Hundley ready to call the shots at UCLA spring football game

In Saturday’s spring game, Brett Hundley will give up the football along with the extra live-game reps. He’ll play sparingly, but he won’t object.

After all, he’ll have another job to do.

The redshirt junior quarterback will man the play sheet as an “offensive coordinator” of sorts for a good part of the Spring Showcase, play-calling duties in tow. With the Bruin football team split into two squads – blue and white – Hundley will start in the game, but with the knowledge that a place on the sidelines awaits him soon thereafter.

“We’re going to have (Hundley) call some plays and … just get a rhythm going,” said coach Jim Mora. “I think that’ll be really good for his development.”

Together, Hundley and offensive coordinator Noel Mazzone have built a game plan, however simple or sophisticated, for Saturday’s game.

After Hundley’s exit, redshirt sophomore Jerry Neuheisel will stand in his place, taking the call from Hundley himself. Like many, Neuheisel too is excited for the Bruins’ starting quarterback’s latest endeavor.

“I know … (Brett’s) my offensive coordinator,” Neuheisel said, chuckling. “So I expect the blue team to put on a show offensively.”

The laughs didn’t stop there for Neuheisel; the widely known comedian made sure to throw in a few jokes here and there.

“We have a game plan together. It’s flawless,” he said. “It’s probably one of the best game plans I’ve ever seen assembled.”

A hint of sarcasm? Undeniably.

However, expect Hundley to throw in some clever wrinkles here and there; he’s got the know-how more so than ever this spring.

Over the offseason, Hundley poured hours on hours into the film room, knitting together an advancing understanding of the game. Those improvements – specifically in reading defenses – were one of the first few topics he discussed post-practice on spring football’s opening day.

Not much later, Mora, too, was talking about it, praise flowing for Hundley’s dedication.

In reward for his time, Hundley said he’s more prepared to call plays this year than last year.

“You’re always trying to be one step ahead of the game, and I’m understanding all of that,” he said. “A lot of it just comes in from knowing what you’re doing and understanding it.”

Spring game notes

The Bruins’ spring game has split the team into two squads. The pairings have divided the first-team offense with the second-team defense (blue team), and conversely, the first-team defense with the second-team offense (white team).

The blue team will be coached by offensive coordinator Noel Mazzone, while the white team will be led by defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich.

Over the past week, Mora has stressed that the game will be as close to live-action as can be. The only major difference between the affair and an actual game will be that the kick and punt returns will not be live. That is, returners must fair-catch the ball. Quarterbacks, as well, will not be live, instead dressed in their typical red jerseys, protected from contact.

As for Mora, he too won’t be “live.”

“I’m just going to kind of help the officials blow the whistle,” he said.