Tempers flare at UCLA football practice

LOS ANGELES >> On their first day in pads, the UCLA football team had its first fight of training camp.

During the team’s daily 9-on-7 drill, safety Tahaan Goodman and linebacker Mique Juarez put a big hit on ruing back Jalen Starks. In the aftermath of the hit, defensive end Takkarist McKinley and wide receiver Alex Van Dyke got wrapped up in a brief shoving match during in which McKinley’s helmet came off. The incident fizzled out and the players returned to their respective sidelines after other teammates broke up the scrum.

The Bruins have yet to put on their full pads, opting only for shells and shorts Wednesday, but the coaches continue to preach physicality and competitiveness while remaining safe.

“I think we’re trying to set the tone a little bit,” defensive coordinator Tom Bradley said. “You get the offense, they get you. It’s back and forth but it’s been good. There hasn’t been a lot of things that the coaches have had to intercede on. So far it’s been good.”

UCLA’s Takkarist McKinley sets lofty goals

During spring camp, UCLA defensive end Takkarist McKinley set out his goal of leading the conference in sacks. Three months later, it seems like just conquering the Pac-12 isn’t good enough anymore.

He had a successful junior college career at Contra Costa College, but didn’t always enjoy the same type of production in UCLA’s 3-4 defensive front. He would sometimes get sandwiched inside, battling against offensive guards. With UCLA’s intent to switch to a 4-3 defensive front this year, McKinley is back to doing what he does best: run.

“The 4-3, (there’s) more space and I can use my speed more and (I) get to show why I’m going to be the best pass rusher in the country,” McKinley said.

With a sprinter’s speed and a defensive end’s size, McKinley creates matchup problems around the edge for offensive tackles. On the first play of the first team period of training camp, he batted down a pass from quarterback Josh Rosen. He did it again during the next team period.

When the season’s over, he expects to see at least 15 sacks next to his name. His coaches don’t see many reasons why he can’t achieve his lofty goals.

“I think Takk’s got all the tools,” defensive line coach Angus McClure said. “I think he has the mind-set. I think he has the physical abilities. He has the speed. And I think going to a four-man front, I think he’s going to have the ability to do that. We’re going to do everything we can to help him achieve his goals.”

Tom Bradley Idea on McQueary testimony

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In his first media availability since he was named in a deposition concerning the Pe State sexual abuse scandal, UCLA defensive coordinator Tom Bradley did not directly address the situation that alleged he had prior knowledge of Jerry Sandusky’s abuse of young boys while coaching at Pe State.

“First of all, I’ve been deposed, I’ve been vetted, I’ve issued a statement,” Bradley said. “All of that speaks for itself.”

In the deposition, which was in coection to an insurance lawsuit and unsealed last month, former Pe State graduate assistant Mike McQueary alleged Bradley knew of Sandusky’s misconduct as early as the 1980s. Bradley, who is entering his second year with the Bruins, denied the allegations through a statement from his representative, Brett Senior.

“At no time did Tom Bradley ever witness any inappropriate behavior, nor did he have any knowledge of alleged incidents in the ‘80s and ‘90s,” Senior said in the statement. “He has consistently testified as such. Any assertions to the contrary are false. When he became aware of the 2001 incident it had already been reported to the university administration years earlier.”