Looking Ahead: UCLA Defense

I think a two-deep would be more useful, Jon. If trends of recent years continue...we might as well assume half of these guys will suffer season-ending injuries.

A two deep would be nice. I like your thoughts Jon. However I see Brandon Willis beating out Nate Chandler for the top #2 DT spot.

I also feel Tony Dye will slid back to FS and Dietrich Riley will stay at his natural SS spot with his punishing hit ability.

I think Owa is a more natural strongside end. I didnt see a lot of explosion and ability to get upfield last year. He's certainly athletic and ridiculously strong, but I dont think he's the pass rusher some think he is. He certainly needs a lot more technique and moves. He needs to learn how to use his hands better because right now all he has is the bullrush.

We'll see a lot of change in the defensive backfield. Most Pac 10 teams are going to spread it out, so look for Dalton Hilliard, Andrew Abbott and Anthony Jefferson to contribute big and maybe even start at some point. Westgate is gamer, but I like Love at that spot. He seems to be more physical at the point of attack and should cover well being a converted safety.

Probably be good to hire a defensive coordinator. It might help recruiting. Lot of rumors earlier this week. No news yet.

If we dont have someone other than Westgate starting at WLB next year, we will continue to have the same problems we experienced this year. We need an impact player at that position and if Love was going to be that player, it would have happened this year.

Westgate only played this year because Love couldn't make the transition from SS to LB. He played too upright, and got himself taken out of plays.

Westgate will not start next year. There is a star-in-the-making coming off the Scout team. Aramide Olaniyan will start at WLB, and he'll be the biggest surprise on defense. He's faster than Westgate, and he'll outweigh Westgate by 25 lbs.

Projected Depth Chart

DE: Datone Jones RJr, Owa Odighizuwa So, Iuta Tepa RSo

I agree with the poster that Owa is more of a strong side end. This is where he played in 2010 and might as well stay here. He's still raw and while he made some big plays...he made plenty of freshman mistakes. Owa needs to learn under Datone Jones for a year. Let's not forget about Tepa. He played as a true freshman and was injured this past year I believe. He's got some talent also.

DT: Cassius Marsh So, Justin Edison RSr, Seali'l Epenesa RFr, Wesley Flowers RFr

Ideally Marsh would have redshirted which continually is a problem for UCLA. They play too many true freshmen. I would say Marsh played well for a "freshman". That's about it. The problem is that the UCLA coaches cannot develop the other guys like Chandler, Edison, Donovan Carter, etc. which would allow guys like Marsh to redshirt. I'm glad Bullough is gone. He was simply inexperienced and not aggressive enough. This is a big year for Justin Edison. He has to develop. This is again where the coaches have continually failed. I hope Vic Fangio from Stanford comes to UCLA. He can develop guys like Flowers, etc. His schemes promote good play.

DT: Nate Chandler RSr, Donovan Carter RJr, Brandon Willis RFr

For those who think Willis can start...I don't see how. Willis is listed at like 255 pounds. He could get up to let's say 280 but the problem is that he won't be used to carrying that weight which was the problem for David Carter, Justin Edison, and Donovan Carter also. They all gained too much weight in such a short period of time. Chandler just moved over from offense this past year. He's a senior and this is his pay off year. David Carter did quite well as a redshirt senior. Both Chandler and Edison have to come through. It's the job of the new DC and the D line coach to make it happen.

DE: Keenan Graham RSo, Damien Holmes RJr, Derrick Bryant RFr

Not sure why people are forgetting about Graham. What I find funny at times is that many fans promote the player they have yet to even see play. Examples are Brandon Willis, etc. Graham was a player too whom last year people wanted to see get action but yet when he did…he struggled. He was only a redshirt freshman. So why give up on him so early. He’s got talent. He put on about 20 pounds within a year and again…that’s a lot of weight to get used to. He’s at a more ideal weight of around 6’2 250 now. Holmes is pretty steady too. The key is the inside guys and how the DC allows the D line to play. IMO…the DC’s who are not good pinch in the DE’s when the DT’s are struggling to contain the middle. This is what an inexperienced and conservative and predictable DC does which falls in line with how Larry Kerr and also Chuck Bullough handled the situation and shows why both failed and were fired. An innovative DC would have spread his D line out more and lined up his DE’s wide….you do this especially when you have ends like Graham and Owa or even an end like Bruce Davis. You then use your LB’s and safeties to cover the gaps in the middle and blitz. It’s a more gambling style but you will get big plays an D this way and have the players more excited and emotionally fired up which is a big part in having a defense play well.

WLB: Sean Westgate Jr, Glenn Love RSr, Aramide Olaniyan RFr
I actually believe Westgate will still start and is the right person for the job. He’s a bit undersized but he has shown that he can mix it up. I still think he’ll add weight and get stronger and still maintain his quickness. He’s in his 3rd year now which should be a year where you get a return on your investment. Olaniyan is just a redshirt freshman. Why go through more growing pains playing another freshman. Give him a year to learn and play as a reserve. Again…it’s the UCLA coaches who can’t develop anybody where upperclassmen who played when they were freshmen can’t even supposedly retain their positions they once held as freshmen and the cycle repeats over and over.

MLB: Patrick Larimore RJr, Steve Sloan Sr, Erik Kendricks RFr
Larimore showed some flashes but must stay healthy. Sloan has got to step it up. Yet again another player who played many games as a true freshman and who made plenty of mistakes and seems to have never really recovered. Again…just bad coaching. I ask…if Sloan supposedly has no talent…then what did the coaches see in him when they decided to play him as a true freshman and then redshirt Larimore.

SLB: Jordan Zumwalt So, Isiah Bowens RSo, Jared Koster So
Never really thought Zumwalt was a MLB. While he played fairly well individually…his signal calling is what you would expect from a freshmen. So many guys were out of position and lost. Zumwalt has talent and should do well at SLB.

CB: Sheldon Price Jr, Courtney Viney RSr, Tevin McDonald RFr
It’s quite scary as to how and why UCLA had to play a 155 pound corner in Price as a true freshman in 2009. He fortunately put on weight…but again…too much weight too fast. Price will be a junior and is more used to playing with the weight he has on now. He made pretty good improvement from his freshman to sophomore year and I expect an even bigger leap in 2011 with the right DC. Viney is an interesting case. Other small CB’s can school UCLA’s WR’s but yet UCLA can’t even develop this once 4 star recruit out of HS. He’s a 5th year senior. I hope Viney makes the most of it and hope the coaches allow him to make the most of it.

SS: Dietrich Riley So, Stan McKay RSo, Tony Dye Sr
Sorry but I don’t see Dye starting at SS. Riley is a natural SS and not a FS. Dye is simply not physical and big enough to play SS. It was always a bad move to begin with to have Dye at SS. While Dye made plenty of tackles…they were not good tackles from the standpoint they were “safety” tackles. Not many sacks or tackles for losses or interceptions or fumbles caused etc. In addition, no fear for receivers catching the ball over the middle. Riley brings this to the table and while he was a bit raw last year…I believe that the experience he got last year will be good enough for him to earn the starting job.

FS: Dalton Hilliard Jr, Tony Dye Sr, Alex Mascarenas RSo
Dalton Hilliard is good and to me a much more physical safety than that of Rahim Moore. Dye is more suited for free safety but I don’t think Dye is better than Hilliard.

CB: Aaron Hester RJr, Andrew Abbott RJr, Anthony Jefferson RFr
Hester was a huge disappointment this past year. For somebody as big as he is…he sure was not very strong tackler. I’ll give him a break though since he was coming off a broken leg and started his first year. I think he’ll be much improved also. Abbott is a good back up and we should allow Jefferson to recover from his injury and learn as a reserve.

Thats a long post, but pretty accurate to me except I like Dye. I thought he was the most physical of all the dbs and had a few really good games like the one vs Texas. Certainly, I'd start him, but against more receivers move Dye over to the slot man and have Hilliard play.

I think Dye is too experienced and savvy to keep off hte field. We've only seen doses of Hilliard.

how about ken norton jr as DC. or john fox or jim mora!!!

FS: Dalton Hilliard Jr, Tony Dye Sr, Alex Mascarenas RSo
Dalton Hilliard is good and to me a much more physical safety than that of Rahim Moore. Dye is more suited for free safety but I don’t think Dye is better than Hilliard.

FS-Hilliard
SS-Riley
Nickel-Dye

Riley nor hilliard have proven themselves to the extent that dye has in my opinion. Dye was and in my eyes still is the best DB we have, not having him on the field could severely cripple our defense, especially in terms of compsure and leadership. i expect breakout year from him and very strong play from the other two whom i expect growing pains. this is a great problem to have with all these kids

Go Bruins!