UCLA football practice observations: Tuesday of San Diego State week
Summary
Pick/market: UCLA was back on the practice field Tuesday ahead of Saturday's Week 2 clash against San Diego State.
UCLA was back on the practice field Tuesday ahead of Saturday's Week 2 clash against San Diego State. Here are our observations from the media viewing period of practice.
- It was a wet one Tuesday! The morning rain really picked up right when the media was allowed out onto the practice field.
- Status updates: Anthony Woods was in a black non-contact jersey so he's dealing with something. Landon Ellis was present but not dressed, so he's out for now. Tao Johnson was dressed and in his usual jersey but didn't participate in the team period the media viewed. Amier Washington and Tyson Ford were dressed but didn't participate in the team period we viewed. That seemed precautionary to me with both guys getting banged up against Cal but finishing the game. I would expect to see them against SDSU. No surprise here, but Nico Iamaleava was a full go. Starting tight end Josh Phifer was riding a bike off to the side alongside Sam Yoon. Based on that, I'd characterize Phifer as questionable right now. Ryan McCulloch was once again going through drills but still doesn't look fully cleared. He didn't dress against Cal.
- Defensive analyst Ukoh Essang, who always brings the energy, took his shirt off and ran around high-fiving UCLA's defensive players during stretches in the rain.
- Jacob Dobbs, another defensive analyst who was included on Chris Hummer's annual 30 under 30 coaches list, led UCLA in the team's Bruin jumping jacks and also really brought the energy. "DEFENSE ARE YOU [EXPLETIVE] READY! he yelled.
- Bob Chesney Sr. yelled out to a few defensive players during stretches, "Everybody's working!!!"
- In the team period the media could view, there were no surprises on offense. Tight end Brayden Loftin was with the Nico Iamaleava-led group alongside the same OL that started against Cal and the usual suspects at the skill spots.
- One player I'll be watching closer on Wednesday is Aidan Mizell. He's cleared after missing the Cal game, but I didn't notice him in the team period (it's very possible I missed him). Mizell was present and fully dressed. I'm wondering what kind of role he'll play against SDSU.
- What intrigued me Tuesday came on defense, particularly in the secondary. Rodrick Pleasant and Scooter Jackson were the starting corners. When Big Ten play comes around, I don't envision those guys rotating out much. Dante Lovett and Osiris Gilbert were the second-team CBs. Robert Stafford appears to be buried on the depth chart.
- Derrick Barksdale was at nickel with the 1s. That's another player who I expect to make that spot his own. Ta'Shawn James and Malik Hartford were the safeties with the 1s. Cole Martin and Mason Rivera were the second-team safeties. Martin looks like the odd man out right now with Jackson back, but I still expect him to have a role moving forward.
- Wide receiver Jalen Saint Paul caught a pass from Madden Iamaleava with the 2s in the team period. He showed good hands and good speed on the play.
- We're not allowed to name who is on scout team and who they're impersonating, but I noticed one of UCLA's safeties wearing a scout team number Tuesday.
- We'll be back tomorrow!
View original →
Teams:
UCLA
defensedepth_chartlbmentions_californiamentions_san_diego_statementions_washingtonoffenseolpracticepredictionschematicstewr