UCLA new offensive coordinator will call plays for first time in season opener at Texas A&M

New offensive coordinator Kennedy Polamalu will call plays for the first time in his career starting with the season opener Sept. 3 at Texas A&M. Some of the plays will be known beforehand.

Polamalu said Tuesday the Bruins would pre-script 10 to 15 plays for each game to gauge defensive alignments and adjust as needed.

“We’ll have a certain number to see if what we saw on film [regarding an opponent] was the same, and if it’s not then you have the answers to counter anything,” Polamalu said.

Predicting what the Bruins might do with their reformulated pro-style offense could be difficult, at least prior to their opener.

“Most teams are going to practice on what they’re going to see and they haven’t seen anything from this offense yet,” Polamalu said, “so it’s going to be interesting.”

Double threat

Temperatures that reached 102 degrees weren’t the only potential distraction the Bruins faced during their mid-afternoon practice. Smoke from the Blue Cut fire in the Cajon Pass was visible from the practice field in San Bernardino, but the air quality did not appreciably deteriorate.

The Bruins remained in contact with officials from Cal State San Bernardino as well as local fire and police departments during the day to monitor the situation. Airplanes carrying fire retardant circled overhead throughout the practice, providing a constant reminder of the danger lurking nearby.

Players seemed to withstand the heat just fine during the nearly three-hour practice. Receiver Mossi Johnson performed a somersault coming off the field late in the session.

Quick hits

Freshmen kickers J.J. Molson and Andrew Strauch each made a 50-yard field goal at the end of practice. . . . Linebacker Mique Juarez missed a fourth consecutive day of practice, but it was an excused absence.

ben.bolch@latimes.com

Twitter: @latbbolch