Spring practice day 9: Offense continues upward trend

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Running back Soso Jamabo during UCLA spring practice. Photo by Brad Graverson // Daily Breeze

Running back Soso Jamabo during UCLA spring practice. Photo by Brad Graverson // Daily Breeze

A notebook is coming here about the offense’s overall improvement this week, the growing injury list and Stephen Johnson III’s first few days at corner.

Here are video interviews with Jim Mora, Tom Bradley, Austin Roberts and Adarius Pickett.

Here are notes/observations for the day:

— The offense had another winning day as Darren Andrews and Kenny Walker teamed up to make the final play to send the defense running after practice. It’s the second straight day that the offense has won. There is more in the notebook to come here .

— While the offense won the day’s competition, the group was not without its false starts. There were at least four to six false starts.

— Andrews had a good practice, running great routes to shake defenders and catching a jump ball over Pickett from Josh Rosen during seven-on-sevens.

— Walker had some good moments, including a devastating move he put on Octavius Spencer during one-on-ones that literally left Spencer on the ground. Walker later beat Johnson in one-on-ones, but dropped the pass. He ended practice on a high note with a great block during the team period.

— The plan for Johnson at cornerback was originally to just put him in for one-on-ones, but because of recent injuries, the coaching staff left him on defense during some team periods. It was a mixed bag and Mora said he’ll have to look at him more at that position.

On the defensive back injury front, Nate Meadors returned to the field Wednesday.

— For the most part, the offensive line had a good day in pass protection. The running game wasn’t as good today though, even in the nine-on-seven period the running backs usually dominate.

— Ishmael Adams made more great plays, burning defenders with his speed. He took a screen pass and accelerated up the sideline untouched for a 25-yard touchdown pass.

— Offensive lineman Josh Wariboko-Alali had an exceptionally difficult day in both one-on-ones and team periods. He got beat by Nick Terry twice in a row, first on a swim then on a bull rush, then lost two of three reps to walk-on Chase Parker. Wariboko-Alali won the last rep against Parker, but was told by offensive line coach Adrian Klemm after one-on-ones that he “needed to change his body language.”

— Kenny Young stood out on defense during the seven-on-seven period, blowing up Nate Starks on a check-down pass and breaking up another pass near the sideline on the next play.

— Theo Howard made some good seven-on-seven plays, burning Denzel Fisher then winning a jump ball in consecutive snaps.

— JJ Molson had a rough day, missing three of his four field goals at the end of practice. Andrew Strauch, on the other hand, was a perfect 4-for-4.