UCLA

bouncepassBro said:

I know a bit about this subject. I'm a hardcore Bruin fan- I go to all the practices, and my frame of reference goes back pretty far.

This team is the most talented, balanced, physical team in Westwood since 1988. The 1998 team was certainly entertaining and good; but the D was swiss cheese despite the Offense scoring 45 points a game. UCLA has rarely combined a good O with a good D... A couple early KD teams had some really good Defenses, but couldn't score to save their lives; then when he finally got the O going as MoJo and Marcedes matured; the D took a dump. The Neu led teams were just an abysmal joke, with what can only be called horrendous QB play combined with the worst coaching/preparation/attention to details/motivation I've ever seen.

The D is moving to a more 4-2-5 base formation after playing the last couple years in a 3-4 look. This should greatly improve the D considering the personnel.

Despite the losses along the Front 7 to the NFL this year with Barr, Marsh, Zumwalt; the D looks much better.. the return of OWA is huge; during the last 4 games of the 2012 season(SC, Stanford,STanford, Baylor), he was arguably becoming the best DL on the team (above Datone Jones and Marsh). He looked like an NFL player this spring after redshirting following hip surgeries last year. He's 6'3.5" 275 with a 6 pack. It's seriously not fare; he honestly looks like Osi Umenyuera in his prime. Young DL's McCArthy, Clark, and Vanderdoes have made big strides from last year. DC Ulbrich calls So. NT Clark possibly the best player on the team. Kenny Orjioke was held out of the spring game, but his talent was on par with Anthony Barr everyday during spring camp at OLb/Elephant though his feel for the position is probably closer to Barr in spring 2012-- he's 6'4 245 with ridiculously low body fat; he arrived as a rangy young 16 year old 205 pound safety; and is now a scary athletic jr OLB(and still just 19). Our 2 Nigerians have ridiculous genes! The young Lbers Savaiinea and J. Brown both played a bunch last year as true Frosh's in reserve. Myles Jack and Eric Kendricks are obviously big-time players at ILB. Jack played last year almost completely on his athleticism. He's actually learning how to play this spring, and he's literally scary good on the practice field.

a couple names to remember in the secondary: jr CB Fabian Moreau, who has emerged as a shutdown type cornerback.... and young So. FS Tahaan Goodman; who has been a rangy hammer this spring as the light has turned on and his understanding of the D has taken hold.

Shaq was a good WR, but UCLA has a group of guys returning who will likely do much more than he did in the next couple years... 3 JR WR's Payton, Lucien, and Fuller return with plenty of experience and each have more talent than Shaq does. Along with the development and improvement of So. Y/TE Thomas Duarte who caught everything thrown his way this spring after putting on 10 pounds and improving his speed/route running. The emergence of El Massington will also be big this fall; he's almost 2 years removed from his ACL, redshirted last year- he's 6'3 210 with deep speed.

the loss of Xavier Sua-Filo is a big one..... UCLA picked up a 'graduate' transfer from Malcolm Bunche a 2 year starter at Miami to step in at LG. The rest of the OL should make huge strides as they started 3 True Frosh's most of last year(including theUW game)-- RT Caleb Benenoch completely transformed his body in 4 months since last year and is now poised to hold down the LT position; and Simon Goines will be back at RT following a broken leg/knee surgery last year. Alex Redmond at RG was a bruiser Frosh AA last year; and 3 year starter Jake Brendel returns at Center.

Hundley has made some pretty big strides--- in his throwing mechanics, progressions, awareness, reading of the D etc.... He's the straw that stirs the drink; and if this spring was any indication; he'll take that needed next step as a player to move UCLA up as a team.

Whatever the 2013 team was:: good? , talented? ,maybe a bit inconsistent, injury riddled-- they went 10-3 with a brutal schedule with road games @Neb, @Furd, @Oregon, @SC.... The 2014 team(not including the incoming Frosh's) would likely put a physical beatdown on last year's team. I think they've matured as a team enough to get over the Stanford/Oregon hump this year with at least one if not both of them.

Doesn't mean I'm coming here crowing that UCLA is going to beat UW..Petersen is an outstanding coach; and Seattle in November is a tough place to play...but UCLA will absolutely be a serious contender for the Pac12 championship next season.

Gladstone said:

It's year 3. This is the year for him. I think he'll get there but either way it will be interesting.™

The loss to Oregon last year was the first real red flag. They didn't look prepared at all.