UCLA football experiments with new offensive…
UCLA football experiments with new offensive line group
Redshirt freshman Alec Anderson and freshman Sean Rhyan get reps at left guard and left tackle, respectively, in practice
Head coach Chip Kelly of the UCLA Bruins is seen during the game against the Cincinnati Bearcats at Nippert Stadium on August 29, 2019 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
By Thuc Nhi Nguyen | thnguyen@scng.com | Daily News
LOS ANGELES — Justin Frye played all five offensive line positions at the Indiana University and now the UCLA offensive line coach preaches the same versatility to his pupils in Westwood. The Bruins may start relying on those lessons this week.
With their home opener Saturday against San Diego State, the Bruins tried a new offensive line combination in practice Tuesday, pairing redshirt freshman Alec Anderson and freshman Sean Rhyan at left guard and left tackle, respectively. Anderson was UCLA's anticipated starter at left tackle entering the season, but a nagging back injury to returning left guard Michael Alves has forced the possible line change.
Alves, a redshirt junior whose 25-game streak of consecutive starts ended last week, participated in some individual drills Tuesday, but watched as Anderson and Rhyan teamed up with the No. 1 offensive line in walk-throughs. Anderson is coming off leg surgery that sidelined him during the season opener.
Without Alves and Anderson last week, the Bruins started redshirt freshman Jon Gaines at left guard and Rhyan at left tackle against Cincinnati. Rhyan, a highly touted four-star prospect from San Juan Hills High, was making his first start less than three months after arriving on campus.
"It was obviously a learning experience for him just like it was for Jon Gaines, but when you go through the whole game and look at the positives and things you can build upon, they're certainly there," head coach Chip Kelly said of Rhyan on Monday. "I think he's extremely talented, he's really coachable and now that he's got his first game experience there's so much to teach and talk about with him."
Just when the Bruins thought they had continuity building in their run game with four returning offensive line starters and star running back Joshua Kelley, they averaged just 1.7 yards per carry in the season opener.
UCLA, Chip Kelly agree to 4-year contract extension
UCLA RB Zach Charbonnet returning for senior season
UCLA coordinators Justin Frye, Derek Sage depart
Pac-12 football preview: Top storylines for 2022
UCLA QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson returning as super senior
Instead of its 1,000-yard rusher in the backfield, UCLA had converted receiver Demetric Felton running behind an offensive line with a new, inexperienced left side.
Gaines was the last of the school-record 21 true freshmen to play last year. He didn't make his debut until the season finale as he needed almost the entire year to develop physically and mentally to reach playing standards. Gaines was listed at 6-foot-4, 280 pounds last year. Although he is listed at 271 pounds this season, Kelly said his physical development allowed him to take the starting role last week.
"Most true freshmen aren't Sean Rhyan," Kelly said. "But I think (Gaines has) grown and done a lot of work in the off-season and in the weight room getting bigger, faster, stronger, so you can see how he's developed from that standpoint."
UCLA Football
Thuc Nhi Nguyen | reporter
Thuc Nhi Nguyen has covered UCLA for the Southern California News Group since 2016. A proud Seattle native, she majored in journalism and mathematics at the University of Washington. She likes graphs, animated GIFs and superheroes.
thnguyen@scng.com
Follow Thuc Nhi Nguyen	@thucnhi21