UCLA Football Practice Report: August 8
There are 20 days to go until the Bruins kick off their 2021 season, and their fall camp is now in full swing.
The routine of field goals – first Nicholas Barr-Mira, then Luke Akers – followed by special teams drills and then a few different positional drills is well-trodden for UCLA football at this point. What the media has been seeing in the first 20 to 30 minutes of these sessions is nice and consistent and predictable, from the warmups to the drills to the players coming and going.
Quarterbacks Dorian Thompson-Robinson and Parker McQuarrie were out again Sunday, while receiver Chase Cota and offensive lineman Josh Carlin were in the weight room, as has been the case for most of fall camp to this point. Receivers Logan Loya and Bradley Schlom were taking up the two workout bikes, and there was no sign of defensive lineman Quintin Somerville again either.
After the opening rotating special teams drills, the Bruins reconvened for live-speed kickoff drills, the first time the media has actually seen returners go at full speed – receiver Kyle Philips was essentially a dummy during the slowed down version of the drill Saturday.
Philips took the first kick and made a solid cut up to the left. Freshman receiver DJ Justice took the second kick, getting swallowed up at just about the 10-yard line, before Philips had a fine return to round things out. Another freshman wideout, Keontez Lewis, was the third man back in the end zone, but he didn't field any kicks during this drill.
Kicker RJ Lopez is still far and away the best kickoff specialist UCLA has, sending it to the very back of the end zone on each of his kicks. The other kickers were just barely getting it to the goal line.
Both the linebackers and defensive backs followed that up with interception drills, working on their footwork and getting up to their high point to reel in picks. Sophomore linebacker Damian Sellers dropped one right in front of the media area, but other than that, the Bruins' defense seems to have really good hands. That isn't all too surprising looking at their stats from last year – UCLA tied for 35th in the country in interceptions forced in 2020, despite playing just seven games, and was No. 3 in the Pac-12 in picks per contest.
The quarterbacks had a better day as well, following an off-day from Ethan Garbers on Friday and several mishaps by Chase Griffin on Saturday.
Garbers and Chase Artopoeus were the most visible Sunday, and they were both making solid throws. Garbers seemed to have his best practice of fall camp so far, but it was Artopoeus who helped deliver the highlight of the day – an over-the-shoulder, one-handed catch by tight end Mike Martinez.
The fall camp routine is well-defined at this point, with eight sessions down and eight to go before game preparation starts for Hawai'i.
Soft hands, quick feet and loud music continue to fill the fields at Wasserman Football Center, and that doesn't look like it's changing anytime soon.
Highlights from Rose Bowl Open House
The event that took place Saturday at the Rose Bowl was initially labeled as the Bruin faithful's first look at the new Jordan uniforms.
That wasn't the case, since the social media push checked off that box a few weeks earlier.
Still, there was plenty going on Saturday at UCLA's home stadium in Pasadena, including trophy presentations, mascot photo sessions, meet-and-greets and behind-the scenes tours.
Bruin Report Online's Mike Regalado documented the pathway inside, and got a close look at both UCLA's home locker room and the 1922 locker room as well – essentially a small Hall of Fame room that documents the history of the stadium and its bowl game.
Athletic director Martin Jarmond also introduced his family to the UCLA fanbase after over a year on the job, posing for pictures and getting to know the season-ticket holders in attendance.
It was the first UCLA event open to fans in the Rose Bowl since before the pandemic, setting the stage for the season opener on Aug. 28.
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