Looking offensive
UCLA's offensive line is ever-changing, it seems, by I found the second-team lineup used in the morning practice interesting.
It was RT Nate Chandler, RG Darius Savage, C Jake Dean, LF Jeff Baca and LT Brandon Bennett.
From my understanding, part of the reason Chandler and Savage are not running with the first team is both are struggling with their assignments.
The first team offensive line is RT Nick Ekbatani, RG Sonny Tevaga, C Micah Reed, LG Scott Glicksberg and LT Micah Kia.
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About Inside UCLA
This is Brian Dohn's sixth season covering UCLA after spending 4 1/2 years covering the Dodgers for the Daily News and other Los Angeles Newspaper Group papers. He graduated from Rutgers, where the first college football game was played in 1869. Sure, the Scarlet Knights suffered for a long time, but now RU is doing what Jerseyans always thought was possible. Winning at Rutgers also proves winning is possible everywhere else in the nation, so underachieving coaches better be careful. Now, if only men's hoops can turn it around.
So is Micah Kia starting at C, LT, or both?
I think he meant Micah Reed at center.
Interesting that Jeff Baca has made his way into the second string. He didn't receive much hype out of high school but I guess beggars can't be choosers at this point. At least he has some bulk at 289.
How has Baca looked? I'm guessing he would be the third option at guard if the first string guy wasn't available.
I hope that they can get that second team playing well...there are some large guys (Savage, Bennett) that can definitely help fill holes. Actually, that starting unit is pretty large in their own right. UCLA has players for the OL, they lack experience and probably weren't coached up too well last season.
This report shows how desperate things have gotten. Coaches don't like to juggle the line with position changes in Fall practice because they want to get the whole line used to working as a unit. Moving players around causes everyone to think too much and not just fire off the snap of the ball. But it appears that Coach Palcic is boldly making the moves to get the best performing players in place before facing the Tennessee defense. It is disappointing that Savage has had to be moved to the second string RG spot because in Spring practice he and Kia made a phisically awesome left side of the line. But obviously the right side of the line is now where the most pressing problem is.