UCLA Football: Biggest Storylines Heading into Fall Camp

As is the case with any program heading into the fall camp period, there are multiple areas of interest pertaining to Jim Mora and the UCLA football team. 

The significant storylines persist primarily in regards to personnel choices. Mora and his staff are tasked with trying to come up with the most effective and efficient positional groupings. 

Additionally, this period offers a chance to see how the defense will function under new leadership. Lastly, the integration of new talent will also be something to watch. 

Finding Clarity at the Quarterback Position

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Neuheisel efficiently spinning a football.

The performances throughout fall camp by challengers Jerry Neuheisel and Josh Rosen will likely go a long way in determining the eventual starter at the position. 

Mora has the luxury of a relatively experienced team. The team returns 18 starters from a year ago, including talented running back Paul Perkins. 

As a result, neither Neuheisel nor Rosen necessarily has to be a difference maker. Either player theoretically can rely upon a strong ground game and what should be a good defense. 

Each quarterback vying for the starting gig needs to be efficient with the football. Demonstrating the ability to take care of the football will also be imperative—especially for two inexperienced signal-callers. 

How Will the Defense Look?

The transition from former defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich to current defensive coordinator Tom Bradley will be fascinating. 

Bradley brings a considerable amount of experience on the collegiate level, mostly stemming from his time at Penn State under famed head coach Joe Paterno. 

The installment of Bradley's scheme began during the spring. This includes not only idiosyncracies and principles from a schematic standpoint, but also terminology. 

The defense will likely look somewhat vanilla when practice is made available to the public. However, this period is significant from a teaching standpoint.

The sheer act of bringing pressure and blitzing is something that will likely appeal to the average UCLA fan. During the Ulbrich era, his defenses weren't the most daring or creative in this capacity. 

Figuring out Offensive Line Rotation

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Where will Benenoch (74) line up this year?

The talent along the offensive line is relatively good. Barring injury, depth doesn't appear to be an issue for offensive line coach Adrian Klemm. 

With that said, this fall will be paramount in terms of finding the best combination for the starting unit.

It's no secret Jake Brendel, Conor McDermott, Caleb Benenoch and Alex Redmond will start. Benenoch is the key here, based on his positional versatility. 

Surely Klemm will work Benenoch out at both tackle and guard in order to find the best mix of five players. A lot will also hinge on the development of guard Kenny Lacy and tackle Simon Goines. Either player could start—and this will ultimately depend on whether Benenoch lines up at tackle or guard. 

The fall will also be used to continue to build depth with younger players such as Kolton Miller and Poasi Moala, as well as integrating Klemm back into the swing of things.

Due to the fact Klemm wasn't available in the spring, it's been quite a while since he's been able to work with the group. 

Playmakers, Anyone?

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Will running back Craig Lee provide anything this year?

Any football team craves the appearance of explosive playmakers on offense, and UCLA is no exception. 

There are two players in particular with the ability to fill this role. For a myriad of reasons, the duo hasn't been able to quite make the leap from "potential" to production on the field.

Craig Lee is an interesting case. Possessing some of the best athletic tools on the roster, he's yet to garner anything but bit time on the field. If he shows improvement on the mental aspects of the game, he could surprise in a big way.

Receiver Kenny Walker can absolutely fly. A former track star in the Bay Area during high school, Walker had an average of 42.3 yards per reception in 2014. The problem was that he had only three catches. He was plagued immensely by his inability to catch the football.

If he can show improvement in this capacity during the fall, he also could be a massive factor going forward in 2015. 

This fall camp is a true opportunity for both Lee and Walker to demonstrate their immense physical gifts, as well as displaying the consistency needed to see the field. 

How Will the Freshmen Look?

UCLA has a star-studded 2015 class joining its roster for the fall portion of camp. 

Aside from Rosen, many players from this group have the potential to see the field right away. 

The two biggest names right off the bat include tight end Chris Clark and running back Soso Jamabo. Among the best in the country at their respective positions, this camp provides a chance to see how they initially stack up with the returning talent on the roster. 

There are also a litany of defensive backs entering the mix. Chief among them is Stephen Johnson III—who is capable of functioning on either side of the ball, including on special teams. 

Lastly, Klemm signed an excellent offensive line class. The headline is Hawaiian prospect Fred Ulu-Perry. Not only can be perform as a guard or center, but he's also got the ability to compete on the defensive side of the ball as a nose guard. 

This fall camp period will undoubtedly go a long way in determining which freshmen see the field in 2015.