Bruin Bites: Early Roundup from UCLA's #SpringShowcase

The Bruins capped their 2014 Spring football practice schedule in front of 15,000 plus fans at the StubHub Center early Saturday evening as Noel Mazzone's Blue Team beat Jeff Ullbrich's White Team 28-0 in their annual Spring Showcase. You can check the official story here and statistics here.

Coach Mora spoke to the press after the game (thanks to Jack Wang):

Mora commented on Brett Hundley's stint as Team Mazzone's offensive coordinator, and oh, Kenny Orjioke didn't play, but Mora won't say why.

Expectations have been high for UCLA Football in 2014-15 ever since Brett Hundley announced he'd be back. Chris Foster asked Myles Jack about those expectations.

"We definitely should be considered as a big-time program," said linebacker Myles Jack. "I'm hearing we should be ranked top 10. I think we are starting to get the respect that we deserve."

As for the game itself:

Hundley had a light workout Saturday, playing one series. He completed four of five passes for 38 yards, then handed the first team over to Jerry Neuheisel.

Neuheisel directed three touchdown drives. He completed 14 of 22 passes for 180 yards, doing most of his damage against the second-team defense. He had two passes intercepted.

Defensive end Owamagbe Odighizuwa had two sacks and linebacker Deon Hollins two. Ishmael Adams and Adarius Pickett intercepted passes.

One of big questions coming into the Spring was the pass rush. How do you replace Barr, Marsh and Graham? Ryan Kartje of the OC Register says Coach Ullbrich was concerned.

"(Before the spring,) I was a little wary of where we were," Ulbrich said, "I think with Owa coming on the way he has, with Deon (Hollins) getting healthy, and Kenny Orjioke showing some flashes … we’ve got a lot of weapons."

Of those weapons on defense, none may be more important than Odighizuwa, who focused all offseason – and the lost year before that – on his pass rushing technique. On Saturday, that was evident, as Mora noticed his fifth-year end getting better and better as the event went on.

Jack Wang said Owa probably had five sacks even though the official count was two.

Stay tuned for more Spring Showcase coverage from Bruins Nation.

Go Bruins!