UCLA starting to grasp new offense, playbook and all

With one play to decide the wier of Wednesday’s practice, wide receivers Darren Andrews and Key Walker teamed up to win the day for the offense.

Andrews took a screen pass from quarterback Josh Rosen and burst upfield. Walker threw an exceptional block to free a lane for Andrews to run into the end zone.

Then a few moments later, it was the defense that was ruing.

Although the offense struggled at the begiing of camp, the unit is showing improvement during the third week. In daily competitions, when the loser has to run a lap around the field, the defense dominated for the first two weeks, but the offense started the third week of camp with two consecutive wiing days.

The improvement comes as the team is getting more comfortable with its new schemes.

“You have to embrace the process,” tight end Austin Roberts said. “You know it’s going to be tough in the begiing ... but a day like today is great to see that all of our hard work is paying off.”

Head coach Jim Mora said most of the offense’s new concepts have been installed already, and the team is just tinkering with different presnap formations and motions. On Monday, the coaching staff installed one new passing concept and did one more Wednesday.

The added emphasis on physicality in offensive coordinator Keedy Polamalu’s system brought in a tight end and a fullback. Rosen goes under center more often and the battle on the line of scrimmage becomes increasingly more important.

Mora was adamant that changes were nothing more than normal offseason tweaking, but the offense apparently changed enough to require an actual playbook.

“We have a playbook now, so that’s a thing,” Mora said. “When you’re ruing the spread, a lot of it is hitting it on the go, not as much playbook, a lot of coming out and feeling things out. The things that we’re doing now, there’s a little more specific, a little more detailed at times.”

Injuries piling up

After battling injuries last season, the Bruins are singing the same unfortunate tune during spring. Freshman wide receiver Demetric Felton will undergo surgery on his shoulder, and freshmen linebackers Mique Juarez and Breland Brandt are out with concussions.

Mora was not sure if the surgery would limit Felton for the upcoming season.

Offensive lineman Tevita Halalilo suffered a setback in his ankle rehab and will require surgery.

Linebacker Josh Woods is still working back from a hamstring injury.

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Coerback Randall Goforth, who was been out of practice recently with a severe contusion above his knee, retued to one-on-one and individual drills Wednesday.

Stephen Johnson III dabbling at DB

An eye for an eye, a player for a player. When defensive backs coach Demetrice Martin conceded Ishmael Adams to the offense, he had an eye on wide receiver Stephen Johnson III as a potential replacement. With a rash of injuries to the defensive backs in spring practice, Martin got his man this week.

Johnson took reps at coerback Monday and Wednesday. On Wednesday, he put on a numberless defensive jersey during the team periods after taking a tu during one-on-ones and was the target of much of Martin’s coaching.

The deal is far from done though, as wide receivers coach Eric Yarber said Monday he will “do his dadest” to keep Johnson for himself.

“I have to watch him more, but he’s athletic and your goal is to always get your playmakers on the field,” Mora said. “So we’ll take a look at anybody anywhere.”