UCLA football offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy talks quarterbacks, offensive line, and more

good afternoon um it's been good first three days guys have put in some solid work um biggest thing that we want to accomplish first and foremost we have to grow together as an offensive unit on top of that we're still in the evaluating an evaluation process so we're going to continue turning over our rostes to see who can bring what to the table and then on top of that now we got to grow and mature with the offense thing I am proud of guys are learning that hey if we don't work we don't eat which means we're working hard which is some good stuff which means we're giving ourselves a chance all right to move in the right direction so with that said fellas any questions you got and shooting how would you say the offense is at this point versus where you're expected it to be you know what I I expect it to be right where it is right now because we're still in that growing stage uh I thought by the time we finish spring I thought we finish on a high note but these guys did a great job this summer they had some player Le uh meetings and Ethan and the players ran some installs and guys got an opportunity to go out there so they had an opportunity to repeat what we did in the spring so now it's a lot more familiarity so guys are going out and playing a little faster playing with uh more confident so it's been uh it's been fun to watch so far where are where would you say you are in the install process uh I'll say this and I'm not trying to be an we're right what we need to be okay we're just taking the process slow because because like I said it's still an evaluation process we got some old linemen that we want to develop we got some quarterbacks that we need to see we got some running backs that we're that are new to the program that we're we're working on we got some receivers working on some things some tight ends so when it's all said and done with we right where we need to be but I will say this have there been Improvement yes but we need to not just improve individually we got to improve collectively as a group centors obviously said an important position for an offense uh Josh Carlin making the permanent switch over to Center uh for fall Camp what have you seen out of him his development and his understanding of the offense Mastery of it I'll say this Josh is very sharp first of all he's been here for a while he has that leadership presence about him and thing I love about him he's he's this going to probably sound bad I won't use the language but he's a competitor you know what I mean he's a comp back I love it you know what I man and he has that fight in him so he does not take anything for granted on top of that I love the accountability aspect that he has as well so it's great when you can have that leadership role but on top of that have a smart intelligent tough Center it makes everything uh a lot easier when you're putting the offense together and then what are you seeing out of Ruben and elani at the other two new spots on the offensive line you know what they're they're working and and and I don't want to start pointing out guys because I'm an old lion fan so when those five guys are in there we one unit you know because those guys got a Comm communicate more than any other group and they do a great job every day of over communicating and then on top of that making sure that if they made a mistake they're holding each other accountable for but I like where we are right now we still got a long ways to go we're not perfect all right we taking the necessary steps in the right direction so it's been an improvement yeah last time you spoke to you it was so early in spring camp you really hadn't been able to familiarize yourself with you know everyone and you mentioned uh consistent practice habits was something you want the SE on tape who specifically maybe has really shown you something in the last couple of months that kind of stood out in that regard you know what I'll say this collectively as a group it's been good watching the growth process because like I said there's things that we're understanding in the Run game and things that we understanding in the past game so we're grow we're taking the baby steps forward now it's about going out there and executing it on the consistent level with great attention to detail when somebody else is in front of you all right and so now we just got to learn how to put that consistent behavior on tape and I talk to these guys every single day you got to have a plan when you come into this building every day there got to be three things that we have to work on individually all right but you got to make sure that you're focus on those things because if we're working on those three little aspects whatever they are now that's going to help us to grow collectively as a group so we're still in that process of understanding that but we're learning the the the discipline habits need to be developed you brought in a lot of new quarterbacks uh for fall Camp what we know what you know uh Ethan Justin Martin and uh Chase Griffin can do but what about some of these new guys you know what they're they're they're rookies and they're freshman for a reason but I will say this they're a Fun Bunch they're a fun group they're very intelligent and they work at it some of it it's not going to make any sense to them and that's okay and I understand that but the beauty of it is I've watched each and every one of them take a necessary step forward now is it a small minute step yes okay CU it's a lot to Che on because when you're playing that position all right regardless of what level you're on with that position comes a great deal of responsibility so they're coming into their own now some guys are mature faster than others but do we have talent yeah got some talent but they just need to continue to work and continue learning all the little things that it's going to take for them to be a successful player you've talked about uh tight end being kind of a critical position for your offense numbers got pretty thin in Spring uh added Bryce Pierre uh what have you seen out of him and then do you have the numbers you want to do everything you want to do offensively or you going to have to kind of adjust to what you have well so first of all you hate to say this and I'm not going W injuries happen right and you never want injuries and so we always always have to remain flexible so that's the beauty of having the Personnel groups yes the tight ends are working their tails off Jerry's doing a hell of a job with those guys and they're a smart intelligent group of men and so all of those guys they take personal pride in working and like I said thing I've learned since I've coordinated tight end's a very very smart that's probably why Mercedes is still playing but they do a great job together and I'm I'm proud of them but also too it's still a process of learning um when it's all said and done we're just slowly churning these groups and making sure that regardless of what personnel groups that we're we're playing with we're putting them in the right situations to have some success and so that's what it's about right now how crazy is it that Mercedes is still playing when he was here when you were last here that's that's I'm going tell you first of all kudos to Mercedes he is the ultimate professional and he's learned his Mitch you know what I mean not only is he an outstanding player okay he's also an outstanding leader and he's also an outstanding human being absolutely got a lot of love for him I'm very proud of him he outlasted uh Slater which I didn't think he would do you know but he did and who shoot Slater may come out of retirement before it's all said done we just to compete with him but those two guys are just outstanding uh human beings but more importantly out standing representation of UCLA football at the next level fullback wise uh we saw a lot of Anthony the spr before he got hurt uh where's that position right now and who else is kind of in the mix to contribute uh we got a few we added a few pieces so now we we're 3D so we got some few pieces and these guys Marcus is doing a great job with those guys that just intertwined and getting them mixed in and so if you notice kind of address all of our Personnel groups because yes we're going to play with some to back yes we may play with multiple tight ends yes we may play with multiple receivers but when it's all said that we we got to make sure that were growing in the offense so now we can intermix and interm made with a Personnel Group and so now we're presenting a different look each and every week and that can cause confusion for teams moving forward but those guys are working hard they're doing a hell of a job last time I spoke to Ethan he mentioned you know compared to last year he feels like there's more uh Freedom as a quarterback in this offense of yours uh especially at the line of scrimmage what's that collaboration like as far as you know Finding I guess a comfort zone with with each other well just like I said uh playing that position at any level first of all it with that comes a great deal of responsibility and one thing that you learn when you're in this position yes you don't want to handcuff those guys you want to give them Freedom if they feel if you feel like they can handle it but with that comes a great deal of responsibility but my job is to make sure all right not just me but our entire coaching staff that we're giving our guys answers I don't want to handcuff us okay so Ethan's right now he seems to be at a stage where he can handle that and we'll give him the keys you know every now and then we may take him away but at the end of the day he's doing a good job right now of handling that and we just got to continue to grow with it because when it's all said and done with if he can handle it now it just helps us even more to be become you know better offensively what's your confidence level that he can do what he need to be a good off well right now we're in the early stages I know we're in the honeymoon phase because everybody wants to know what we're doing we're undefeated we're Zer and zero you know what I mean so we got an outstanding record right now but you know my expectations of him right now is just to manage the day okay and I don't want to look past anything because I don't want to take anything for granted because there's a lot to learn on a day-to-day basis that can help us to grow and prepare us all right for those game defining moments that's going to present themselves throughout the season what your thoughts been on J mich's what he can bring to this off you know J Mike and all those guys are doing a heck of a job and just like i' I've kind of elaborated on all those different Personnel groups those guys I mean we we we have talent but independent Talent don't mean anything we have to grow collectively together as a unit I think that group has uh some very very good talent in that room but now we just just got to make sure that we can put the consistent behavior on tape that can help us to grow as a unit and that's what this is all about are you staying up in Woodland Hills with the rest of the guys nah I'm know probably here more than anything so but uh I know it's been a great experience for those guys I mean they get to grow together forces them to sit and talk and communicate you know I wish I think we all wish we probably could have went somewhere but I mean why not put him in a a situation where you can eliminate the distractions and allow them to just hang out with each other you know so I think that's a great thing and you know I'm just looking forward to the next day thank you guys appreciate you