Mike’s Back There

Mike Harris is confident that he has earned the starting right tackle position, even though things did not begin to materialize for him until just a few days ago.
“I feel like it’s my spot, and I’m going to do whatever it takes. Last year, I was a freshman, new at things, but I feel prepared for this upcoming season. I’m excited and ready to get this offense rolling again. I think it was my whole body of work; I was injured in spring ball, but I came ready in this summer camp. Every day I went hard, and the coaches saw that they can count on me.”
Harris, who started five games last season, believes his familiarity gives him the edge over some of UCLA’s younger players, though he is potentially unseating Jeff Baca, who started eight games last season.
“I think my experience is a big factor. I know what to expect, especially starting against USC last year. I know what it takes to be successful. It will take a lot of hard work and a lot of limiting mental errors.”

Three for Three with Kevin Prince:

On his thoughts after the scrimmage, which got off to a bad start with an Eddie Williams false start:
“It was kind of slow to start; we preached all day, all yesterday that we need to focus, make sure we know the snap count. We’re going to need to change up the snap count during the year. The firstdrive, we false start. Right off the bat, we’re first-and-15. We didn’t get the start we wanted.”

On scrambling, which he did often in the scrimmage:
“I don’t feel like I’m a dual-threat quarterback I don’t have that kind of speed. Not enough to be in the class of a Dennis Dixon. But if the play breaks down, I think I can make some positive yards. If that happens during the course of a game, I’m going to take off and run it.”

On his no-nonsense running style:
“It’s a goal to stay healthy, but I’ve never really worried about getting hurt. The moment you start slowing your play down, it’s more dangerous. To be honest, I’ve never even slid in a game. I’ll try to this year, but once you get in a game, you get that mentality that you can take on anybody.”

Chane Gang

Senior fullback Chane Moline had an impressive scrimmage, particularly on one red-zone play midway through.
Running with the first team, Milton Knox took a handoff up the middle behind Moline, who destroyed a scout team linebacker as Knox took it in for the touchdown.
Moline, oddly enough, returns with the most career carries of any UCLA back.
“It’s definitely a good feeling when you get a good block, and then you see a teammate score,” Moline said. “I wouldn’t say it’s been then yourself running a good play. But it’s up there.

Line Change

After announcing the starting offensive line earlier this week, it seems UCLA has changed things a bit.
As it stands, Mike Harris is scheduled to start at right tackle, Stanley Hasiak at left guard and Jeff Baca backing both up.
Or, at least, that’s the plan going into the weekend’s meetings.
Offensive line coach Bob Palcic said that he and Rick Neuheisel would review the scrimmage tape and start the two who played best.
“I’m going to make one final meeting with Coach Neuheisel to see which direction we’re going,” Palcic said. “Harris or Baca at tackle and Baca or Hasiak at left guard. We’ll make the decision this weekend. We wanted to give them all an opportunity. That was the purpose of the scrimmage, and it’s whoever played best in the scrimmage. I gave them all work with the ones, and whoever played best in the scrimmage will start next Saturday.”
Palcic loves Baca’s ability to play multiple positions, and he might even use Baca situationally.
“I think I have the luxury of moving a couple people around,” Palcic said. “Baca can play both positions, and I even work with him in the center/QB exchange. I like my guys to have two positions, because that’s what I’m used to in the NFL. ”