UCLA’s spring game went off with a rather resounding thud, a disjointed offensive effort that stems from a relative lack of depth up front.

With senior offensive linemen Sean Sheller, Jeff Baca and Kai Maiava each out for the spring game, UCLA quarterbacks Richard Brehaut, Brett Hundley and Nick Crissman struggled to gain rhythm. But when they did, there was a noticeable difference from last year.

First of all, the Bruins debuted an offense heavy on creativity and shifting, with multiple formations and some intriguing lineups, including some things we haven’t seen during spring ball.

Secondly, Brehaut and Hundley threw the ball well, for the most part. Brehaut hit a nice fade to Nelson Rosario for a touchdown in the back of the end zone over Sheldon Price and delivered some good balls to Ricky Marvray and Taylor Embree.

Hundley had a throw on his second or third series on a sideline route to Nelson Rosario that was a perfect ball, and the timing was precise. Like, exact. Haven’t seen a lot of that recently.

The running game was a little off-and-on, but Johnathan Franklin looked great. Franklin had four carries for 50 yards, including a 39-yard jolt that included two perfect cuts and a lot of speed. Jordan James added seven carries for 45 yards and Malcolm Jones had three carries for 25 yards, including a plowing 18-yard run. Perhaps the biggest surprise was the amount of action that Anthony Barr saw, getting six carries for 22 yards. He was in the game an extensive amount, and it’s pretty clear to see that he’s someone that they want to see succeed.

Not much to say about the offensive line, other than it needs to improve. Of course, this was a unit missing three starters, and Sheller and Maiava probably could’ve played if it was a game situation. But the snapping of Greg Capella and Kody Innes was poor, and the line had troubles with stunts and blitzes.

The defense played generally well, but the linebackers were a bit lost in the pass defense. I expect that to be shored up by the beginning of the year. The defensive backs played pretty well, and Alex Mascarenas, Courtney Viney and Dietrich Riley all played very well. Riley delivered some nice hits, but also admittedly missed some tackles. Tony Dye was just dejected that he couldn’t participate today.

The biggest thing I got out of today: Once this offense gets any sense of itself – and that includes tempo and rhythm and swagger and fun – things could change for UCLA. The running game is twice as good as it was in 2009, when the team went 7-6, and if the passing game looks even a modicum better than it did today, and today is much better than the end of last year, then things are on track.

We’ve seen many different package groups during spring; is that a product of just getting to know them as players, or do you expect to play more situationally that UCLA has in the past?

Mike Johnson: “You have to change personnel groupings to make a defense defend all. The more guys we have who can do more things, the more personnel packages you can use. It is my job as offensive coordinator to put these guys into position to succeed, to not ask them to do things that they’re not capable of doing. We have to find roles for our players, and they have to understand what those roles are and how they fit. That is what we are trying to do. We’re using a lot of guys right now, trying to find out what they do well. As we get to training camp, get closer to the season, now you see who the playmakers are and taper it down just a little bit. My job right now is to find out who can do what.”

Joe Tresey: “The fresher they are, the faster they can play. To me, the perfect world is having eight defensive linemen, with minimal drop-off between all eight. Now if you want a certain group to rush, we’ve all done it. We’re going nickel and we’re going Bruin, well that’s one set of defensive linemen. You can evolve to that.

But what I think is more important is developing depth. I call it the next man in – you’re not a two, you’re the next man in. Is the next man in as good as the guy who’s already in? Because if he is, that’s going to keep the man in motivated. There’s competition. Then you have faith you can do what you want to do.

I just think developing 22 guys that can play on defense – with some multiple packages, and they all know it, they can all play fast – if you get that, that’s the perfect world. You’re able to play faster, you’re healthier, you’ll have less bumps, everybody’s playing. There are less reps, but they’re better.”

Who has surprised you in spring practice?

Mike Johnson: “I don’t know if I’ve been surprised or impressed. I don’t know I’ve done that. I don’t think we are where we want to be. I don’t think we have reached the standard and mindset change I talked about. But I think that there are a couple guys who’ve done good, consistent jobs, but not good enough. The one thing they’ve done is tried to do their best every single day. You see a big emphasis on tempo, getting in and out, and there’s been inconsistent play in that. We start off fast, then three quarters through practice, you see a lull. They are not accustomed to playing that long that hard. We need to learn how to compete for extended periods of time. They’re trying to do it, but the standard is not set in yet.”

Joe Tresey: “I don’t really know if I have a big surprise, because I didn’t know what they were like before I got here. When we go through every day, we really focus on who is getting better. Who is getting better? Who is making great strides? Damien Holmes has stood out because of his motor, because he’s relentless. Justin Edison has gotten better every day. Nate Chandler has gotten better every day. Datone Jones has gotten better every day. They’re getting better. Donovan Carter has really had a great spring, he’s caught my eye up front. Isaiah Bowens has gotten better. Glenn Love – Glenn Love has gotten better. There are guys out there.”

Who are you going to be leaning on most this year, not just in terms of production, but in terms of being the ultimate player?

Mike Johnson: “That’s one guy you can say, ‘Here is our starting running back,’ Johnathan Franklin. He’s done a good job. He’s a good running back, has a great work ethic. I think he’s the model of what we want to be from a football team. He’s one of those guys that has to be in the huddle, who pushes us to next level. He’s a guy who’s going to get touches on a consistent basis. But there are other guys who haven’t realized it yet that I think will get there. There are guys who show flashes, but they have no idea how good they can be. I see that. Those are the guys I’m going to try to push, get them there before September. We need those guys to make plays. I need those guys to step up and be the players, to play up to their potential level so we can be the team we want to be this year.”

Joe Tresey: “It’s very natural and normal to lean on Tony Dye and Sean Westgate because they have most the experience. But I’m leaning on them for those guys to have accountability within their rooms. That they’re making their peers accountable. In order to do that, they have to be very accountable. To me, if I’m making you accountable, I’m going to be upset if the guy next to me isn’t accountable. It’s like passing the accountability around. In the D-line room, I’m trying to figure out who that guy is.”

Is it your job to find more stars or to simply raise the base level of talent across the board?

Mike Johnson: “It goes back to core beliefs. We need to teach the fundamentals and techniques and then put Johnathan Franklin, Jordon James, Randall Carroll in position to run for 200 yards or catch for 150. Allow those guys, once everything is set and all 11 guys understand, to make plays. I think that’s what you do – you build the group, and the guys who are the playmakers will show themselves. Then when you get into the season, it’s your job as coach to get the ball into the hands of the guys that can make plays. I tell kids all the time, if you consistently are a guy who refuses to make the play you’re supposed to make, then you will not play, plain and simple. This game is about making plays. This is about results. A standard of excellence. No one is going to be perfect, but we have to develop a certain level of consistency as a group.”

Joe Tresey: “I think that goes hand-in-hand. Whoever you have, you have to get them better every day, from an individual aspect. If they’re bought in, you won’t have issues with the team deal. It’s all about getting the 11 guys – hell, the 40 guys in the room – to buy in. Once you get them to buy in, you get them better every day individually, it’s all going to happen. It’s all going to happen.”