FanPost

UCLA Football Strategy Quarterly Checkpoint

Joe Piechowski

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The NFL draft is over and it is time to review our progress against our strategy. The original analysis contained 4 parts (Vision, Leadership, Environment, and Resources) with success defined as achievement as a function of Record (Qualitative and Quantitative) and Championships. I will focus on leadership, resources and discuss our expectations and success criteria.

Leadership: Coming into last season there were two major questions from a leadership perspective.

It was very clear by season's end that the spread offense was inadequate to take us to the next level. The subsequent change in offensive leadership and the addition of a legitimate quarterbacks coach showed that Coach Mora was able to make the critical decision (albeit late for most of us). This year the offense remains a question mark with the change in offensive strategy, absence of a true tight and only one receiver (+20 receptions) returning.

The other question remains unanswered. Coach Bradley was handicapped by injuries to starters on all three levels of the defense and an offense that couldn't stay on the field. Although a number of players emerged as a result of those opportunities, it will be interesting to see what Coach Bradley does this year with an entire roster at his disposal.

Resources: The 2016 recruiting class closed gaps on special teams, built depth at Quarterback and Defensive Line and improved quality at Linebacker and Wide Receiver. The remaining unfulfilled gap was at Tight End.

In a previous post, I stated the performance based culture augmented with a "we can get you NFL ready" approach would provide a distinct recruiting advantage. A solid result in the 2016 draft where > 80% (11/13) of the players in the draft from the 2012/2013 recruiting classes were drafted or invited to an NFL camp provides a selling point for UCLA.

While ~50% of Coach Mora's first two recruiting classes are still with the team (14 left the program), over 30 players including 19 seniors are draft eligible in 2017. Another strong showing in the draft will provide a compelling statement to future recruits.

Measurement of Success: Last year we took a huge step backwards failing to hit any success criteria milestones.

Achievement

Record

Quality Wins

Beat USC

Division Champion

PAC 12 Champion

Bowl

Victory

Major Bowl/ Playoff

National Champion

2011

6-8

*

2012

9-5

*

*

2013

10-3

*

*

2014

10-3

*

*

2015

8-5

Summary: This year will the biggest test of the Coach Mora era. The changes in leadership and scheme, an entire team recruited by Coach Mora and a favorable schedule (Stanford and USC at home, no Oregon) should put us back on track to a division and PAC 12 championship.

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of BruinsNation's (BN) editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan though, which is as important as the views of BN's editors.

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