UCLA football: 10 things we learned in spring (No. 8)

May 11th, 2009, 4:25 pm · Post a Comment · posted by Adam Maya, staff writer since 2006

Before we continue our series, here’s one thing I learned this weekend: Dunking on an 8-foot court is tons of fun, but the neck strain from a couple missed attempts might not be worth it.

Here’s the eighth of 10 things we learned this spring about UCLA football:

8. Brian Price is UCLA’s best player.

He made the biggest impact of any player on the practice field. I’d like to say Brian Price was dominating but a certain offensive line prevents me from having that conviction. I do feel good about using another 10-letter word to describe Price: determined.

The junior defensive tackle played with a real urgency and competitiveness, which is not something all of his defensive peers can say. You would have thought Price was trying to win a starting position, which is funny considering it was spring practice and he is one of the best players in the Pac-10. He could have easily showed up and relied on his talent to get by.

Maybe he would have, had he not set two goals for himself before camp: to see more time at defensive end and to become a leader.

Price started down the latter path by becoming a good example. His coaches said he made big strides in pass rushing — their biggest offseason emphasis — an area of weakness for him and the team as a whole.

“There’s something special about a defensive tackle that can pass rush,” said Price, as if to suggest he is not there but that he will be.

It helped that Price refused to take plays off, his effort prompting one writer to ask Coach Rick Neuheisel if Price was going to allow the offense to get anything done.

Price led the Bruins in sacks, tackles for loss and wins — a practice stat for how many times you beat an O-lineman in individual drills. He’s also earned new defensive coordinator Chuck Bullough’s confidence to play some defensive end.

He also learned to be more of a vocal presence. He noticed the team lacked a “big brother” figure with the departure of defensive tackle Brigham Harwell. Price’s way of reaching out included humor and haircuts. He came to camp sporting a double MoHawk while unloading a mouthful of corny jokes.

This wasn’t about attracting attention — his performance speaks loud enough — as much as it was affection. After having spent the past two seasons alongside Bruce Davis and Reggie Carter, Price was finally ready to share his personality with his teammates.

Price grew so comfortable he went so far as to declare he will return for his senior season, regardless of where he’s projected in next year’s NFL draft. Eight months from now he might feel different, and it would be totally justified.

Either way, you can appreciate how he lets his play and not his presence be the distraction.

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