Tuesday’s UCLA sound bites from practice

For whatever reason, UCLA Coach Jim Mora was a little short with the media Tuesday. Not to speculate, but it could have something to do with Mora preparing for the first game of a season that already has ridiculously high expectations and is also on the East Coast with a 9 a.m. PDT kickoff. The game is also in Virginia. Have you ever been to Virginia in August? It’s like walking around in one of those fancy rooms tobacco stores keep their cigars in, except 500 times hotter.

Not speculating, though. Just a hunch.

Our season previews are still going strong. Monday was a look at the offensive backs, and Tuesday we have the secondary. The rest of the schedule is as follows: Wednesday, offensive receivers; Thursday, defensive front seven; Friday, offensive line and special teams.

In the meantime, here are some quotes from Tuesday’s practice to get you through the day.

Coach Jim Mora

On whether the offensive line is improved from last year: “Yes, absolutely. A lot better. More depth, more experience, a greater understanding of what we’re trying to do, more continuity. I feel really good about that group.”

On whether a backup QB has been named: “Uh, nope.”

On depth chart: “I will not release a depth chart, no. There is no depth chart. We don’t even have a depth chart. Nowhere in our offices is there a depth chart. It’s fluid. I think depth charts are a waste of time, and you could ask any coach in America and they would tell you the same thing.”

Junior wide receiver Jordan Payton

On being ready for the season: “It’s gotten a little redundant, just coming to practice for the last month, seeing the same guys, kind of sick and tired of the whole defense out there. So it’s definitely going to be exciting to get out there against Virginia, for sure.

Redshirt junior quarterback Brett Hundley

On getting hit for the first time in a real game: “You get acclimated real quick to it, to 300-pounders hitting you. But it’s natural, you’ve been doing it all your life.”

On whether he ran too much last year: “Not at all. Obviously at UCLA, or anywhere, it’s rare to have a quarterback as your leading rusher. When people are injured or I have to take matters into my own hands and run the ball, I’m going to do what I have to do for this team.”

For more Bruins observations, follow Everett Cook on Twitter, @everettcook