Three Keys to UCLA-Kansas St.

by Ryan Rosenblatt on Sep 17, 2009 3:23 PM PDT in Football

UCLA is coming off of a huge win in Knoxville, but that win will be meaningless if they drop Saturday's game to Kansas St. A win over the Wildcats will put the Bruins at 3-0, halfway to the bowl game that was the goal for the season. As you can see, this weekend presents the Bruins with a huge opportunity so UCLA will have to come to the Rose Bowl ready to play from the opening whistle.

1) Nickel Defense- With Courtney Viney out, the Bruins are thin at corner back. Kansas St. will look to win the game with their defense and by running the ball so there’s a chance the Bruins can put the Wildcats in a lot of third and long situations on Saturday. If they can get the Wildcats in third and long, they will go to nickel, which will stretch the Bruins’ thin defensive back even further. How they’re able to cover in nickel situations will be key.

Just as important as UCLA’s ability to cover in nickel situations will be the pass rush they put on the Kansas St. QB. With inexperienced corners in the defensive backfield, it will be crucial that the defensive front get pressure on the QB and keep the DB’s from covering for too long. Nickel situations can either hand the Wildcats a victory if they’re able to convert them with regularity or it can allow the Bruins to wrap up a victory early on should they force turnovers with a potent pass rush and ball hawking DB’s.

2) Penalties- UCLA is the better team. I don’t have any reservations in saying so. However, UCLA is not such a great team that they can’t lose this game and when you see an upset, which a Kansas St. win would be, penalties are usually a key factor. When you consider the issues the Bruins have had with penalties in their first two games, those yellow flags take on even greater importance.

While defensive penalties, as can be seen in the picture above, have been the Bruins' bugaboo thus far, it's the penalties on the offensive side of the ball that could be the killer. Regardless of whether Richard Brehaut or Kevin Craft is under center, UCLA is going to have trouble converting third downs and penalties will put the Bruins in far too many third down situations.

3) Kai Maiava- I wouldn't count on many audibles at the line and whoever our quarterback is will have enough to handle in the defensive backfield. It will be on Maiava to make sure the offensive line is in order and make the correct calls. Kansas St. moved their defensive linemen around a bit last week and their linebackers moved back and forth from on the line to off the line. All of these will be things that Maiava will have to pick up on and communicate to the rest of his offensive linemen.

Norm Chow is certain to lean on his running game and with the speed of Jonathan Franklin, as well as the lack of size K-State has along the defensive front, Maiava will have the opportunity to brush the linemen and get onto the second level. Maiava's ability to do so can be the difference in a four or five yard gain and taking one 40+ yards. If Maiava can keep the offensive line in order and get to the second level, they will control the line of scrimmage and you know what happens when you control the line of scrimmage.

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Nice job, Rye

Your #1 (being thin at Corner) is definitely a big concern that many wouldn’t thing about. On my list, this would be #2.

If this were my list, I would put turnovers at #1, considering A) upsets are probably set up more by turnovers than anything else, and B) we put the rock on the ground an awful lot in Tennessee.

by bornagainbruin on Sep 17, 2009 3:00 PM PDT reply actions

on the turnovers, i would say, we did, but that’s probably cause Tennessee was more physical…i doubt KSU will be…i would assume with a constant run this weekend, we won’t have to worry about that..unless Craft is playing…then let’s hope the gift-that-keeps-on-giving in regards to pick-6s won’t surface…

i’m more inclined to say penalties is a biggie, along side our secondary

by TheNewbster on Sep 17, 2009 3:39 PM PDT up reply actions

Stupid question, perhaps, but still

If our nickel package will be severely crippled, why can’t we stick with the 4-3 and try to compensate with pressure? (That is, on those 3rd Downs that won’t be impossible to convert anyway.)

I remember our nickel package getting burned last year, especially early on, for personnel reasons. It seemed then that sticking to the 4-3 couldn’t have been worse.

My technical knowledge of defense is limited, so I’m really curious.

by bluebland on Sep 17, 2009 3:51 PM PDT reply actions

Cover 2

I wouldn’t mind us employing a Cover 2 type of defense in 3rd down situations. That way we can compensate for the current lack of depth in the secondary.

by DH91 on Sep 17, 2009 4:45 PM PDT up reply actions

Cover 2 is a pretty broad term

All it means is that you’re going to play two safeties high and over the top. You can play cover 2 with your base defense, nickel, dime, with blitzes, with zone underneath, man underneath. There are plenty of cover 2 possibilities, all of which can be used successfully. What would you like to see us do in 3rd down situations underneath the cover 2? I’d think we would go zone underneath if they go to 3+ receiver set, but then you’re asking our defensive backs to come up and make some good tackles.

by Ryan Rosenblatt on Sep 17, 2009 4:57 PM PDT up reply actions

If you don't go nickel

then you’re in a mismatch. In third and long, the offense will almost always go to three, four or five wide. If they do that and you don’t make a personnel switch on defense, then you’re going to be forced into zone or have to put safeties/linebackers on receivers. That’s a mismatch. If you go zone, then you’re relying on your linebackers to run with receivers underneath. If you stick with the 4-3 in third and long, you almost have to blitz to get pressure because you’ll have trouble covering and the offense will know the blitz is coming, plus you’ll still have linebackers in coverage, but now covering more space.

The key in all of this is that you’re assuming the offense isn’t going to run the ball. If they’re going pass, you want to go nickel or dime because why would you want a linebacker in pass coverage when you can have a defensive back?

by Ryan Rosenblatt on Sep 17, 2009 4:53 PM PDT up reply actions

Good points

You’ve persuaded me! I would definitely go nickel or dime in third and long. Would you be more flexible in third and relatively short, however?

by DH91 on Sep 17, 2009 6:19 PM PDT up reply actions

If the distance

is short enough that they may run the ball then I definitely stick to my base defense because they’d rather run than pass.

by Ryan Rosenblatt on Sep 17, 2009 6:50 PM PDT up reply actions

One more thing about Maiava

Nice write-up Rye. Your points on Maiava are critical especially with a new QB in the huddle. I think one additional thing that he needs to focus on will be the snap exchange. He has had a couple of bad snaps over the last two games. I hope he can be consistent especially on those shotgun plays.

by Kerckhoff405 on Sep 17, 2009 4:33 PM PDT reply actions

Started...

…to write the same thing. The bad exchanges were on the center, not the QB…

UCLA - Champions Made Here

by seernst on Sep 17, 2009 4:40 PM PDT up reply actions

I meant to include that

Thanks for adding that. Definitely another thing to keep an eye on.

by Ryan Rosenblatt on Sep 17, 2009 4:48 PM PDT up reply actions

anyone else really hoping

Craft gets a shot and just shines? I would love to see him have a brilliant quarter/half/game just to look back on as a great experience and a reward for being such a warrior last year. The kid took a lot of punishment and never complained and never placed blame on anyone else.

"when you've seen how big the world is, how can you make due with this?"

by silverlakebruin on Sep 17, 2009 5:06 PM PDT reply actions

I kind of want to see Craft get a chance at redemption

but I thought Brehaut was better in the practices I saw prior to the season, so I’d like Brehaut out there. That said, it has been weeks since I saw Craft or Brehaut so I can’t make a very good judgment about who should be out there on Saturday.

by Ryan Rosenblatt on Sep 17, 2009 6:52 PM PDT up reply actions

I am guessing

They are both getting shots on Saturday. I want Craft to redeem himself as well.

by Nestor on Sep 17, 2009 6:58 PM PDT up reply actions

I'm not a fan of seeing both get a shot

I like picking one and sticking with him, but the coaches know better than I do. My heart says Craft, my head says Brehaut so we’ll see.

by Ryan Rosenblatt on Sep 17, 2009 7:06 PM PDT up reply actions

Coaches might also go with the situation

For example. If they start Craft and he stays hot, then I get the sense that they might just stick with them. However, if Craft is so so … then they will bring in Brehaut after the first two series.

I am with you wrt to who I want to start. So will just see how it plays out. Definitely creates even more drama around our team. I am kind of enjoying this.

by Nestor on Sep 17, 2009 7:15 PM PDT up reply actions

I remember an interview

with Drew Olson before his senior season, where he said that his first season he saw downfield about 10 yards before the snap, 20 by his second, but saw the whole field by his senior season (I am going off of distant memory, but the idea is about right). Wondering if what you saw in summer camp seemed to show that Craft had a handle on the field and just made bad throws?
Granted, Dorrells west coast offense is likely way different from Chows, but just curious. Also, did Brehaut seem to see the whole field when you watched?
Great insights into the game, by the way!

by sam_in_hb on Sep 17, 2009 7:07 PM PDT up reply actions

Best scenario

Brehaut starts, does well and leaves with a big lead (not meaning to discount KSU). Craft comes in, plays well with significant minutes. Get out with a win and knowing we’ve got solid backups with confidence and game experience.

by Telemachus on Sep 17, 2009 8:26 PM PDT up reply actions

Sounds like a deal!

Can you make it happen Tele?

by Ryan Rosenblatt on Sep 17, 2009 8:27 PM PDT up reply actions

haha

I’ll be out there screaming for it to happen!!

by Telemachus on Sep 17, 2009 8:35 PM PDT up reply actions

I just hope

nobody boos if Craft gets in

by Telemachus on Sep 17, 2009 8:36 PM PDT up reply actions

A bit OT: Aaron Hester

The talk about the secondary made me wonder when we might see Hester back in the lineup? The QB at some supposed educational institution in the area suffered the same injury (cracked fibula) and was only out about 2 weeks. The prognosis I heard was at least three weeks for Hester, but nothing has been written about him since opening weekend. Do you think he will be able to get back for Stanford after the bye week (4 weeks after injury)? Hope so, there was so much hype and potential with the guy.

by sponkey21 on Sep 17, 2009 5:19 PM PDT reply actions

I know I am

He made mistakes last year…but he was in a new system with a weak supporting cast. I hope he gets a chance and I hope he takes advantage of that chance somewhere along the line this season.

by Bruin Dad and Grad on Sep 17, 2009 5:20 PM PDT reply actions

Sorry this was a response to "anyone else really hoping?"

by Bruin Dad and Grad on Sep 17, 2009 5:20 PM PDT up reply actions

To me the real key to victory is

MINDSET: the worst part of the pre-CRN days were the let down games after the big wins. You know them. This is exactly the type of game we would have struggled with under Dorrell (though it is at home). We need everyone to be focused! We need to play our best to compete and win.

by Bruin Dad and Grad on Sep 17, 2009 5:22 PM PDT reply actions

Perhaps with the suspensions...

that will help with everyone concentrating on stepping up

by Telemachus on Sep 17, 2009 8:38 PM PDT up reply actions

Can't decide...

Craft or Brehaut… but I’m leaning Brehaut. silverlakebruin, i get what you’re saying about wanting to reward Craft for his stoicism last year, but… I also sat through every one of those games at the rose bowl, witnessed the interceptions, and the memories are still pretty frustrating. If you believe as bornagain bruin and I do that turnovers are the most likely thing to create an upset, i jsut can’t get past the feeling that he’s more likely to give it up.

by mwright84 on Sep 17, 2009 6:14 PM PDT reply actions

bugaboo

im a fan. great post.

by all hail westwood on Sep 17, 2009 6:16 PM PDT reply actions

Craft or Brehaut

I really don’t care who starts. I would support whoever the coaches choose. Football is a game of determination, especially college football. That is why we have so many upsets and close scores in rivalry games. I think we have a decent team this year and we can play against anybody if we believe in ourselves. However, we don’t want to be complacent and lose focus. We can get beat if we don’t try. Go Bruins!

by NNL on Sep 17, 2009 8:04 PM PDT up reply actions