Jim Mora reviews Josh Rosen’s debut
UCLA quarterback Josh Rosen warms up before the game against Virginia at the Rose Bowl.
There were two ways to look at Josh Rosen’s UCLA debut: real time with the naked eye, and through the lens of a camera.
Mora touched on both a day after the freshman quarterback completed 28 of 35 passes for 351 yards and three touchdowns against Virginia.
“You learn a lot being on the sidelines watching him react to things,” Mora said in a conference call Sunday. “He kept a very even-keeled demeanor throughout the game, whether it was three-and-out or a touchdown. He came to the sideline and was able to communicate information to the coaching staff and was able to absorb information we gave him.”
Mora and staff pored over the game tape Sunday and saw “all the tiny technical things you don’t see with the naked eye. You have to look at the tape to see them.”
The result was a short to-do list for Rosen, all off which involved “consistency,” Mora said.
Such as? “Making the right read, making the right throw, the depth in his drops, looking off defenders,” Mora said.
Rosen’s postgame self-evaluation touched on emotions.
“The adrenaline got going in a few spots and I overthrew some guys,” he said.
Mora stuck to a stump speech when asked about Rosen moving forward.
“I’m sure there will be challenges along the along the way,” Mora said. “There always are in a 12-game season.”
Double duty
Half of UCLA’s touchdowns Saturday were scored by defensive players used in goal-line situations on offense.
Linebacker Myles Jack bulled his way into the end zone on a one-yard run. And Clark caught the three-yard touchdown pass from Rosen.
“It was a crazy, great feeling, catching a touchdown in the Rose Bowl,” Clark said.
Clark said he scored one touchdown at Rialto Carter High, but “that was on defense. Scoring one on offense just feels different.”
Jack should know that better than anyone. The touchdown run was his 11th since he began doing double duty against Arizona in 2013. Jack has scored one defensive touchdown.
Mora said that Jack remains a good short-yardage option because “he’s 6 feet, 245 pounds, with 4.4 speed and is an explosive player who is no fun to tackle. Having the ability to change pace is a good thing.”
Flag day
UCLA was penalized seven times for 75 yards Saturday. It was hardly a shock.
The Bruins have been among the most penalized teams in the Football Bowl Subdivision since Mora was hired as coach in 2012. UCLA has averaged 80.5 penalty yards per game in those three seasons.
Yet Mora saw a clear difference in the calls Saturday compared to some of the penalties the Bruins have had in past seasons.
“They were aggressive penalties,” Mora said after the game. “It is a little bit different than we’ve had in the past — lazy penalties or lack-of-focus penalties.
But, he said, “We have to continue working on cleaning up the penalties.”
Kid report
UCLA used five first-year freshmen Saturday, the fewest in a season opener under Mora.
The Bruins played 12 in their 2012 opener, 18 in 2013 and nine last season. Besides Rosen, the only freshmen who played against Virginia were running back Soso Jamabo, defensive back Octavius Spencer, running back Bolu Olorunfunmi and tight end Chris Clark.
“We’ve got veteran depth, more than we have ever had,” Mora said. “We have a lot of really good upperclassmen, so it’s a little harder to break in.”
Still, Mora said, “if a guy is capable, we’re certainly going use him.”
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