It didn’t matter that this was just an early-season practice session or that UCLA’s third offensive line was playing against its third defensive line.
Before the final snap on Saturday morning, with the contest between the opposing teams tied, the defensive players watching from the sidelines jumped and cheered in anticipation.
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Cheered on by his teammates, rookie linebacker Ty Lee stormed into the backfield and started the play, whereupon the rest of the defense gathered around him in celebration.
Final score: Defense 52, Attack 51.
A few minutes later, tight end Moliki Matavao revealed the team’s ultimate motivation.
“We want to reach the Big Ten championship,” Matavao said. “That’s our goal.”
That would be quite a story for a team that hasn’t won a conference championship since coach DeShaun Foster’s first season in 1998. Can the Bruins do it? Here are five takeaways from Saturday’s practice, which was open to fans and media:
Ethan Garbers looks like a first-class quarterback
If there was one player who seemed focused in every game, it was Garbers.
The redshirt senior made more big throws than the rest of the quarterback group combined and, along with Matavao, Titus Mokiao-Atimalala, Michael Churich and Rico Flores Jr., scored touchdowns that belong in every highlight video.
“Ethan is the one,” Foster said. “He’s the best QB. You watch him, he’s doing pretty well right now. His leadership has really grown and he’s taking on the role of QB1 right now.”
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Matavao said Garbers embodied the team’s “Do More” mantra by leading summer workouts and making sure everyone knew the plays and perfected the timing of their routes.
“Ethan is making sure that we know that we need to do more and more – meeting in the meeting rooms and all that,” Matavao said, “so I think that’s kind of a testament to what an offensive we are right now.”
The offensive line survived a small but scary injury
Visions of a 2-10 season may have been in the minds of some fans when right tackle Garrett DiGiorgio sustained a left ankle injury and had to be taken to a hospital.
DiGiorgio later showed up with a bandaged ankle and ran a few sprints to make sure he was OK. For the rest of the practice, DiGiorgio was replaced by redshirt sophomore Niki Prongos.
“I know if that had been a game,” Foster said, “Garrett probably would have come back, but it was good to get these young guys some reps.”
Redshirt sophomore center Sam Yoon also played a significant number of snaps, as presumed starter Josh Carlin was out during team practice for unspecified reasons.
At the start of practice, it looked like the first line of attack consisted of DiGiorgio at right tackle, Alani Makihele at right guard, Carlin at center, Spencer Holstege at left guard and Reuben Unije at left tackle.
The pass rush is still a big issue
Life after Laiatu Latu won’t be easy for UCLA’s defense, with the Bruins trying to find the best way to pressure the quarterback and having to juggle at edge rusher.
Right now, Jacob Busic and Devin Aupiu appear to be the front-line edge rushers, backed up by Drew Tuazama and Grant Buckey. Tuazama, who transferred from South Carolina, made one of the best plays of practice when he penetrated the backfield to force backup quarterback Justyn Martin into a throw that fell incomplete.
While coaches have long talked about using linebacker Oluwafemi Oladejo in a hybrid role that also allows him to pressure the quarterback, it was linebacker Kain Medrano who filled that role on Saturday. Interestingly, projected edge rusher Collins Acheampong played mostly on the interior defensive line.
Foster said Cherif Seye, a highly touted edge rusher from Florida A&M, continues to get in shape before returning to full practice.
TJ Harden is back
After appearing slow and uncertain during spring workouts, UCLA’s presumed best running back showed more of his usual performance in the first two weeks of fall camp.
His progress was due in part to his weight loss, Foster said, and in part to learning the playbook of new offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy.
“He seems more explosive because he knows the plays a little bit better, you know what I mean?” Foster said. “When you think and go, it’s kind of different and kind of harder. So I think he’s a little more comfortable on offense.”
Keegan Jones, who pushed Harden into the starting lineup in the spring, also made some nice plays. Anthony Frias II, a transfer from Kansas State, didn’t make much of an impression in his few appearances. The Bruins are still waiting for Jalen Berger, a transfer from Michigan State, to get into shape before making his team debut.
The interior defensive line looks Big Ten-ready
Where is the beef?
Look at defensive tackles Jay Toia and Keanu Williams. While Toia, at 6’4″ and 300 pounds, is FDA-certified and can eat whatever he wants, Williams, at 6’5″ and 300 pounds, doesn’t skip many meals either.
These guys will make anyone think twice about running down the middle because they have the size and skill to stop even the most powerful tailbacks in the Big Ten.
Substitutes Siale Taupaki and Sitiveni Havili Kaufusi also regularly caused unrest during training, leading the Bruins to believe that their opponents will not be able to do much this season.
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This story originally appeared in the Los Angeles Times.
