A (Vanilla) Scrimmage Roundup

*RB Kahlil Bell looked very good today, breaking off a few mid-length runs. What stood out is that Bell looked like he was running harder and with more determination than he did at any point last season. With depth lacking at the RB position, a good year by Bell will be invaluable. If he plays like he did today, he will be a very good backup for Chris Markey and be very productive and important for the Bruins.

*This defense is good. Very good. At times, it was hard to judge how good the offense was, because the defense was so stingy and quick to the ball. The second-team defense also looked very good and made some big plays. LB Kyle Bosworth was in on some plays and looked like he could be a serviceable MLB in the Pac-10.

*Dominique Johnson made a great, leaping catch over 2 DB's on a deep fade route. This type of play is what Johnson is best at -- the leaping grab on a jump ball. Similar to Marcedes Lewis a few years ago, he goes up in the air and attacks the ball and does not wait for it to come to him. I don't know how much playing time he will get this season, but he will be very dangerous in red zone situations.

*Osaar Rasshan let a ball fly through his hands on a sure TD on a post pattern, but he also showed some very good signs. Said this was the first time since high school he has been allowed to be tackled, so it was a good experience for him. After one catch, he used his athleticism to pick up another 5 yards. Those are the types of things UCLA will need this season.

*Brigham Harwell is a man-child.

*Matt Slater looked very good on his one kickoff return, breaking it for 47 yards. The speedster had questions surrounding how good he would be in that situation, especially if he could maintain his balance if he got hit going through the crease. He got bumped and just kept going. It was a positive sign in an area UCLA is still trying to iron out.

*QB Ben Olson was 7 for 10 and the only time he came close to throwing an interception was on a tipped ball when it looked like his arm was hit as he released. He made good decisions on where to throw the ball, making sure either his receiver or nobody could catch it. Sometimes, being a good QB isnt about completing passes, but the places where your incompletions go. In that regard, Olson looked sharp.

Marcus Everett hauled in a 25-yard reception, Kahlil Bell had a couple of impressive runs and Chris Markey ran off right tackle for 15 yards.

Plays like those, made by UCLA's first-team offense against the first-team defense, had several members of the defense smiling wide and proclaiming such plays prove the Bruins' offense is improved from last season.

Hey, it's baby steps. So what if the first-team offense's longest drive was 28 yards?

"It's good to see they have a good handle on their offense, and that they're confident," UCLA defensive end Bruce Davis said after Saturday's scrimmage. "The offense is confident. I'm very impressed with them. They showed way more confidence in their play-calling. They were getting downhill with the ball."

UCLA's first-team offense generated one lengthy field-goal drive and one touchdown during the red-zone period, but compared to a year ago that was seen as a monumental gain.

Dorrell has continued his love affair with field goal kickers.  Kai Forbath has a strong leg and looked for the most part accurate during his NINE or TEN field goal attempts.  Instead of utilizing many of those fourth down situations for offensive growth and development, he decided to bring in the field goal kicker.  I made my disgust for this typical Dorrell tactic known during the scrimmage, and a Dorrell supporter opened his mouth.

What a wuss, first of the all the guy looked as though he never played a down of football in his life, therefore he can't comprehend the importance of scoring TOUCHDOWNS, but I bet he tears it up in his fantasy league...he had the nerve to tell me that the scrimmage was not in any way geared for spectator entertainment but for the players, including the kicker, to get as much game time experience as possible.  I agreed that the scrimmage is first and foremost for player development of course, but it also a way to get the fans excited about the upcoming season...why else would the Alumni Band be there, as well as Geoff and other cheerleaders leading eight claps? Did I, (a) come out on my Saturday to sit in near 100 degree sun with no shade to watch field goal after field goal or perhaps, (b)witness some sort of progress offensively and perhaps maybe some excitement that was missing offensively last year to get me all fired up for the upcoming season?

Football is largely entertainment and it is the biggest moneymaker for the university...a university that I care deeply for...and I want to see the Rose Bowl packed and I want to go to a BCS game, which all bring money to our university...but that won't happen if our field goal kicker is our best weapon (Refer to last season...in particular just before the half of the Nut Bowl, when the life could have possibly been sucked out of FSU with a TOUCHDOWN, but instead we kicked a field goal on a fourth and goal, giving them an ounce of life, which turned into an ass-kicking by the eighth ranked team in the ACC.)

"It was like a preseason NFL game. We used some plays, but we have a lot of plays," offensive coordinator Jay Norvell said. "We just wanted to come off the ball, block people, throw and catch, get some live snaps and execute."

And for the rest?

"Everything is timed perfectly," Everett said. "Two weeks."

The coaches were obviously not giving too much away, but I did learn a few things to watch for in the coming season. First, the Bruins are wearing wristbands again. This time they are white, but they signify the same thing: PAC-10 or bust, baby! (lets hope they don't have to tear them off mid-season this year).