*Videos interviews with UCLA coach Jim Mora, DB’s coach Demetrice Martin, S Dalton Hilliard, S Anthony Jefferson and C Jake Brendel.
**The energy was a rather low at the start of practice despite the team not wearing any pads. It was so low that Mora made them re-start their stretching. Hilliard after practice took it upon himself to talk with the seniors, stressing that it’s the seniors’ job to raise the energy and not force Mora to re-start practice.
***RB Damien Thigpen sat out practice because of some tightness. Mora wouldn’t say if it was on the hamstring that’s affected him in the past, but with his injury history it only made sense to sit out him out in the morning. He’ll be back for the evening practice. WR Devin Lucien (minor concussion), OL Michael Padovese (heat), OL Simon Goines (heat) and OL Will Oliver (heat) roamed the sideline but did not take part in practice. OL Tre Hale left practice early while he continues to recover from heat exhaustion. OL Alberto Cid and OL Jeff Baca are still out. The offensive line did get a boost with the return of Alexandru Ceachir, who took part in the linemen rotation. He looked a little rusty, but having him back in itself is a big deal for a depleted line. WR Jerry Rice Jr. was on the bike again. I know yesterday I said he wasn’t limping anywhere near he did the first day back from a mild left ankle sprain, but today he limped a little more than usual. Not sure what happened there. OL Torian White will undergo a procedure for a “heart rhythm problem”. We were told that a “heart murmur” is not the the correct medical term. No word on when exactly he’ll have the surgery, but Mora has said the surgery will be scheduled before the Rice game and it will not affect his return for the sesason opener on Aug. 30 in Houston.
****WR Javon Williams and TE Joseph Fauria continue to have an impressive string of performances that spans several days. Williams caught a touchdown pass and Fauria continues to expolit the secondary with his size. LB Keenan Graham saw some time at fullback and even caught a touchdown pass from Richard Brehaut. RB Steven Manfro also had a nice showing. He caught a swing pass from Brehaut and sprinted down the sideline for a touchdown.
******The team practiced emergency field goal situations, meaning P Jeff Locke threw a pass that was incomplete. After, kickers Ka’imi Fairbairn and Justin Moreno practiced field goals. Fairbairn went 3 for 4 and Moreno went 1 for 3. Fairbairn converted from 21, 30 and 35. He missed from 30 on the final attempt. Moreno missed from 21, went wide right from 35 and converted from 30.
*******Practice today is at 5:30 p.m. Thursday’s final practice from Cal State San Bernardino was moved from 8:30 a.m. to 8 a.m. Westwood, here we come.