UCLA offensive line works to curtail sacks
By Andrew Erickson
Aug. 26, 2013 9:58 p.m.
Though quarterback Brett Hundley’s been working on a new slide throughout fall camp, a stronger, older offensive line has been trying to keep him upright.
UCLA’s offensive line allowed 52 sacks last season, good for the third-highest sacks-per-game total in the entire FBS.
Coach Jim Mora admitted that, as with any college team, sacks will be allowed, but each one is a momentum-killer that can ruin even the most fluid of offensive drives.
“I think sacks just hurt your momentum in general, whether you’re huddling or you’re going on the ball,” Mora said. “It just takes your momentum away, and all of a sudden it puts you in unenviable positions.”
Hundley, now entering his redshirt sophomore season, is doing his part in preventing the devastating tackles for loss in continuing to develop a sixth-sense of sack dodging that requires tucking and running or throwing the ball away sooner and with more confidence. Still, an offensive line that will only start one first-year player as opposed to three, as was the case last year, should help keep Hundley’s feet underneath him.
“I think the improved Brett will get rid of the ball quicker, and he’ll run with it quicker,” Mora said. “I also think that we’ve got an offensive line that’s going to be much better than it was last year, especially early in the year. If we could cut our sacks in half, to 26, we’d all be happy about that.”
Helping to erase the line’s porous image this fall will be redshirt sophomore Torian White, who started all of last season at left tackle but has shifted to right tackle to open up the 2013 season.
Adding to an already muscular frame, White now has 290 lbs. of strength to power his 6-foot-5 body, an offseason transformation he credits primarily to winter strength and conditioning.
Throughout the spring and summer, White said he focused on footwork, hand position and other “little things” that help separate average tackles from proficient ones. He said much of the motivation that carried him through these exercises stemmed from a sort of contest with his former self.
“I just focused on beating myself from last year, that’s my mindset,” White said. “Now that I think about it, it’s just more competing against me. If I’m not beating myself, then I feel like I’m losing.”
In addition to taking a daily dose of fish oil and practicing his steps in his bedroom a few days before each game, measures he also took last year, White said he’s taking better care of his body and felt more prepared coming into UCLA’s 2013 fall camp. As he prepares for Nevada’s 4-3 defense this week, he said his goal is to play out every possible defensive scenario in his mind so that on game day, there are no surprises.
“The next couple days of practice I need to be in sync, work on my calls and work on communication,” he said. “My game is right now, these next couple days are my games, just so when I get to Saturday it’s like I’ve already been there.”
News and notes
- Freshman guard John Lopez, redshirt junior fullback Luke Gane, redshirt freshman inside linebacker Aaron Porter (concussion-like symptons), sophomore defensive end Ian Taubler (concussion-like symptoms) and sophomore defensive end Zach Vinci (hamstring) will miss Saturday’s game against Nevada.
- Freshman safety Michael Carlson underwent knee surgery, and will likewise be out on Saturday.
- Freshman cornerback Johnny Johnson will have shoulder surgery Tuesday and will use his redshirt this season.
- Senior outside linebacker Anthony Barr, who practiced Monday, will be “good to go” for Saturday, Mora said. Simon Goines was likewise left off of Mora’s injury report, indicating that the sophomore left tackle has been cleared to play in Saturday’s game after suffering a hyperextended knee in San Bernardino.
- Redshirt junior fullback Tre’ Hale, redshirt sophomore running back Melvin Emesibe, redshirt sophomore wide receiver Logan Sweet and senior running back Malcolm Jones have all been awarded one year scholarships, according to Mora, with one 2013 scholarship remaining up for grabs.
- In a depth chart released Monday night, redshirt junior running back Jordon James was listed as the starting running back for Nevada, with redshirt senior Darius Bell the starting Y receiver, “Devin Lucien or Jordan Payton” the starting X receiver, and senior defensive tackle Seali’i Epenesa listed as the starting defensive tackle.
Compiled by Andrew Erickson, Bruin Sports senior staff.
