UCLA Football: 5 takeaways from Bruins' spring 2018

UCLA Football: 5 takeaways from Bruins’ spring 2018

WESTWOOD, CA - NOVEMBER 27: UCLA Director of Athletics Dan Guerrero (L) and Chip Kelly hold up a jersey during a press conference introducing Kelly as the new UCLA Football head coach on November 27, 2017 in Westwood, California. (Photo by Josh Lefkowitz/Getty Images) /

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PASADENA, CA – SEPTEMBER 10: Running back Soso Jamabo #9 of the UCLA Bruins carries the ball to score on a 23 yard touchdown run in the second quarter against the UNLV Rebels at the Rose Bowl on September 10, 2016 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images) /

3. The run game is still concerning

There’s no doubt about it, Jim Mora didn’t utilize the run game enough at UCLA. The Bruins were constantly relying on Josh Rosen to save the day when the run game couldn’t get going.

When Chip Kelly was hired, everyone assumed the offense would be more dynamic with more emphasis on the run game and added trick plays involving running backs.

However, that wasn’t the case during the spring game as Joshua Kelley was the leading back with 25 yards on five carries. That’s a solid average per touch, but not exactly an optimistic rushing total for the No. 1 ball-carrier.

Moreover, the two backs who could vie for starting time in 2018, Soso Jamabo and Bolu Olorunfunmi, had a combined 15 carries for 31 yards.

What’s going on with the run game?

It could be a combination of the offensive line struggling, the defensive front improving and the backs not hitting the right holes. Either way, there’s a lot of work to do here.

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