WATCH: Bill McGovern Previews Bowling Green, UCLA's New Defense

The Bruins are only a few days away from debuting McGovern's defense, and he said he is excited to see what the results are on Saturday.

UCLA football defensive coordinator Bill McGovern spoke to reporters following Tuesday morning's practice session. McGovern talked about unveiling the Bruins’ new-look defense against Bowling Green, how he plans to adjust substitution patterns for the 100-degree heat at the Rose Bowl and what he expects out of linebackers Darius Muasau. 

Four days until the grand unveiling of this defense, how do you feel about it?

Uh, the guys are excited, they’ve been running around, I think everybody wants to get out there and go play.

How are you feeling about it?

We’re going out there—anybody’s excited. When you’re involved with this, anybody’s excited. We’re looking for the guys to go out there, let them go play and see what they can do when it’s actual game time.

What have you seen in camp as far as getting the guys to where you want them to be?

Um, I’ve seen the team play with great energy, I’ve seen them work hard, I’ve seen them pay attention to detail, but all of a sudden when the ball gets kicked off, then we’ll find out what guys do during game time, that’s the biggest thing.

Anybody stand out?

That’s what the game’s for. That’s what the game’s for. Every year, you have great practice players—you need great game players, so that’s what we’re looking to find out, who’s going to show up when the lights go on.

Latu not on two-deep a reflection of how much depth there is?

Again, as we’re going into the game, it’s going to be a hot day and we’re going to play a lot of people and again, it will sort itself out—guys will find their spots but we’ll have people in the game and be putting people in, taking people out and we’re just going to let guys go play—let their actions do their talking.

Feeling good about ability to generate a pass rush?

If I don’t feel good now, I’m never going to feel good. It’s going to be a long week. I mean, I’m excited because of the energy level the guys have brought, they way they’ve worked, the way they’ve tried to develop their techniques and fundamentals through the preseason and everything else, so all of us as coaches in particular are anxious to kind of see the players get out there and execute.

How would you describe your sense of humor?

Lacking.

The players have said they think you're funny?

I don’t know if my family thinks that. Listen, it’s one of those things—these guys are working hard, there’s times you’ve times you’ve got to get after somebody and there’s times you’ve got to get on them and then there’s times you’ve also got to keep working hard. Guys make mistakes, we’ll come back and play the next play.

Coaching differences between NFL and college? Have to be more nurturing in college?

Well, I think it’s one of those things where it’s a relationship sport and everybody’s different, everybody learns differently, everybody reacts differently to different kinds of feedback, so it’s getting to know your players and just trying to talk to them and getting them to understand what you want and how you want it and the sense of urgency you want it with.

How well do you know them at this point?

Again, everything has been good, the guys have been working hard and I love their effort, I love their commitment to what we’re asking them to do, but it comes down to game day now and that’s the fun part for them and for us, that they’re going to go out and try to play.

How much do you plan to unleash or will you stay vanilla?

Well, it’s more kind of see what’s going on, what they’re giving us. They’re a well-coached team, they’re a team that’s had success, they’re more of a pro-style offense so they’re going to give you a lot of things to contend with so it will be a good challenge for us and good for us to be out on the field and competing again.

102 degrees, cycle in more players?

Well, I think any time you’re playing at 102 you’ve got to have guys come in, you can’t just go with one group, so people are going to—on both sides of the ball, them and us—we’re all going to be putting people in, keeping guys fresh because otherwise your guys will kind of fade away a little bit.

McDonald drives the engine for Bowling Green's offense?

That’s great points because he’s the guy who makes them go, they’ve got skill players who can create big plays, wideouts and the running backs and they’ve even got big tight ends with the run game a little bit but McDonald makes them go. He’s good in the pocket and when he gets out of the pocket he can create things, so it’s one of those things trying to contain him and keep him within the pocket and try to make them beat all 11 rather than just one game.

JonJon Vaughns starting on two-deep, expectations for him?

The biggest thing I mentioned to him the other day was great—he’s been practicing obviously here and he was playing baseball, he hadn’t been with us in the spring or anything like that, so his ability to come back and then he’s just getting a little more comfortable in terms of his movements, his understanding of the schemes and stuff like that, so it’s been great to see that the last week or two and really see him start to progress a little bit further and feel more comfortable out there within the scheme.

Coached a two-sport athlete like him at previous stops?

They’re unique for sure nowadays in college athletics, you don’t get a lot of dual-sport guys. Have I coached them? Yes, but he’s unique so we’re excited to have him.

What have you seen from Muasau?

Well, again, we’re looking for his leadership. Again, he’s kind of been running at the mike, he’s been doing a nice job in terms of controlling and getting us lined up, getting us set and ready to play and again, we’re looking forward to seeing him go out there. He's a very instinctual player and I think you’ll find him around the ball a lot.

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