Weekly Q&A — 12/23/14 Answers

Q: Brett Hundley is a great QB, but he didn’t seem to progress substantially from last year to this year. With UCLA starting a new QB next year and with Josh Rosen enrolling early, do you think they need more help in the QB coaching department going forward?

A: Hundley has not developed as much as some people may have hoped through his three years at UCLA, but I still wonder a bit whether that’s due more to the coaching staff or to Hundley’s own shortcomings. There’s no doubting he has all the physical tools and is capable of “wow” moments; he might just need some more time before everything clicks, and if that happens in the NFL, I think it would be an indictment on the Bruins’ staff not being able to do more with him.

But Rosen does give the staff another chance to prove it can mold a new quarterback. I think they deserve a year to show they can.

Q: Pretend like Hundley was coming back next year (I know he’s not). Is there any question that UCLA would start the year ranked in the top five?

A: Under the “Hundley returns” hypothetical, UCLA would have a chance at being a preseason top-five team if it puts a beatdown on Kansas State in the Alamo Bowl — but even then, I wouldn’t put money on it. Voters feel burned after buying into what was supposed to be a playoff contender, and wouldn’t be likely to pick the Bruins that high again for the second year in a row.

Q: Who do you think will be a bigger star next year, Paul Perkins or Jordan Payton?

A: Perkins is a better bet just because he’s going to get more touches. UCLA’s offense has always used a lot of different receivers, and the new starting quarterback might not have as much chemistry with Payton as Hundley did this season. Perkins, on the other hand, is a near-lock for about 15 carries every time out.

Q: With all our running backs returning next year, and the promising likely new recruits. Do you believe Myles Jack’s role as a running back could diminish completely? (Maybe except goal line)

A: That seems likely. He only topped four carries twice this season, and went three games without any. I think UCLA should have gotten more creative with Myles Jack’s offensive package to make it more effective in those rare instances, but there isn’t a need for him to spot in the backfield. And with Eric Kendricks heading to the NFL, the Bruins will need Jack to grow into the defense’s leader.

Q: What’s the Zach Whitley deal? Any clue?

A: Mora didn’t give a reason, but Whitley’s absence would seem consistent with a disciplinary action. If it were injury-related, he would still be around practices even if he weren’t participating fully. That hasn’t been the case.

Q: Of all the new recruits so far, whom do you think will be most likely to redshirt?

A: Every starting defensive back returns except Anthony Jefferson, so a guy like three-star prospect Will Lockett would likely sit. The whole starting offensive line comes back too, so most of the new linemen will likely redshirt, especially guards such as Tevita Halalilo.

Q: Which uniforms will UCLA be wearing in the Alamo Bowl?

A: The Bruins are the designated home team and will take the east sideline, but will wear white jerseys while Kansas State wears purple.