Posted by ESPN.com's Ted Miller
There are young offensive lines, and there's starting two true freshmen and a first-year JC transfer.
That apparently is what UCLA is going to do with its offensive line, according to the Orange County Register, as it begins to prepare for the season-opener against San Diego State.
"I've never started a freshman in the opener before," Bruins line coach Bob Palcic told the Register. "I've had a freshman start for me at Ohio State about the fifth game into the season. Even Jonathan Ogden didn't start here as a freshman. We're in new territory here but that's what it is."
Oh, by the way, the two veterans on the unit are sophomores.
Did we mention that game two is at Tennessee? And the quarterback is a redshirt freshman?
Yes, UCLA is in the midst of a youth movement, at least on offense.
Two things: 1. These guys aren't stiffs; 2. Wonder what these guys will look like in 2011, when quarterback Kevin Prince is a junior?
The two true freshmen on the left side, tackle Xavier Su'a-Filo and guard Stanley Hasiak, certainly pass the sight test and were both among the nation's highest-rated offensive linemen last year. Right guard Eddie Williams is a 331 pound powerhouse from Mt. San Antonio Junior College in Walnut, CA.
Sophomore center Kai Maiava started nine games as a true freshman at Colorado. True sophomore right tackle Jeff Baca started eight games for the Bruins last year.
They are the only two players from the post-spring depth chart who remain No. 1 at their line positions.
While the season-ending knee injury to senior Micah Kia and the sprained knee that will sideline senior Nick Ekbatani four to six weeks certainly aren't good things, neither was a sure-thing to start. Ekbatani was running second-team at center, while Kia was expected to split time with Hasiak.
So starting inexperienced players is not move motivated by necessity. It's a choice.
UCLA is going young because it believes it's the best way to win.
There are young offensive lines, and there's starting two true freshmen and a first-year JC transfer.
That apparently is what UCLA is going to do with its offensive line, according to the Orange County Register, as it begins to prepare for the season-opener against San Diego State.
"I've never started a freshman in the opener before," Bruins line coach Bob Palcic told the Register. "I've had a freshman start for me at Ohio State about the fifth game into the season. Even Jonathan Ogden didn't start here as a freshman. We're in new territory here but that's what it is."
Oh, by the way, the two veterans on the unit are sophomores.
Did we mention that game two is at Tennessee? And the quarterback is a redshirt freshman?
Yes, UCLA is in the midst of a youth movement, at least on offense.
Two things: 1. These guys aren't stiffs; 2. Wonder what these guys will look like in 2011, when quarterback Kevin Prince is a junior?
The two true freshmen on the left side, tackle Xavier Su'a-Filo and guard Stanley Hasiak, certainly pass the sight test and were both among the nation's highest-rated offensive linemen last year. Right guard Eddie Williams is a 331 pound powerhouse from Mt. San Antonio Junior College in Walnut, CA.
Sophomore center Kai Maiava started nine games as a true freshman at Colorado. True sophomore right tackle Jeff Baca started eight games for the Bruins last year.
They are the only two players from the post-spring depth chart who remain No. 1 at their line positions.
While the season-ending knee injury to senior Micah Kia and the sprained knee that will sideline senior Nick Ekbatani four to six weeks certainly aren't good things, neither was a sure-thing to start. Ekbatani was running second-team at center, while Kia was expected to split time with Hasiak.
So starting inexperienced players is not move motivated by necessity. It's a choice.
UCLA is going young because it believes it's the best way to win.
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ABOUT THIS BLOG
Ted Miller
Miller has been covering college football since 1997, starting with Auburn and then heading West to Washington and the Pac-10. His columns for the Seattle Post-Intelligencer won first place in 2007 APSE Best Writing contest. The Atlanta native and University of Richmond graduate presently lives with his wife in Scottsdale, Ariz.
