Q: Based on what you’ve observed way back in spring practice through fall camp to today, seven games into the season, would you characterize the 2014 Bruins as a squad that was seemingly overrated on the basis of talent? Or were the general preseason perceptions of UCLA’s talent not that far off base and this has been a case of consistent poor execution on game days?
A: I think there was a solid argument for UCLA being a playoff contender, but even that was optimistic. Once people started picking them to win the national title, that’s when the hype really got out of control. The media wanted to look for a trendy dark-horse pick; coming off a 10-win season bearing star power in Brett Hundley and Myles Jack, the Bruins fit the bill.
This team should be better than it has been based on talent alone, but that wouldn’t necessarily be enough for it to win the Pac-12 title. It’s hard to knock off Oregon when they have a guy like Marcus Mariota who almost never makes mistakes. Still, a UCLA team functioning closer to its ceiling should have been able to beat Utah at home, and should have come out and trucked Cal in the second half. This hypothetical team might still fall short in the Pac-12 title game, but just getting there at all shouldn’t be as difficult a road as it now looks.
Q: Do you think Brett Hundley would ever consider coming back again for next season? Or is he pretty much done after this season?
A: Gone. He was emphatic that this would be his last season at UCLA even right after he announced his decision to stay back in January, and nothing has changed since. Assuming he continues playing at the same level he has so far, I can’t imagine him staying.
Q: Do you think a two-loss Pac 12 champion can make the four-team playoff? Looks like every team (except FSU) will have at least one or two losses by the time its all said and done. And yes, I’m talking about UCLA — if they can win out and finally get their act together (and Utah loses twice and ASU once).
A: In the unlikely scenario that UCLA runs the table and wins the Pac-12 Championship, I think the conference would still get shut out of the playoff. Oregon would need to win out to ensure that title-game win looks good, which is no guarantee; the Ducks could very well win the division with two losses. And given that four SEC West teams are currently in the AP poll’s top five, I doubt the Pac-12 would get the benefit of the doubt.
But still working within this hypothetical, the two-loss Bruins would then have a very good shot at landing in one of the other at-large selection committee bowls, such as the Cotton Bowl or the Fiesta Bowl.
Q: With Conor McDermott showing he can protect Hundley’s blindside, and guard Alex Redmond expected back this week, do you think UCLA finally has the right “OL elixir” to limit sacks and give Hundley more time to execute his style of play? Follow-up: How much of Hundley’s sloppy play (fumbles, INTs) can be placed on the patchwork OL we were working with the past few games?
A: The offensive line had arguably its best game yet this season, even considering that Cal’s already lackluster pass rush was without its best player in defensive end Brennan Scarlett.
Q: Are we worse on defense because of the personnel, or was Spanos that important to the performance of the group?
A: The defense is clearly underperforming considering the amount of NFL talent in the front seven. And I think given this same crop of players, Spanos would probably be doing better. That said, I think the significant losses of Anthony Barr, Cassius Marsh and Jordan Zumwalt (and even Keenan Graham, who was not drafted) was overlooked this offseason.
Q: What’s the latest update on Paul Perkins? Will he be able to play next week against Colorado?
A: He practiced today and should be fine.
Q: Do you think UCLA will be better or worse next year? Would Josh Rosen immediately start or redshirt a year?
A: For the purpose of this scenario, let’s assume that UCLA finishes the regular season at 8-4. The Bruins could finish higher, but that seems like a reasonable floor given their resume so far. It’s still early, but I’d bet on Rosen winning the competition — if not by spring then at least by the season opener.
A team that goes from a three-year starter to a true freshman is going to suffer on offense, even if almost every other significant player returns and improves. But given that UCLA won’t have to play Oregon or Washington in the regular season next fall, the final record in 2015 might not be too far off.
Q: Will losing to Oregon three times define Hundley’s legacy more than (potentially) beating USC three times?
A: No. Oregon was basically a top-10 team through that entire stretch, and Hundley helped end a streak that saw USC win 12 of 13 rivalry games.
Q: Do you think that Marcus Rios’ interception was a season-saving catch for UCLA? Would that explain Coach Mora giving him the first-ever game ball or does Coach have another explanation?
A: The main impetus behind giving Rios the game ball clearly had to do with the fact that he nearly died from a rare fungal infection less than two years ago.
I’m not sure how you define season-saving. It definitely saved the game against Cal, which in turn kept the team from falling to 4-3 (and 1-3 in the Pac-12). That in turn could have sent the season spiraling out of control. But that pick alone also isn’t going to suddenly snap the entire team into erasing all the mistakes that have plagued it in recent weeks.