LOS ANGELES — UCLA defensive coordinator Ikaika Malloe is known for his hands-on coaching. He even wears cleats to practice.
He lined up opposite Oluwafemi Oladejo on Tuesday afternoon during individual drills with the defensive linemen, arms stretched out in front of him in a demonstration.
Oladejo has been sponging up knowledge lately as he gains more experience at edge rusher. He has been rotating in with the position since fall training camp and he got his first start at the spot against LSU.
“That was a position that we wanted to get a little bit more depth at and try to create ways to get more pressure,” head coach DeShaun Foster said. “Femi was all for it. If you can be somebody that has a few tools under your tool belt, when you get to the next level that’s pretty good for you.”
Oladejo had four total tackles and a quarterback hurry in the LSU game but it’s unclear if he’ll stay at edge or oscillate between that position and linebacker, where he originally started. The Bruins’ defense has been rebuilding, especially when it comes to the pass rush, but has been able to provide pressure up front.
“We’re just trying to put our best 11 on the field,” linebacker Kain Medrano said. “Just put our best 11 on the field so we can go out there as a defense and do what we do. Do what we’ve been doing all fall and that’s flying around and having fun and creating havoc.”
Change of schedule
It’s been a week of change for the UCLA program, at least when it comes to the practice schedule.
The Bruins were on the field around 6:30 p.m. on Monday before having a rare midday practice on Tuesday that began at roughly 12:30. Foster told reporters that Monday’s late start was to give coaches more time to game plan and avoid a quick turnaround from Sunday night to Monday morning.
“It keeps us on our toes,” Medrano said. “Don’t get in a routine of just waking up every morning, knowing I’ve got practice at this time, then I’ve got off and I…
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