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UCLA Football: 3 Keys to Spring Practice

By Evan Lovett

Nov 3, 2016; Boulder, CO, USA; UCLA Bruins head coach Jim Mora before the game against the Colorado Buffaloes at Folsom Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 3, 2016; Boulder, CO, USA; UCLA Bruins head coach Jim Mora before the game against the Colorado Buffaloes at Folsom Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 8, 2016; Tempe, AZ, USA; UCLA Bruins quarterback Josh Rosen (3) against the Arizona State Sun Devils at Sun Devil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 8, 2016; Tempe, AZ, USA; UCLA Bruins quarterback Josh Rosen (3) against the Arizona State Sun Devils at Sun Devil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /

The Return Of Rosen

Typically, a 138.9 passer rating is indicative of a successful quarterback. In Rosen’s six games in 2016, he threw for 1,915 yards with a 59.3 completion percentage. With five interceptions and 10 touchdowns, however, the numbers were far from dominant and well off of the projections heaped on him during recruiting and his freshman season.

Heading into his third season, Rosen now stands with an 11-8 record in his UCLA career. With his shoulder recovering and nearly at full health, he should be poised to claim his status as one of the best quarterbacks in the nation.

The reality is that Rosen was performing solidly, but not spectacularly when healthy last year. Now with his third offensive coordinator in three years, he will be learning an entirely new offense.

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Jedd Fisch will look to help guide Rosen in an NFL-style offense which is most suitable to his skill set. Rosen will have Soso Jamabo in the backfield to offset the defenses. It is worth noting that Jamabo was a five-star running back out of high school.

Also returning are Nate Starks and Bolu Olorunfunmi, who combined for more than 500 yards. Even more importantly, Darren Andrews and Jordan Lasley, who combined for nine receiving touchdowns and 96 receptions.

The weapons will be on the field at the skill positions, but more worrisome for Rosen is the offensive line.

An already weak group – 24 sacks allowed last season – is losing its stalwart Connor McDermott and its coach, Adrian Klemm, to the draft and dismissal. Mora only nabbed three linemen in the new recruiting class, so this could be the key to Rosen’s improvement, since a strong line is a core to a good team.

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