UCLA Football: 5 things to watch during 2019 spring game

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PASADENA, CALIFORNIA – NOVEMBER 17: Osa Odighizuwa #92 of the UCLA Bruins gets his hands in the face of JT Daniels #18 of the USC Trojans during the first half at Rose Bowl on November 17, 2018 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /

4. Pass rush

All the talk this spring has been regarding UCLA’s improved defensive line, most notably the team’s pass rush. This is a bit of a surprise given the fact that the Bruins lost Jaelan Phillips to Miami via transfer but this was the group with the most room for improvement, so it makes sense.

The Bruins were poor, to say the least, in pass rushing last season, finishing the year with 15 total sacks which ranked 118th in the country. They couldn’t seem to buy a pass to the quarterback, but with veterans leading the way, hungry to improve, this team could see a dramatic change.

Guys like Osa Odighizuwa and Keisean Lucier-South will have a positive impact in the pass rush this season, though the latter won’t appear in the spring game.

Odua Isibor is a name to watch on Saturday afternoon as the Bruins take the field even though the redshirt sophomore had just one sack a season ago. This defense has taken some strides this offseason, especially in the trenches. Will we see immediate improvements?

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