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UCLA Football: The Chip Kelly era begins for the Bruins

By Shane Lunnen

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)
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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UCLA football is starting a new era under Chip Kelly. Will they find instant success or take a few seasons to get rolling?

After a three-year stint with the Philadelphia Eagles, an even shorter one season disaster with the San Francisco 49ers, and a year away from the coaching game, Chip Kelly is back in college football where he belongs. UCLA got their man and it was one of the best hires of the offseason. Kelly is a perfect fit for the Bruins. He is back in the Pac-12, where he was 33-3 with Oregon in four seasons, and he will add some spice to an already good rivalry with USC.

The 2017 season was a mostly forgettable one for the Bruins. They went 6-6 in the regular season and followed it with a loss against Kansas State in the Cactus Bowl to finish below .500 for the second consecutive season.

The big loss for the Bruins is quarterback Josh Rosen, who was the 10th overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft. Other key departing players are offensive lineman Kolton Miller, leading receivers Jordan Lasley and Darren Andrews , and the team’s leading tackler, linebacker Kenny Young.

Kelly will have some holes to fill this season, but he will be given time to make it work. There will probably not be instant fireworks in year one, but Kelly is going to succeed at UCLA in time. For now, let’s take a look at what he has to work with this season and dole out some predictions.

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