Coach Rick Neuheisel had one big piece of good news for UCLA fans when he held a teleconference after Friday’s closed scrimmage at the Rose Bowl.
“No injuries to report,” he said giddily.
The Bruins got some valuable experience playing in humidity and high heat. Pasadena touched 100 degrees today with 22 percent humidity. The Houston forecast for next Saturday is right around there, a high of 96 with 60 percent humidity.
The scrimmage went about 75 plays but didn’t see the first team offense and defense go against each other. The first-team offense squared off against the second-team defense while the twos on offense played the ones on d, each of them trying out specific, scout-team looks.
Neuheisel said they didn’t throw the ball much and “pounded it a little bit” on the ground. He did say both Richard Brehaut and Kevin Prince looked “sharp” and he stuck to his announcement time of early next week to name a starter.
Hundley impresses
Freshman quarterback Brett Hundley didn’t get full, live looks in the scrimmage because the training staff is being careful with him but Neuheisel liked what he saw.
“He wasn’t error free but a guy that looks like a big time player at some point,” Neuheisel said.
He also confirmed the coaching staff’s plan to use Hundley in a specialized package of plays that will grow as he develops, much like Tim Tebow at Florida and Terelle Pryor at Ohio State.
A decision as to what to do with Hundley’s redshirt year remains undetermined.
Injury update
-Sophomore offensive guard Chris Ward will also be back Monday. Neuheisel said Ward gave him a guarantee.
-Neuheisel called junior F back Damien Thigpen questionable for the Sept. 3 season opener.
-Senior wide receiver Taylor Embree went through pregame drills today and Neuheisel expects him to practice Monday. He said Embree is closer than Thigpen to being ready for the opener but still questionable.
-A surprising piece of injury news regarding redshirt junior offensive tackle Jeff Baca: Neuheisel said Baca will start practicing early next week and they hope to have him back for the Sept. 10 home opener against San Jose State. Although that’s earlier than they expected, Neuheisel said they’ll make sure he’s ready before they bring him back.