First impressions

Here are some things I'm looking out for especially during fall camp:

* There's not much that can be gleaned from watching the line play during fall camp, because we don't know how good the offensive line is, and we really don't even know how good the defensive line is. What can be picked apart, though, is technique and that's something UCLA defensive linemen lacked last season, for various reasons - Cassius Marsh because of strength and experience, Nate Chandler because of switching positions, Justin Edison because of strength, Sealii Epenesa because of experience. Now with a new defensive line coach, Inoke Breckterfield, who has drawn rave reviews elsewhere for his technical and technique-al coaching skills, perhaps UCLA will find a solid four-man rotation that will produce.

* It's pretty much the same with the offensive line, but the big question there is who comprises the first unit? With Jeff Baca sidelined a month into the season, there is a big gap on the left side - presumably the right side is solid with Chris Ward and Mike Harris to go along with Kai Maiava - and someone needs to actually step up and take the position. Going into fall camp, the Bruins don't really have anyone who has staked claim to be in the starting lineup alongside those three and Sean Sheller, and there are plenty of options. Connor Bradford or maybe even a freshman could slide in at tackle, Wade Yandall or Albert Cid in at guard, or maybe Greg Capella is good enough at center to push Maiava to guard. But someone is going to have to convince the staff he's the answer.

* While you can't accurately predict line success early in fall camp, you can get a pretty good feel for the passing game, and that's priority No. 1 for UCLA, as well. Rick Neuheisel said that Kevin Prince would get first-team reps at the beginning of camp, and the longer he keeps those first-team reps, the better for him. At this point, it looks like Richard Brehaut is going to actually have to press the issue to nose his way into the starting nod, as in, the coaches aren't expecting Prince to fail, so Brehaut is going to have to prove incontrovertibly that he should be starting.

* What everyone needs to see out of the UCLA passing game this year is timing, and that will be evident from the beginning. If anything, that's what seemed to doom the Bruins so often. Players zigged when they should've zagged, or the offensive line let in a flood, or the quarterback paused for half a second. Another year in the Pistol offense should help all parties, especially the coaching staff, which needs to better mask the deficiencies with creative play-calling.

* With timing comes swagger, and UCLA definitely lacked that last season. Mike Johnson seems to instantly have instilled a little into the offense with his act-as-if mentality, and it's going to be very interesting to see how the players respond. Will they cower or will they rise up? UCLA has talent at the wide receiver position, but it is unrefined talent, and that goes from top-to-bottom. I truly believe that one good fall camp can propel one of the guys into a prominent role, but like that one offensive lineman who has to seize the day, so too does a wideout.

* The only other real positional battle, at outside linebacker, should be decided pretty quickly. Clark Lea is a sound fundamentals coach, and he needs to see that reflected in the linebacker play. With an often ailing but experienced fifth-year middle linebacker in Reggie Carter and another experienced outside linebacker in Kyle Bosworth, the Bruins could afford to use Akeem Ayers as a wild card in 2009, knowing that only one of the linebackers would be out of position, hunting the ball. That's great, when you have the discipline to make up for it at the other positions. Last year, we saw what happens when your wild card is your first option - disarray. Now with steady Sean Westgate and the ever-improving Patrick Larimore, this third linebacker spot could go in a number of ways, as it did in '09.

* Much like how Ayers was allowed more freedom in 2009, so was Rahim Moore. With Alterraun Verner at cornerback locking down his man, Moore could take more risks, and they paid off, with 10 interceptions. Last season, especially early on, when Sheldon Price and Aaron Hester faltered, the safeties paid the price. Price and Hester both looked solid over the summer, both in play and in size, as both are filling out nicely. Price in particular has made some noticeable strength gains. I'm looking to see if they translate that increase in size to an increase in physicality as both are looking to be nastier this season. Maybe Joe Tresey will actually let them bump-and-run a little? Neither Tony Dye nor Dietrich Riley play like Moore, too - they both play more deliberately - and the unit as a whole should be much more sound.

* Lastly, the kicking game is going to have to show a whole lot better than it did in spring. Perhaps it was nerves, but Kip Smith did little to stake claim to the position, and he could get a real push from Jeff Locke and even Joe Roberts this fall.