UCLA football: Simon Goines sits, Xavier Su’a-Filo moves to tackle

UCLA tackle Simon Goines remained sidelined Friday morning while nursing a knee injury.

That left the Bruins temporarily rebooting their offensive line.

Xavier Su’a-Filo found himself back at left tackle, where he protected quarterback Brett Hundley’s blind side. Su’a-Filo played left tackle for UCLA in 2009 before going on a two-year Mormon mission. Redshirt freshman Carl Hulick and first-year freshman Kenny Lacy shared the left guard spot with the first team.

It was a refresher course for Su’a-Filo, who said he liked to brush up on tackle skills every year.

“Playing tackle is little different because you’re in space,” said Su’a-Filo, who started 13 games at tackle in 2009. “At guard, you have guys on either side of you and you’re facing big guys usually. At tackle, you see more speed rushers. You have to be more aware of stunts.”

The techniques, though, are mostly the same.

“The only difference is, as a tackle, you can push a guy outside,” Su’a-Filo said.

Goines hyper-extended his right knee Thursday. UCLA Coach Jim Mora said that he should return for Friday night’s practice.

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