UCLA head coach Jim Mora just spoke with reporters for about half an hour here at Media Day. Here were the important news and notes:
-Mora commented on the new news that just came out on Tom Bradley and the Penn State scandal, saying he "stands by" the statement Bradley released. Mora said UCLA "heavily vetted" Bradley when he was initially hired and it doesn't sound like the Bruins will make any changes here despite the new information.
-Mora said all of the injured guys are "cleared" and should be ready for fall camp next month. He specifically mentioned players like Fabian Moreau, Eddie Vanderdoes and Johnny Johnson as players he expects to get back in a couple weeks.
-Mora has changed up fall camp this year, as has been previously mentioned on this board. UCLA will spend the first week of camp in Westwood and then the second in San Bernardino. Mora said he and his staff realized two weeks at CSUSB was just "too long" and too much of a "grind" for his players. He said the team will stay at the new hotel on campus for the first week of camp and he said they'll have activities such as big-name speakers lined up for the squad for that first week.
-Asked about his biggest worry for UCLA this season, Mora said health and filling the production of the departed Jordan Payton, Thomas Duarte and Devin Fuller. As for UCLA's biggest strengths, Mora said the two tackles (Kolton Miller and Conor McDermott) and the running backs.
-Mora finally admitted UCLA will play more of a 4-3 defense this year than a base 3-4.
-Mora was asked about the challenges of facing Noel Mazzone at Texas A&M this season, and he said they'll have to change up some signals and verbage, but for the most part, he said it should be wash because Mazzone knows UCLA just as well as UCLA knows him.
-Asked about Josh Rosen's offseason, which included an infamous Donald Trump hat and a tweet about paying NCAA players, and Mora said he has had "conversations" with the QB about thinking before he speaks. It sounded like Mora didn't have all that much of an issue with Rosen speaking his mind, but he just wanted to make sure the QB was aware of the possible consequences that comes with displaying his opinions so publicly. On a side note, Mora said he found Rosen's hot tub amusing. Also, Mora said he didn't bring Rosen to Media Day because he's still an underclassmen and the policy has been to bring upperclassmen.
-Mora said Leni Toailoa has moved from safety to outside linebacker. Other than that, he couldn't think of any position changes since the spring.
-Mora said he has had "extensive" conversations with Conor McDermott about staying for his senior season. He said the No. 1 thing that he stressed was it's important for O-linemen to get plenty of reps before heading off to the League.
-Mora stressed several times today that his team is "hungry" to get rid of last season's "disappointment." He said this is actually the most hungry he's seen a UCLA team since his first year here.
-Mora said DeChaun Holiday has lost seven pounds, down to 213, and will stay at safety this year.
I'll have the full video of Mora's presser up in a bit.
-Mora commented on the new news that just came out on Tom Bradley and the Penn State scandal, saying he "stands by" the statement Bradley released. Mora said UCLA "heavily vetted" Bradley when he was initially hired and it doesn't sound like the Bruins will make any changes here despite the new information.
-Mora said all of the injured guys are "cleared" and should be ready for fall camp next month. He specifically mentioned players like Fabian Moreau, Eddie Vanderdoes and Johnny Johnson as players he expects to get back in a couple weeks.
-Mora has changed up fall camp this year, as has been previously mentioned on this board. UCLA will spend the first week of camp in Westwood and then the second in San Bernardino. Mora said he and his staff realized two weeks at CSUSB was just "too long" and too much of a "grind" for his players. He said the team will stay at the new hotel on campus for the first week of camp and he said they'll have activities such as big-name speakers lined up for the squad for that first week.
-Asked about his biggest worry for UCLA this season, Mora said health and filling the production of the departed Jordan Payton, Thomas Duarte and Devin Fuller. As for UCLA's biggest strengths, Mora said the two tackles (Kolton Miller and Conor McDermott) and the running backs.
-Mora finally admitted UCLA will play more of a 4-3 defense this year than a base 3-4.
-Mora was asked about the challenges of facing Noel Mazzone at Texas A&M this season, and he said they'll have to change up some signals and verbage, but for the most part, he said it should be wash because Mazzone knows UCLA just as well as UCLA knows him.
-Asked about Josh Rosen's offseason, which included an infamous Donald Trump hat and a tweet about paying NCAA players, and Mora said he has had "conversations" with the QB about thinking before he speaks. It sounded like Mora didn't have all that much of an issue with Rosen speaking his mind, but he just wanted to make sure the QB was aware of the possible consequences that comes with displaying his opinions so publicly. On a side note, Mora said he found Rosen's hot tub amusing. Also, Mora said he didn't bring Rosen to Media Day because he's still an underclassmen and the policy has been to bring upperclassmen.
-Mora said Leni Toailoa has moved from safety to outside linebacker. Other than that, he couldn't think of any position changes since the spring.
-Mora said he has had "extensive" conversations with Conor McDermott about staying for his senior season. He said the No. 1 thing that he stressed was it's important for O-linemen to get plenty of reps before heading off to the League.
-Mora stressed several times today that his team is "hungry" to get rid of last season's "disappointment." He said this is actually the most hungry he's seen a UCLA team since his first year here.
-Mora said DeChaun Holiday has lost seven pounds, down to 213, and will stay at safety this year.
I'll have the full video of Mora's presser up in a bit.
