging and was hopefully a sign of things to come.
“I think the offensive kids on the team now will feel some measure of accomplishment, and hopefully that will get them hungrier for more,” he said.
ҬSheller limited by injury
Rising redshirt senior offensive lineman Sean Sheller broke a bone in his right hand at the conclusion of Thursday’s practice and was held out of the scrimmage because of it.
Sheller said he will play with a cast for the next month but that he would continue to practice in a somewhat limited role.ӬӬ
Prince recovering
Rising redshirt junior Kevin Prince participated in seven-on-seven drills prior to Saturday’s scrimmage but was not allowed to compete in the scrimmage as he is still recovering from knee surgery.
Prince was cleared to throw Thursday as well but Neuheisel said he forgot Prince was available.