* Not UCLA’s best practice today, but perhaps to be expected this late in spring and with that many players out. While doing a relatively decent job avoiding the long-term injury bug, the Bruins are certainly plagued by pulls and tweaks, and the rhythm and tempo of practice has changed.
* That being said, the defense definitely shined. The front seven was getting good push, and the coverage was almost flawless, with several interceptions, including some great anticipation. As we’ve come to know so well, it’s a bit of a zero-sum game, so if the defense does that well, that must mean the offense did that poorly.
* For the most part, it did. More dropped passes than I can remember in any one practice this spring, running backs getting jammed behind the line, quarterbacks simply off.
* UCLA got a boost today with the return of center Greg Capella (calf). He worked at second-team guard today and said that coaches want him ready for both. Mora said that guys like him are important as swing players.
* The offense and defense got in a rather heated exchange midway through practice and Mora responded even more heated, sending them to the sidelines to run.
“It’s unacceptable. that’s not who we’re going to be, not what we’re going to do. I’ve warned them, I’ve told them, a punch was thrown so we paid the consequences for it. I want this team to play with class and compsure at all times and in order to that way you have to practice that way. I understand that you get tired of pounding on the same guy over and over and over again and they try to get in each other’s mind and in each other’s grill, and incite each other. but part of being a discilpined football team is having the ability to know when to step back away from those situations. We weren’t able to do that today so I think they understand how serious I am about that.”
* Out of that, however, came a very important moment. As the players were running, several were struggling, and the staff was letting them have it. On the last couple gassers, a couple guys were really, really lagging, and Hundley took it upon himself to run with one, helping will him to finish. It was a big, big leadership moment.
* Inside linebacker Isaiah Bowens took a helmet to the right knee midway through practice and Mora said he’d need tests to determine the severity of the injury.
* Shaq Evans (groin), offensive guard Wade Yandall (head), running back Damien Thigpen (hamstring) and offensive tackle Torian White (hip) joined the growing cast of injured Bruins, all missing practice on Thursday.