UCLA football wraps up spring practice heavy on teaching, development
LOS ANGELES — Some coaches approach spring football like a rapid-fire boot camp, jamming in practices on consecutive days and drilling their players. That’s not Chip Kelly.
The UCLA football team wrapped up its final practice of the spring Saturday, the last of 15 opportunities to take the field together before school lets out for the summer.
Kelly’s approach to spring ball is methodical, with a focus on teaching, developing and understanding. Practices were spaced out on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, with a “teaching” day in between for meetings and film study. Because there isn’t a game to prepare for, spring practice is an opportunity to emphasize the fundamentals.
Kelly even turned down the opportunity for a spring game, opting instead for a spring showcase last week that was essentially a practice in front of television cameras. Rather than take a day to have a live scrimmage, UCLA used every last minute of its allotted practice time to, well, practice.
And teach. Even in the middle of practice, the Bruins have “teach” periods, where coaches walk through schemes. After practice, players are evaluated the same way they would be after a game, with grades on knowledge, technique and effort. If a player is lacking in one area, the coaches address it.
“It could be the knowledge is great, the effort’s great but he’s just lacking in technique,” Kelly said. “Then you work on that individual fundamental. If there’s too many mental mistakes, then what are we doing schematically and what part of it doesn’t he understand? Are we giving him too much, or can we help him a little bit from that standpoint?”
At several points during April, Kelly complimented a player on how far he’d come since the first practice. As the practice slate concluded Saturday, the fifth-year coach said he believes his fifth-year quarterback, Dorian Thompson-Robinson, has taken steps this spring.
Though Thompson-Robinson may not have huge improvements left to make at the collegiate level, Kelly still saw some growth out of his quarterback.
“You’ve seen him improve from practice one through practice 14,” Kelly said. “It’s the subtle things. Maybe it’s how he uses his cadence as a weapon. Or some other little intricate things.”
Kelly still has four months to finalize the roster and see if the improvements made during spring will translate to wins on the field. He said the depth chart, especially on defense, is a “work in progress.”
But for now, he’ll hope the players carry the lessons learned from the spring session into the summer and the fall.
Kelly happy for Dulcich, Rhyan
Kelly said watching former tight end Greg Dulcich and offensive lineman Sean Rhyan get drafted Friday in the third round was “awesome.” Dulcich went to the Denver Broncos with the 80th pick and Rhyan followed at No. 92 to the Green Bay Packers.
Kelly reached out to new Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson on Friday night after Dulcich, a St. Francis High grad and former Bruins walk-on, was drafted and gave Wilson the now-NFL rookie’s number so they could connect.
“I think it’s a great spot for Greg, being there,” Kelly said. “With [Broncos coach] Nathaniel Hackett, his staff and Russell Wilson as your QB. It’s got to be kind of a dream come true for him.”