Blue Ribbon's Take On UCLA Football

WWL has Blue Ribbon's analysis of pretty much every D-I team up on their site, and they've finally posted Pac-10 teams. It provides analysis for positions on offense, defense, special teams, and the coaching staff, so it's pretty in-depth for a free and full Insider article. Here's what they say in general about the state of the program headed into the fall, and they are ecohing the sentiments of not getting hopes up (I am excited, though, to start taking those pics up from the press box for you BNers and start photo blogging and analyzing formations/plays run using those pics...only a month and a half to go):

The Bruins went 6-7 last season with 20 returning starters. They return half that many in 2008 and have major questions at quarterback, on the offensive line and in the secondary. With no proven game-breakers at running back or wide receiver, UCLA could take a step backward before it moves forward under Neuheisel and Co. in 2009.

Seven opponents on the schedule won at least nine games last season, including perennial SEC heavyweight Tennessee, reigning Mountain West champion BYU (which defeated the Bruins in the Las Vegas Bowl) and Fresno State. There are five home games in conference play, but the road trips are all tough (Oregon, Cal, Arizona State and Washington.)

Anything greater than a .500 regular season and a fifth-place finish in the Pac-10 this fall would have to be considered a success.

And here's our report card: