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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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(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /

Defense

Chip Kelly is bringing along his longtime assistant Jerry Azzinaro to be the Bruins new defensive coordinator. Azzinaro is transitioning the unit to the 3-4 alignment. Any improvement from last year’s defense will be a welcome sight. In 2017, the Bruins finished dead last in the Pac-12 in yards and points allowed per game. The rush defense was last in the nation, giving up 287 yards per game on the ground. Azzinaro’s task will be to turn swiss cheese into something resembling a collegiate defense.

Along the interior, it will be tough as there is not a lot of depth nor size. The linebacking corps looks to be better than the front three in the new look defense. Sophomore Jaelan Phillips should fit into the new hybrid outside linebacker role, coming off a 3.5 sack season. The team’s leading tackler Kenny Young is gone, but Josh Woods and Krys Barnes are back along with junior college transfer Tyree Thompson.

Last year teams knew they could completely decimate UCLA by running the ball down their throats so in comparison, the secondary looked dominate at times. They should actually be a strength this year, with safety Adarius Pickett and corners Nate Meadors and Darnay Holmes all back. Azzinaro’s defenses should be more aggressive so expect the secondary to feed and come up with some big plays. Getting off the field quickly will be key for the UCLA defense this season.

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