Heading into fall practice, the
prospects on the defensive side of the ball perhaps look the best they have in
years.
The Bruins only replace four
starters, and have some potential star talent that will be stepping into those
three positions to replace those starters. But not only is the defense talented,
it’s deep, particularly at defensive line and in the defensive backfield.
Perhaps one of the biggest
challenges will be the new system instituted under new defensive coordinator
Larry Kerr. Not that Kerr’s scheme is difficult to understand, but there is
always a learning curve when any new system is implemented. In spring practice, however, the
veterans said they had no problem picking up on Kerr’s system and, by the end of
spring, were operating on instinct and not thinking too much.
As much of a worry as a new system
is, it’s also exciting for Bruin fans to think of the possibilities. Kerr has been considered one of the best
defensive coordinators in the west for a while. It’s always been thought that
Kerr did so much at Colorado
State with less, so it’s intriguing
to think what he can do with the level of talent he has at his disposal at UCLA.
Also exciting is that, every year,
there are players that step up during fall practice and show that they deserve
playing time. Here’s a check list
of what to watch for heading into fall camp at Cal State Fullerton on
Saturday.
DEFENSIVE
LINE
UCLA’s d-line is senior laden, to
say the least. The squad returns six seniors, which makes you shiver when you
think of how potentially thin the line will be in the next couple of years. But for now, for this year, it provides
the team with some great, seasoned talent.
Projected Starters:
DE – Mat Ball (SR, 6-6,
285)
DT – Rod Leisle (SR, 6-3,
294)
DT – Ryan Boschetti (SR, 6-4,
295)
DE – Dave Ball (SR, 6-6,
275)
Dave Ball had a very good junior
year, where he led the team in sacks with 11, and was named to the all Pac-10
second team. It’s believed that Larry Kerr’s scheme will boost Ball’s
effectiveness, allowing him as the rush end to line up over the weak side
offensive tackle. Rodney Leisle
missed much of the 2002 season with a broken foot, which, now looking at it from
today’s perspective, can only be thought of as a good thing for UCLA football.
Missing the season motivated Leisle to return for his senior year and not enter
into the NFL draft. While he’s been very good in the past, healthy now, it’s
Leisle’s chance to step up into the realm of star. Boschetti was a back-up at defensive
tackle last season, but looked just as good as the players he supported. In Kerr’s system he’s considered the
nose tackle. He had a very good spring, where he impressed the coaches with his
quickness. Mat Ball steps up into
the starting strongside defensive end spot, and he’s truly the perfect candidate
for the job in Kerr’s system – big, strong and able to hold down the end spot.
The depth at defensive line looks
strong, if you combine the talent returning along with plugging in some of the
newcomers to the team. Asi Faoa
(SR, 6-4, 274) has been a workout warrior for the four years he’s been in the
program – meaning, he looks fantastic in practice in drills, but it has yet to
really translate to consistent performance on the field. Faoa will back up Dave
Ball at the rush end position, but his size and quickness make him capable of
playing any of the d-line positions in a pinch. C.J. Niusulu (SO, 6-2, 295) showed some
potential greatness at defensive tackle as a true freshman last year. Faoa and Niusulu will be the first two
off the bench. David Tautofi (SR, 6-2, 265), also got some reps in spring
practice, being tested at both strongside end and tackle.
One of the most interesting aspects
of fall practice will be watching which young defensive linemen emerge
potentially as viable playing options and the heirs to the starting positions,
given how potentially young and thin the d-line should in the next couple of
years. Kevin Harbour (R-FR, 6-4,
251), is thought to be one of the candidates to get some solid back-up minutes
this year, looking good on the scout team last season before spraining a knee
and sitting out most of spring practice.
Getting a good look at Harbour is a top priority. Thomas Patton (R-FR, 6-3, 265)
made improvements in spring practice at defensive tackle, and the word is that
he has continued to improve physically over the summer.
The two true freshmen that many
eyes will be watching are defensive end Junior Lemau’u (FR, 6-5, 240) and
defensive tackle Kevin Brown (FR, 6-2, 285). Lemau’u looked very good in the recent
Shrine game, with not only good strength but very good quickness and
balance. There is room for him on
the two-deep this season, and the coaches might want him to play as a true
freshman to get him some experience and prepare him for next year. Brown comes to UCLA as an option at
defensive tackle, as well as possible at offensive guard. The word right now is that he’s slated
for defensive tackle, and he definitely has a chance to make the two-deep,
competing with Patton for the other defensive tackle back-up position next to
Niusulu.
Bruce Davis (FR, 6-4, 220) and
Aaron Whittington (FR, 6-3, 210) are called defensive ends but could end up as
linebackers. Both look physically
more like linebackers, but both are relatives of former NFL players who got
quite a bit bigger in college. It’s
almost certain both will redshirt and then we’ll see which way their body
develops. Fall practice will be
about checking out these two along with the other true freshman defensive
lineman, Noah Sutherland (FR, 6-5, 250) who will almost certainly redshirt also.
LINEBACKER
UCLA’s backer unit looks to be very
good, replacing one departing standout starter with potentially another one,
while two remain.
Projected Starters:
SSLB –
Brandon Chillar (SR, 6-3,
230)
MLB – Justin London (SO, 6-1,
240)
WLB – Spencer Havner (SO, 6-4,
233)
Chillar has proven to be a warrior
and the leader of the linebackers, and one of the leaders of the defense. He had a very good junior year, looked
very good in spring practice, and the word is that he’s continued to improve
over the off-season. Havner is a star in the making, coming off a big redshirt
freshman year where he had 96 tackles and was a first-team Freshman
All-American.
London will try to replace
departed Marcus Reese, taking over the starting middle linebacker position in
spring practice.
London showed great instincts
last year in practice and in limited game minutes. The coaches weren’t expecting
him to do much in spring, coming off surgery, but he stepped up and took over
the starting middle linebacker position.
Spring and the off-season have
given fans even more to be excited about in terms of linebackers. Wesley Walker
(SO, 6-2, 228) got playing time last season, looked very good in spring practice
and has continued to develop physically over the off-season, according to many.
He’ll provide solid backup minutes
behind Chillar. He received quite a few minutes playing the weakside position
behind Havner in spring, too. Also,
keep an eye this fall on another who is slotted at the strongside backer
position, Xavier Burgess (R-FR, 6-2, 240). Burgess showed in spring that he had
changed physically since last fall. The word is that he has continued to
develop, and looked great in the off-season workouts – quick and
instinctive. Incoming freshman
William Snead (FR, 6-4, 215) is also on the depth chart at strongside
linebacker, and it will be interesting to get a first look at Snead.
Behind
London at the middle linebacker spot
is veteran Dennis Link (SR, 6-2, 218), who could also get backup minutes at the
weakside position. Tim Warfield
(JR, 6-2, 232) could supplant Link on the depth chart at middle, though, having
a good spring switching positions from strongside.
At weakside, Patrick Pierre-Louis
(JR, 6-0, 218) will try to overcome a year of injuries to compete. When he was
healthy during last fall’s practice, he had some moments. A walk-on that has really proven himself
to the coaches is Ben Lorier (JR, 5-11, 218). Lorier, with his work ethic and
effort, has found a place listed on the depth chart at weakside linebackers,
which is usually limited to scholarship players. If you remember, he was a member of the
winning mat drill squad last winter that then had the honor of wearing the Bruin
Club jerseys during spring practice.
DEFENSIVE
BACKS
Losing Ricky Manning, an All Pac-10
player, will be tough to overcome. But the fact that UCLA returns its other
three starters in the defensive secondary, and projecting how much better
they’ll be a year more experienced easily makes up for the loss of Manning.
Projected Starters:
LC – Matt Clark (JR, 5-9,
170)
SS – Jarrad Page (SO, 6-1,
210)
FS – Ben Emanuel (JR, 6-3,
205)
RC – Matt Ware (JR, 6-3,
213)
There are a number of potential
stars in this group, but leading the pack, based on his performance last season,
is Ben Emanuel. Emanuel had a stellar sophomore year, with 58 tackles and four
interceptions. At times, he looked dominating. The other “veteran,” even though he’s
only going into his third season at UCLA, is Matt Ware. Ware, now settled at the
corner position, after being switched back and forth from safety, is thought by
the coaching staff to be on the verge of a truly breakout year. Page, actually, could have the most
potential among the three. Starting as a true freshman, he struggled at times
last season, but then toward the end of the season, was able to play more
instinctually. He had an excellent spring, having gotten even bigger. The three of them – Emanuel at 6-3, Ware
at 6-3 and Page at 6-1 – make for a very big and long secondary, able to cover a
lot of ground with their running ability and length. Stepping into some big shoes at the
other corner position is Clark, who held on to the starting position after some
strong competition in spring. He has good experience, coming off two years of
solid back-up playing time.
The depth is also impressive. The Bruins have a good stable of young
and promising cornerbacks who all had good springs. Marcus Cassel (SO, 6-0, 180) might be
the most athletic and have the most potential, and is coming off an impressive
spring. Jebiaus Brown (R-FR, 6-0,
184) is a player the coaches like, with good size and quickness. He was injured
last season but, again, had an impressive spring practice. Joe Garcia (R-FR, 6-0, 188) stepped up
in spring and showed he’ll be competing for time down the line. And probably the guy who had the most
impressive spring given his former prospects was Keith Short (SR, 5-10,
185). Being a great special teams
player since he arrived at UCLA, Short then had a terrific spring, where he
showed that he was a viable option at corner. Coming in are Trey Brown (FR,
5-11, 185) and Mil’Von James (FR, 5-11, 185), both of whom are expected to
redshirt.
At safety, Glenn Ohaeri (SO, 5-9,
196) is the first off the bench; he’ll see time as the nickel back, which UCLA
could use quite often this year.
Ohaeri looked strong last year for a true freshman and in spring. Another pleasant surprise was the
performance of Eric McNeal (R-FR, 6-2, 205) in spring. McNeal got bigger,
stronger and the light turned on in April. He’s expected to push Page. Kevin Brant (SR, 6-0, 195) will backup
Emanuel at free. Watch for possibly newcomer Dennis Keyes (FR, 6-2, 190), a
great all-around athlete, to add his name to the depth chart at safety, possibly
being groomed at the free safety position behind Emanuel. Chris Horton (FR, 6-2, 190) was a big
hitter in high school in
Louisiana, but with the depth is
expected to redshirt.