UCLA Football: Chip Kelly Explains Why He Switched Out Holder Against Cougars

Ethan Garbers can't catch a break!

Maybe this just isn't Ethan Garbers' year.

The UCLA Bruins' Game 1 starting quarterback has gone from that lofty designation to a little-used backup quarterback role and a side gig as the club's holder for placekicker R.J. Lopez to attempt field goals and extra point conversions. 

Now, even those roles appear to be going up in smoke.

Head coach Chip Kelly inserted Blake Glessner as his holder over Garbers during the Bruins' bounce-back 25-17 win over the Washington State Cougars last weekend. It was a bit of a mixed bag. Lopez made 32- and 37-yard field goals, but had a 33-yard attempt blocked and flat-out missed a 47-yard field goal try, plus an extra point attempt.

David Woods of 247Sports was on the scene for some post-practice remarks from head coach Chip Kelly about the move.

"Just the work that those guys do during the week, and it's a lot more convenient for a punter/kicker to be the holder. So I think everybody in the NFL does it that way," Kelly said. "Just the practice time that those guys have, they can do a ton of work while we're in individual drills. We're doing seven-on-seven, we're doing eleven-on-eleven." 

"Blake is a tremendous athlete. He may be one of the better athletes on this football team. He could play wide receiver for us, he could play [defensive back] for us, he's a really talented player so, just trying to exploit some of his athleticism. 'Cause the biggest thing with a holder [is], if a play breaks down, what do they do?" Kelly continued. "That's sometimes I think the issue when you don't want to have a kicker, or a punter be the holder because if the play breaks down, what do you? But I think with Blake, if for some reason there was an errant snap or the play broke down, that he could do something with it because of his athleticism."

Garbers has only seen action in four games, and thus is eligible to be redshirted (a fifth game would end that). When a reporter asked Kelly if was planning to redshirt Garbers this season, the head coach proved somewhat cagey.

"We haven't talked about that," Kelly reflected. "Ethan's awesome, Ethan prepares every day like he's going to be the starter." 

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