While a new era always generates a certain level of excitement, UCLA football players displayed enough promise this spring to daydream about an immediate resurgence.
Already a big-time quarterback, Nico Iamaleava appeared capable of elevating his game. Explosive edge rusher Sahir West looked like the sort of defensive playmaker the team lacked last season. Wide receiver Brian Rowe Jr. is going to show up on a lot of sports highlight segments.
With new coach Bob Chesney setting a relentlessly energetic tone by covering more ground than the lawnmowers that roam the practice field, the Bruins resembled a team on the verge of a breakthrough.
Could it be as startling a turnaround as Indiana enjoyed under Curt Cignetti?
Answers will start to trickle in beginning with the season opener at California on Sept. 5.
Here are five things we learned from UCLA’s spring practices:
Chesney should snag a deal as the pitchman for an energy drink.
His boundless vitality and hands-on approach was on full display throughout the spring. Sprinting from one drill to another, Chesney was involved in the most minute details of each practice, even showing backup kicker Mateo Orosco the proper form on field goals.
Chesney’s longtime coaching colleagues said his approach hasn’t changed from his days in the New England Football Conference and the Patriot League, when he was winning conference titles at college football’s lowest levels.
If all goes as planned, it will lead to similar results in the Big Ten.
A year after he watched the spring game in sunglasses and a designer T-shirt, Iamaleava was running the offense.
The Tennessee transfer has fully settled in, accelerating his mastery of a new scheme under offensive coordinator Dean Kennedy. That expertise has included an increased understanding of the run game as part of Iamaleava’s yearning to fully grasp every element of the offense.
Perhaps it was no surprise that the deeper Iamaleava went into the spring, the better he played.
“It was just good to get a whole spring with the guys, and get familiar with all the transfers that came in, and you know, all the transfers get familiar with me,” Iamaleava said. “Coach Ches has been a great addition to our team, and I really love the direction we’re heading towards.”
As a sign of how productive this offense could be, Iamaleava said Kennedy had increased the goal for explosive plays – runs that generate at least 12 yards and passes that generate at least 16 yards – from nine to 15 per game.
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UCLA’s defense showed an ability to be disruptive beyond edge rushers West and Scott Taylor.
Linebacker Sammy Omosigho made enough plays to announce himself as an immediate All-Big Ten candidate in his first season as a Bruin after transferring from Oklahoma.
Defensive lineman Lucien Holland was one of the stars of the spring game with a sack and a forced fumble.
Defensive back Osiris Gilbert delivered big hits and regularly broke up passes while providing tight coverage.
This didn’t look like the defense that put up way too little resistance last season while giving up an average of 33.4 points per game.
A day didn’t go by without Rowe generating at least one did-you-see-that moment.
The transfer from South Carolina didn’t disappoint in the spring game, making a one-handed catch. He combines sticky hands with tremendous hops and an ability to contort his body as needed to bring in the ball.
“I think he opens up a lot of stuff, man, just him having the big catch radius he does,” Iamaleava said, adding that he didn’t think defenses would dare try to use single coverage against him.
Several players solidified themselves as potential contributors.
Running back Troy Leigber stood out for his toughness and durability, both of which were on display in the spring game when he broke a few tackles during a hard-charging 17-yard run.
Wide receiver Shane Rosenthal was a favorite target of the quarterbacks, routinely hauling in big catches.
Defensive tackle Amier Washington showed he could be a force in the middle, whether he was tipping passes or stuffing the run.
Orosco provided starting kicker Mateen Bhaghani with a counterpart who could push him in practices. The backup nailed a 57-yard field goal in the spring game before missing a 20-yarder, showing that consistency remains an issue.
