We’re a quarter of the way through fall camp and the great UCLA quarterback race of 2011’s first leg is in the books.
UCLA has anything but a leader in the clubhouse. Redhsirt junior Kevin Prince and junior Richard Brehaut are in a dead heat. Prince got the first snap of the week with the first team but it was Brehaut who impressed coach Rick Neuheisel on Saturday. The team saw its first live scrimmage of the 2011 season, an assortment of 30 or so plays during the 10th period of the afternoon practice.
“He was sharp,” Neuheisel said of Brehaut. “He’s playing really well and the competition is making them both better.”
Prince went the wrong direction on a zone-read play during seven-on-seven drills and had no one to hand the ball to. Then, a Prince screen pass was tipped by senior linebacker Sean Westgate during the scrimmage and redshirt junior defensive end Datone Jones found a gift fall into his hands for six points the other way.
“There’s a lot of things I wish I had done differently but that happens,” Prince said when asked to evaluate week one. “You learn from thing and I haven’t continued to make mistakes in progressions, reads, audibles, stuff like that.”
Neuheisel said he will not name a starter until after the team’s Aug. 20 scrimmage at Drake Stadium at the earliest.
Hundley sees action
Freshman Brett Hundley, thought to be the third player in the race, made some short throws in the morning practice and continued to make short passes on the sidelines and occasionally in drills in the afternoon practice. Hundley is recovering from knee surgery he had to repair a torn meniscus. Neuheisel said he hopes to have Hundley back in full next week.
Tuck and run
Brehaut and Prince found themselves putting their heads down and running upfield numerous times during the scrimmage after none of their receiving options materialized. Neuheisel called it “a part of our offense” but some players were begging for Brehaut to throw the ball downfield on a play where he took off.
Kickoff woes
The kicking game continues to look suspect. During a kickoff return drill, Kip Smith kicked two woefully short balls before punter Jeff Locke came in to save the day and booted one deep. Neuheisel was in Smith’s ear after both kicks.
Up next
The Bruins will take Sunday off before returning to practice Monday for another double day (9 a.m. and 4 p.m.)