Orange County Register

Finally … here’s the tenth of 10 things we learned this spring about UCLA football:

10. UCLA is still a year away.

Let’s get this out of the way first: No way will the Bruins be worse than they were in 2008. Even the most conservative examination shows they are better at every defensive position as well as the skill positions.

Of course, the two biggest concerns are at quarterback and on the offensive line. While Kevin Prince and his pawns were UCLA’s biggest problem for the better part of three scrimmages, there is a vast difference between them and what UCLA put on the field at the same position a year ago. It’s called talent.

Prince is stronger, smarter, more accurate, more confident and a better decision-maker than last year’s starter (and this year’s possible No. 2) Kevin Craft. Sure, Prince stumbled in game-like situations that were only a fraction of what he’ll face come fall.

But let’s put that into context: Part of what made Prince look bad was how quickly he managed to raise the level of expectations at the quarterback position. It took him all of four practices to establish himself as the Bruins’ likely starter.

His presence under center will allow offensive coordinator Norm Chow to stop calling plays out of fear and resignation. Just consider how Craft, who fared much worse than Prince in spring, wasn’t allowed anywhere near the first team except for the one day Prince rested a sore shoulder.

Prince is certainly an upgrade, maybe even a big one.

On the line, the Bruins are three-fifths of the way toward having a legitimate starting lineup. Center Kai Maiava, tackle Sean Sheller, and Jeff Baca, who can play all three positions, are good enough to start at other schools.

The Bruins’ problem is they don’t have two other players good enough to start at their school. True freshmen and JC transfers will probably have to do for now, and even they should signal an improvement given their four-star profiles.

It all makes for a respectable UCLA team. I’ve heard some writers who regularly cover the team say it might win eight games. Uh, no. Not after the spring game made clear the defense will again be counted on to keep UCLA in most games and perhaps win a few.

The Bruins, as any one of their coaches will tell you, severely lack depth, much less the talent needed to win two-thirds of their games. That’s without even looking at the schedule. In fact, there’s only seven games UCLA can win — San Diego State, Kansas State, at Stanford, at Arizona, Washington, at Washington State, Arizona State.

Last year, UCLA’s best/worst-case scenario ranged from 4-8 to 6-6. This year it’s slightly better: 5-7 to 7-5. I say they finish .500 and earn a bowl bid.

10 THINGS WE LEARNED SCHEDULE

• Thursday, April 30: No. 1 — QB Kevin Prince is not ready … yet.
• Friday, May 1: No. 2 — A tough call awaits at backup QB.
• Monday, May 4: No. 3 — Morrell Presley is not playing, especially when he’s playing.
• Tuesday, May 5: No. 4 — When it came to the competition, some receivers dropped the ball and need to pick up their pace.
• Wednesday, May 6: No. 5 — Johnathan Franklin has arrived.
• Thursday, May 7: No. 6 — UCLA has options at running back.
• Friday, May 8: No. 7 — Grading the offensive line: INC.
• Monday, May 11: No. 8 — Brian Price is UCLA’s best player.
• Tuesday, May 12: No. 9 — Bullough brings bark to the Bruins but bite is TBD.
• Wednesday, May 13: No. 10 — UCLA is still a year away.

More from the UCLA blog:

• UCLA football: 10 things we learned in spring (No. 9)
• UCLA football: 10 things we learned in spring (No. 8)
• Basketball: Bruins might play at Honda Center
• UCLA football: 10 things we learned in spring (No. 7)
• UCLA basketball: A picture of the new Pauley
• UCLA football: Carter, Johnson to transfer
• UCLA football: 10 things we learned in spring (No. 6)
• UCLA football: Two Bruins to watch
• UCLA football: Are USC’s athletes better students than UCLA’s?
• UCLA football: 10 things we learned in spring (No. 5)

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