UCLA will show off its new offense Saturday at annual spring scrimmage on campus

A year ago UCLA began its spring football camp with all its skill position players back on offense, save for a fuzzy-faced freshman quarterback.

Now in 2016 quarterback Josh Rosen has a full season of starting experience behind him and has shown the makings of being something special. Only this year, he went to camp with all new starting skill players, not to mention a search for three new offense linemen.

Gone are starting tailback Paul Perkins and three of the Bruins’ top receivers: Jordan Payton, Thomas Duarte and Devin Fuller.

Meanwhile, the Bruins installed a new offense.

Coach Jim Mora will get a stronger feel for how much progress has been made Saturday when the Bruins debut their offense without a name in their annual spring game that’s not really a game but a controlled scrimmage they call a “spring showcase.”

“This is my fifth spring here,” Mora said, “and it’s been the most productive and competitive [camp] we’ve had. I think we’ve made a ton of progress. I’m excited about the direction we’re going.

“What I’m really pleased with is just the attitude of the players. The camaraderie combined with the competitiveness. We’re able to come out here and really compete hard, and yet there is very little extracurricular activity. There’s very little chippiness. There’s kind of a cooperative spirit while they’re still competing their tails off. To me that’s a sign of a team that’s growing together.”

Saturday’s scrimmage starts at 11:30 a.m. at Drake Field on campus. There will be hitting, but tackling is not part of the scheduled process. The Bruins have avoided major injury this spring, and with 22 UCLA players on the field at one time instead off 11, Mora wants to play it safe.

“We’ll try to make it eventful, fun and interesting,” he said. “It will not be a full-contact scrimmage. I just don’t think it’s in the best interest of our players to do so. I understand the fans want to see that, but what I want to see is a healthy, competitive team when we go to Texas A&M.”

UCLA opens the season Sept. 3 at Texas A&M.

If the Bruins’ offense is filled with uncertainty, the defense returns nine of 11 starters. Still, after the Bruins completed their final practice Thursday, Mora wasn’t ready to claim the defense was clearly ahead of the offense.

“I don’t know if I’d say that,” he said. “It’s kind of been back and forth every day, which to me is a good thing. Both sides have had good days. It’s been very competitive, and when it’s competitive like that, you see progress.”

Restocking at receiver

Of UCLA’s top five receivers last season, only fifth-year senior Darren Andrews returns. More than one player is going to have to step up.

The candidates include fourth-year junior Eldridge Massington, converted defensive back Ishmael Adams, 6-foot-4 Alex Van Dyke, sophomore Jordan Lasley and freshman Theo Howard, an early enrollee.

Mora has liked what he’s seen in camp, he said, but recognizes that a definitive answer remains uncertain.

“We lost our three leading receivers,” he said. “Who will be able to step up and fill their shoes? I’ve seen a lot of progress out of a lot of guys but to be able to play with the consistency that Jordan Payton did or Thomas Duarte did, or the explosiveness that Devin Fuller did? We still have to see if someone can do that.”

Runners game

Despite the loss of Perkins, Mora said he doesn’t consider running back a question area.

Soso Jamabo, Nate Starks and Bolu Olorunfunmi all made significant contributions last season.

“The three guys who are running backs are all guys who played a tremendous amount last year,” he said. “I didn’t even include in [my] questions and answers because to me they’re a given. They’re darn good players.”

Jamabo rushed for 404 yards and four touchdowns last season and Starks, who started one game, ran for 320 and five.

New look

The new offense that Mora is reluctant to label has Rosen lining up under center. He said it’s not that different from last year, but though now including a fullback and tight end the Bruins seldom ran plays this spring with more than two wide receivers on the field for any single play.

Rosen will have more opportunity to change plays at the line under the no-name offense.

“A question was how will our quarterback function in the variations we’ve made in our offense,” Mora said. “And I think the answer is very positive.”

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