Bruins Nation - UCLA Football Loses to Oregon Ducks 42-30; Full Coverage of UCLA's Second Loss of the SeasonBlog Of The Bruins, By The Bruins, For The Bruinshttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48017/bruinsnation_f.png2014-10-14T08:29:59-07:00http://www.bruinsnation.com/rss/stream/67272322014-10-14T08:29:59-07:002014-10-14T08:29:59-07:00Bruin Tweets: Oregon Thoughts and Soccer Dreams
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<figcaption>Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Women's Soccer dominates yet again.</p> <p>Another week, another loss, and no enough material for a stand alone post, but here are the post-Oregon thoughts:</p>
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<p>No matter what happens we grow closer as a family. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Bruins?src=hash">#Bruins</a></p>
— <span>Kevin McReynolds</span> (@LifeofKM) <a href="https://twitter.com/LifeofKM/status/521172163361902592">October 12, 2014</a>
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<p>Bruins Forever.</p>
— <span>Caleb Benenoch</span> (@CalebBenenoch74) <a href="https://twitter.com/CalebBenenoch74/status/521171203252178944">October 12, 2014</a>
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<p>Our team will never give up. We will never stop fighting.</p>
— <span>Jerry Neuheisel</span> (@jerryneuheisel) <a href="https://twitter.com/jerryneuheisel/status/521129282186121216">October 12, 2014</a>
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<p>It was a big day for <span>Eldridge Massington</span>:</p>
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<p>Glad my family got to make down to see me play!!! <a href="http://t.co/jKOMrYo3zR">pic.twitter.com/jKOMrYo3zR</a></p>
— Eldridge Massington (@OH_GOTTAMAN) <a href="https://twitter.com/OH_GOTTAMAN/status/521099135567794177">October 12, 2014</a>
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<p>Jonathan Ogden was in the house:</p>
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<p>Back at the Rose Bowl supporting the Bruins today as Honorary Captain with <a href="https://twitter.com/UclaVarsityClub">@UclaVarsityClub</a> & <a href="https://twitter.com/UCLAFootball">@UCLAFootball</a> <a href="http://t.co/aHyRaZI3vn">pic.twitter.com/aHyRaZI3vn</a></p>
— jonathan ogden (@jonathanogden75) <a href="https://twitter.com/jonathanogden75/status/521009480025522177">October 11, 2014</a>
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<p>If only he could still play...</p>
<p>Norman Powell was there with the basketball team:</p>
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<p>Had a great day watching the football bros. Great atmosphere great fan support! We came up short but… <a href="http://t.co/oBTmxekibp">http://t.co/oBTmxekibp</a></p>
— Norman Powell (@NormPowell04) <a href="https://twitter.com/NormPowell04/status/521329103321178112">October 12, 2014</a>
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<p style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px; word-wrap:break-word;">Had a great day watching the football bros. Great atmosphere great fan support! We came up short but trust we'll be back! #8clap#bruinrevolution #UCLA</p>
<p style=" line-height:32px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; padding:0; text-align:center;"><a href="https://instagram.com/p/uDu5KZE5-v/" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; text-decoration:none;" target="_top"> View on Instagram</a></p>
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<p>Another view:</p>
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<p style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px; word-wrap:break-word;">Selfie with the bruin fans earlier today #8clap</p>
<p style=" line-height:32px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; padding:0; text-align:center;"><a target="_top" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; text-decoration:none;" href="https://instagram.com/p/uCMFK3jd1O/"> View on Instagram</a></p>
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<p>Women's soccer wins again!</p>
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<p>Gut happy weekend with my favorite gees ever! 2 conference wins and 5 different people scoring. GO BRUINS</p>
— samantha mewis (@sammymewy) <a href="https://twitter.com/sammymewy/status/521886608807567360">October 14, 2014</a>
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<p>If you watched the Detroit/Minnesota game because you wanted to watch Joe Fauria and <span>Anthony Barr</span>, you got a half-treat in the announcers booth:</p>
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<p>Was honored to be in the booth today for <a href="https://twitter.com/NFLonFOX">@NFLonFOX</a> with my partner <a href="https://twitter.com/MFG16">@MFG16</a> No where to go but up! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/lionsvsvikings?src=hash">#lionsvsvikings</a> <a href="http://t.co/1QUeBeuQPI">pic.twitter.com/1QUeBeuQPI</a></p>
— Brendon Ayanbadejo (@brendon310) <a href="https://twitter.com/brendon310/status/521423851159580672">October 12, 2014</a>
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<p>(the half non-treat was probably his play by play partner, who isn't really an NFL guy.)</p>
<p>But Shabazz was there with the T-Wolves:</p>
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<p>Suite life with the team!! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/teambonding?src=hash">#teambonding</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/wolves?src=hash">#wolves</a> <a href="http://t.co/BWOXqICeU8">pic.twitter.com/BWOXqICeU8</a></p>
— shabazz muhammad (@ShabazzMuhammad) <a href="https://twitter.com/ShabazzMuhammad/status/521366483122008064">October 12, 2014</a>
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<p>They love their Spurs in San Antonio. Plus, he CAN eat free now... now that he makes a million per year. How do you like them apples, NCAA...</p>
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<p>"Spurs eat for free here" <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/greatwordstohear?src=hash">#greatwordstohear</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/aintcomplaining?src=hash">#aintcomplaining</a> lol</p>
— SLOWMO (@KyleAnderson5) <a href="https://twitter.com/KyleAnderson5/status/521728946795479040">October 13, 2014</a>
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<p>And meeting legends:</p>
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<p>Iceman! <a href="http://t.co/vsFRlvXobT">pic.twitter.com/vsFRlvXobT</a></p>
— SLOWMO (@KyleAnderson5) <a href="https://twitter.com/KyleAnderson5/status/521150264494292992">October 12, 2014</a>
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<p>And finally, congratulations Kory Alford:</p>
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<p><a href="http://t.co/3f18w9DEGY">pic.twitter.com/3f18w9DEGY</a></p>
— Kory Alford (@KoryAlford) <a href="https://twitter.com/KoryAlford/status/521140742656638976">October 12, 2014</a>
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<p>Great setting.</p>
<p>Go Bruins.</p>
https://www.bruinsnation.com/2014/10/14/6974611/headlines-in-the-bruin-twitterverse-post-oregon-thoughts-nfl-bruinsMenelaus2014-10-13T12:00:02-07:002014-10-13T12:00:02-07:00The "Eye Test": UCLA's Coaching Staff Exposed
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<figcaption>Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Grading out the finer details of UCLA's 42-10 (42-30 on the box score) loss to the Oregon Ducks in the Bruins' worst loss under Jim Mora to see if UCLA football is meeting expectations.</p> <p>Another Oregon blowout. 42-30 this time, so it doesn't look quite as bad as the other times Oregon has run the <a href="https://www.bruinsnation.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">UCLA Bruins</a> out of the stadium.</p>
<p>This was much worse though.</p>
<p>I'm going to preface this Eye Test by saying that this game was over in my mind when the score became 42-10. I could easily make an argument that it was over before then, but losing by 32 points in early 4th quarter with the Rose Bowl 70% empty after having been nearly full seemed like a good point to start considering the action as garbage time.</p>
<p>It is a credit to the UCLA Bruin football players (just the players) that they did not just walk in to the locker room at that point and actually won the 4th quarter.</p>
<p>But I couldn't care less what happened in the 4th quarter as an evaluation of how UCLA played in this game.</p>
<p>There is a ton to say, so I'm not going to waste time with words, let's get to the grades:</p>
<p><b><i></i></b></p>
<p><b><i>1.) Is our defense prepared for each and every team we play?</i></b></p>
<p>The stats that the defense ran up in the game up until the 42-10 mark was reached.</p>
<p> </p>
<ul>
<li><span>34 carries for 232 yards and 4 rushing touchdowns (6.8 yards per carry) with two TFLs (1 by <span>Myles Jack</span> and Aaron Wallce on the 1st Oregon drive of the game, 1 by <span>Aaron Wallace</span> and Owamagbe Odighizuwa on the 2nd Oregon drive of the game).</span></li>
<li><span><span>Marcus Mariota</span> had 17 completions for 210 yards for 2 touchdowns on 27 attempts (7.8 yards per attempt, which is actually a solid day considering Mariota averages 10.46 yards per attempt this season). Complemented that with 75 rushing yards on 7 carries and 2 more touchdowns.</span></li>
</ul>
<p>That is 442 yards on 61 plays, which is 7.24 yards per play.</p>
<p>That's awful.</p>
<p>No sacks, no interceptions, no forced fumbles, no big hits (even the disgusting punch that <span>Eddie Vanderdoes</span> threw was shrugged off by the Oregon lineman).</p>
<p>I'd also like to throw out the two TFLs that the UCLA stats try to put out when Oregon was taking a knee to end the game. I hope that was just a clerical error and not an actual attempt to inflate the stats of this woeful defensive performance.</p>
<p>Defense gets a <b>D- (0.7)</b> and even that feels too high.</p>
<p><b><i>2.) Do we call offensive plays to catch our opponents off guard?</i></b></p>
<p>The stats that the offense ran up in the game up until the 42-10 mark was reached:</p>
<p> </p>
<ul>
<li><span>40 rushing attempts for 256 yards with 1 rushing TD (6.4 yards per carry, which is a damn good day).</span></li>
</ul>
<p><i>Note:</i> The official number is 41 for 232 because of the sack on Hundley that was counted as a loss of 24 rushing yards somehow (the fumble was recovered 24 yards behind the line of scrimmage, that is how they arrive at that number. Statistically that is ridiculous, but I digress).</p>
<p> </p>
<ul>
<li><span>17 completions on 26 attempts for 106 yards with no touchdowns. That is an absolutely atrocious 4.07 yards per attempt, which would rank UCLA last in the NCAA over a full season.</span></li>
</ul>
<p><i>Note:</i> Stop before thinking of mentioning Oregon's secondary, which does feature two future NFL corners, being a tough matchup. In 2014, Oregon generally allows 7.4 yards per attempt against FBS opponents, 78th in the NCAA. Brett Hundley, including this game, has thrown for 9.42 per attempt on the season.</p>
<p>An optimist might look to the trick plays that UCLA threw out there in this game and think that Noel Mazzone and crew pulled out all the stops to try and get a win.</p>
<p>The flea-flicker was worthless. The weird end-around to <span>Devin Fuller</span> out of the backfield was telegraphed from the start. The <i>Longest Yard</i> style pass to Hundley fooled nobody. The two other options for that play were vertical routes by <span>Nate Iese</span> and <span>Taylor Lagace</span> against a Cover 3 look. Those aren't threats downfield.</p>
<p>Oregon's offense has package plays built in where Mariota has the option to give the ball to the RB, pull the ball and keep it, or throw to the WRs. UCLA has these on occasion, so they exist but are almost never called. The play right before the Hundley sack/fumble that led to Oregon's first TD was a perfect situation for this. Hundley had just scrambled for a 1st down and Oregon was committed to stopping the run. The CB blitzes and ends up being the read (it was probably a straight hand-off, but Hundley rides Perkins while looking at the CB). If Hundley pulls and throws to that WR, UCLA gets an easy 1st down. Oregon had just done this on their last drive for 12 yards. Instead it is a 1-yard gain up the middle.</p>
<p>Be innovative within your offense. Don't design trick plays that surprise nobody. That is what a bright mind does as an offensive coordinator.</p>
<p>When stuff worked, like the widened OL splits on the Myles Jack package the offense got 14 yards in three plays saved by spectacular open field tackles on Jack to get the ball to the 9-yard line. Then the normal offense subbed back in and gave Oregon time to sub as well. WHY? And then that set was never seen again in this game.</p>
<p>Also, know your personnel. Logan Sweet and <span>Tyler Scott</span> were in on a key 3rd down and 5 in the 1st quarter. WHY? There are no injuries at WR, why are two walk-ons playing in the first half?</p>
<p>Down 28-10 in the 3rd quarter, Logan Sweet and Tyler Scott are on the field to start a drive. Logan Sweet is actually the single WR on the best cornerback in the country. WHY? Is anyone surprised that a walk-on WR fell down on his break in that situation?</p>
<p>Offense gets a <b>D+ (1.3)</b></p>
<p><b><i>3.) Do our players look like they know what they should be doing at all times?</i></b></p>
<p>The defensive scheme here was patently absurd. Even the drives that went well had major issues that lucked out in UCLA's favor.</p>
<p><i>1st drive.</i></p>
<p> </p>
<ul>
<li><span>1st snap. The safeties aren't even in the frame. They're at least 15 yards from the line of scrimmage.</span></li>
<li><span>Second snap, only 5 defenders in the box on a pass attempt. Mariota scrambles untouched around the corner for 12 yards.</span></li>
<li><span>Third snap, <span>Anthony Jefferson</span> is facing the sideline and walking at the snap. 11 on 10 for the play. Oregon also gets away with a facemask on Owa which springs Freeman for 9 yards.</span></li>
<li><span>Fifth snap, <b><span>Deon Hollins</span> is playing ILB for some reason</b> and looks lost pre-snap and post-snap. <span>Ishmael Adams</span> is facing the sideline at the snap while running out to cover a player that <span>Tahaan Goodman</span> already had in man. <i>Adams and Hollins are totally clueless on what to do on this snap against a formation I've seen Oregon in at least 15 times this year</i>. They combine to totally vacate the area on the 2nd level that Oregon runs to while picking up 20 yards. Easily could have been a TD if not for Jefferson's awareness and <span>Jaleel Wadood</span> being in good position for an open field tackle</span></li>
<li><span>Ninth snap, Wadood at safety is about 20 yards from the line of scrimmage on a 3rd and 6 from the UCLA 26-yard line. That's basically a Hail Mary defense. It works okay because of an OPI call,<i> but this is telling an NFL-level QB that you are 100% playing man coverage with single high safety when he only needs 6 yards</i>.</span></li>
<li><span>Punt, Oregon is punting from the UCLA 42-yard line. There is no scenario where Adams is going to be able to return this punt, but UCLA sends no pressure whatsoever on a 4th and 21 punt. <i>Overthinking the fake punt from last season's game a little too much.</i></span></li>
</ul>
<p>That was from a drive that ended in a punt. There is no way that Oregon didn't look at that drive on the sideline and think "<i>This is going to be easy as hell if this is the scheme they're throwing at us.</i>"</p>
<p><i>2nd drive:</i></p>
<p> </p>
<ul>
<li><span>First snap, Tahaan Goodman is jogging to his position with his back to the QB when the ball is snapped. <i>He's a single high safety on a passing play that isn't facing the line of scrimmage at the snap. </i>Ends up being a dropped pass in the flat, but just a frightening lack of preparation defensively. <b>You're playing Oregon, they snap the ball quickly. You need to be in position at the snap</b>.</span></li>
</ul>
<p><i>First TD:</i></p>
<p> </p>
<ul>
<li><span>Anthony Jefferson follows the single WR way too far inside before the snap and then loses the ball and heads to the left while Mariota and a RB head right with the option. The play still should have been stopped because Aaron Wallace is unblocked as the read player and <span>Eric Kendricks</span> gets around a down block from an offensive tackle easily. Neither player actually gets to the right spot or realizes what is happening. Both get beat to the edge by both Mariota and the RB. Mariota scores easily.</span></li>
</ul>
<p><i>4th Drive:</i></p>
<p> </p>
<ul>
<li><span>1st snap, Myles Jack is facing the Oregon sideline, adjusting his gloves and wandering out to the WR he's supposed to be covering. He's able to recover and match the WR because that player is running a swing pass to the side Jack is facing.</span></li>
<li><span>8th snap, Eric Kendricks guesses that Mariota is going to keep it outside instead of reading a play. Giving Oregon a free 8 yards by vacating the middle of the field. Touchdown saved by Goodman making a good read.</span></li>
<li><span>9th snap, 3 different players are not in position at the snap. UCLA lucks out of another huge gain because Mariota throws a high ball and <span>Byron Marshall</span> has it slip through his hands. 3 Oregon drops in the 1st half, by my count.</span></li>
<li><span>11th snap, out of a timeout. UCLA has Tahaan Goodman as the only DB to the right side. For some reason, he shifts from safety to an ILB spot on the opposite side of the field. This leaves no defender on that half of the field except a DE, which is <span>Isaako Savaiinaea</span> for some reason playing a spot he hasn't been in the entire season. Oregon runs a beautiful screen and <span>Thomas Tyner</span> is untouched for a 21-yard TD.</span></li>
</ul>
<p>This was the play that happened right before the now infamous and monumentally embarrassing Jim Mora-Jeff Ulbrich shouting match on the sideline. <i>Mora, as a former DB, was probably justifiably upset by the fact that a safety shifted across the field to an ILB spot that left half of the field uncovered. Literally any play to that side would have been a TD if Savaiinaea was blocked.</i></p>
<p><i>5th drive:</i></p>
<p> </p>
<ul>
<li><span>2nd snap, Oregon is in a 4 WR set, twins to each side. UCLA's scheme to combat this, with Marcus Mariota and a 5* RB in the backfield, is to put a 3-man bracket on each twins set (a corner, a safety over the top and a slot player inside) with 4 down linemen and Eric Kendricks against 7 Oregon players inside. Oregon runs right up the middle for 23 yards because that was the obvious thing to do. After Kendricks there is no defender in the middle of the field between Freeman and the endzone.</span></li>
<li><span>4th snap, Eric Kendricks guesses at the snap again instead of reading the play. Mariota keeps and picks up an easy 11 yards. Goodman gets away with another near-targeting penalty after he lowers the crown of his helmet and dives into a tackle late, inches away from hitting Myles Jack in the head and knocking him out of the game. Someone needs to teach Goodman to avoid these types of things, going to end up costing UCLA in a big way eventually. Myles Jack also shoves Mariota in to the ground while getting up, which just continues the undisciplined play of this defense.</span></li>
</ul>
<p><i>1st drive of the 2nd half:</i></p>
<p> </p>
<ul>
<li><span>2nd snap, Eric Kendricks on a zone read to the right side of the offense with Mariota facing right and the running back getting the handoff to the right and no pulling linemen. He instantly goes left at the snap. As does Deon Hollins, who is the end on that side. This gives <span>Royce Freeman</span> an easy six yards for a 1st down.</span></li>
<li><span>5th snap, Myles Jack is in man coverage at the Nickel ILB spot on <span>Pharaoh Brown</span> whom is at H-back to the right side of the offense. For some reason, Jack takes an extra step inside. This gives Brown the easiest flat route ever for 9 yards on 1st and 10.</span></li>
<li><span>10th snap, UCLA is actually in a 4-3 defense. <span>Kenny Young</span> is at MLB, Kendricks is at OLB to the left of the offense. Oregon runs a zone-read and Young blows through to make a play on Freeman. Mariota keeps it and there is no UCLA player between him and the end zone off the left side. Aaron Wallace is playing DE for some reason and gets down blocked easily by <span>Jake Fisher</span>. I have no idea what Kendricks was doing on this play. He takes the right step to the outside but then turns inside to look at Young tackling Freeman. Mariota drops the ball, scoops it up and is still untouched for a 23-yard TD run.</span></li>
</ul>
<p><i>2nd drive of the 2nd half:</i></p>
<p> </p>
<ul>
<li><span>2nd snap, UCLA is defending a 2nd and goal from the 4-yard line. Oregon has 5 OL, a true TE, an H-back and a 5* RB. They've run the ball effectively all game. The Bruins decide that this would be a good time to have a 6-man defensive line with only Kenny Young as a 2nd level defender. Adams is at safety on the 2nd level, I guess. But the 5'8", 180 pound Adams isn't exactly a goal-line interior defensive player. Kenny Young picks the wrong hole and Freeman scores basically untouched right up the middle because there was no linebacker on that level to make a tackle.</span></li>
</ul>
<p><i>3rd drive of the 2nd half:</i></p>
<p> </p>
<ul>
<li><span>2nd snap, Ishmael Adams is jogging out to his man and facing the sideline at the snap. Myles Jack is not in position at the snap, runs around the edge of the line for no reason. Ends up being a run right through his vacated area for a 1st down. Undisciplined play.</span></li>
<li><span>11th snap, Myles Jack is conferring to Anthony Jefferson at the snap, not paying attention to the play. UCLA lucks out that Mariota rolls out to the other side of the field.</span></li>
</ul>
<p><i>4th drive of the 2nd half:</i></p>
<p> </p>
<ul>
<li><span>1st snap, Bryon Marshall motions across the formation. UCLA is clearly in man coverage and the linebackers switch on the motion. Once he motions, it becomes Eric Kendricks' responsibility. He doesn't recognize that and stays in instead of widening out to account for the motion. Once he does recognize it, the play is already in progress. Mariota swings it to Marshall and he picks up 29 yards because there was no one covering him out of the backfield. Then, to compound his error, Kendricks take a poor angle and misses the tackle in the open field which gives Marshall an additional 10 yards.</span></li>
<li><span>3rd snap, UCLA is in man coverage again with the safety around 25 yards deep for some reason. Mariota rolls out to the right side at the snap. Myles Jack is over the TE Pharaoh Brown again. He looks at Brown after the snap, sees Brown selling a block on Owa and then he starts cheating to the right despite having no chance to make a play over there. Brown slips out for a screen, Jack gets blocked easily by a WR running a slant inside. Brown gets 31 yards and puts Oregon inside the 10-yard line.</span></li>
<li><span>5th snap, UCLA's entire DL is not prepared for the quick snap by Oregon at the 2-yard line. Oregon scores easily to go up 42-10.</span></li>
</ul>
<p>The offense wasn't exempt from looking totally lost at times either. On the flea-flicker on the 2nd drive of the game, Eldridge Massington doesn't run any route in particular and then follows <span>Jordan Payton</span> to the sideline, giving Hundley no option on a trick play. Either that or the Bruins ran a flea-flicker where the deepest route was a 15-yard sideline out...on 2nd thought, that probably was what happened. I can totally imagine a scenario where Mazzone thinks that a 15-yard out is a solid first read on a trick play.</p>
<p>There was better pass protection but still some huge busts in blitz pickup. <span>Jake Brendel</span> looked awful on one play at the end of the first half. He lets a NT in a 3-down lineman set go right past him while looking for a blitzing ILB that never comes.</p>
<p><i>Some positives from this game to offset how difficult this column will be to finish:</i></p>
<p> </p>
<ul>
<li><span>Anthony Jefferson dislodging the ball from the WR on 3rd and 21 in the first quarter, broke on a route with confidence.</span></li>
<li><span>The offense starting a drive from under center from the UCLA 3-yard line on 1st down. Gets the offense some room to work with instead of taking a shotgun snap in the endzone.</span></li>
<li><span><span>Brett Hundley's</span> decision making on the read-option plays that UCLA ran in this game.</span></li>
<li><span>The friendly spot the officials gave UCLA on a slant for a 1st down to Eldridge Massington. Gave the Bruins an extra yard and a half. The officials would have issues with spots all game for both sides.</span></li>
<li><span>The lucky bounce that UCLA got on a way too early snap by Jake Brendel. Went off Hundley right into Perkins' arms and the play was unimpeded for a 14-yard gain when it could have easily been another turnover.</span></li>
<li><span><span>Scott Quessenberry</span> and Kenny Lacy pulling on run plays, as well as Malcolm Bunche and Caleb Benenoch. This was the best first half that the offensive line has played this season, but UCLA only put up 10 points.</span></li>
</ul>
<p><i>As always, the penalties are taken on a play-by-play basis:</i></p>
<p> </p>
<ol>
<li><span>A 15-yard facemask by Caleb Benenoch on UCLA's first offensive drive. UCLA had just gotten a first down and then have Benenoch pull all the way around the LT from RT (weird in itself). He gets to his responsibility and<i> instantly grabs the defenders facemask with his left hand and yanks down and that defender still sheds the block and makes the tackle.</i> Turns a 2nd and 8 into a 1st and 19 at the 9-yard line. Kills the drive. UCLA gets another 1st down because Brett Hundley is incredible, but the rhythm of the offense is shot after that.</span></li>
<li><span>A personal foul by <span>Carl Hulick</span> on a punt that was downed at the 17-yard line. Hulick gets trucked as one of the up-backs, so I'm assuming he got upset about that and unleashed his frustration on the Oregon player who hit him clean to try and block a punt. <i>Typical undisciplined UCLA play under Jim Mora.</i></span></li>
<li><span>Eldridge Massington undoes a big run by Hundley by pushing an Oregon defender in the back when Hundley already had him beat to the outside with speed. Lack of discipline once more. This was a deserved penalty, for clarification. Turns a 20+ yard run into a 1-yard loss.</span></li>
<li><span>Ishmael Adams gives Oregon a free 1st down on a 3rd and 2 by holding his man. The throw wasn't even to this WR. This would have been a 3-and-out after UCLA had just made the score 8-3. Instead, Oregon gets a 1st down at the 46-yard line.</span></li>
<li><span>Eddie Vanderdoes punches an Oregon lineman in the stomach because he's upset about getting driven backwards. Vanderdoes somehow avoids ejection, though he likely won't avoid being suspended next week. Still gets flagged for an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty and gives the Ducks 15 free yards instead of making the Ducks convert a 3rd and 3. Lack of discipline shines again.</span></li>
<li><span>Takkarist McKinley makes his first impact play as a UCLA Bruin. Blows up a fly sweep tap pass. Is in position to make a TFL on 1st and 10. Instead of getting into an athletic position and driving through to make the tackle, he reaches and grabs the facemask of Byron Marshall. Gives Oregon 15 yards and a 1st down.</span></li>
</ol>
<p>This was a total embarrassment in this category. I'm going with a <b>F (0.0)</b> here. It is deserved. This was the most unprepared I have seen UCLA look in a game since the Neuheisel era.</p>
<p><b><i>4.) Do our players play for 60 G-D minutes every game?</i></b></p>
<p>The 20-7 win in the 4th quarter would lead you to believe that the Bruins played hard through the end and I agree with that sentiment. The players on the field gave their best effort (whether or not some of them should be on the field in this game is another question).</p>
<p>UCLA did not lose this game because of their effort level. They lost because they were totally unprepared for this game in every aspect. <b>B (3.0)</b></p>
<p><b><i>5.) Do our players execute?</i></b></p>
<p>Skipping an intro and just getting right into the ugly stuff, with some positive sprinkled in.</p>
<p><i>Some observations about the dropped passes, sacks, fumbles, interceptions and missed tackles:</i></p>
<p> </p>
<ul>
<li><span>On the first drive of the game, UCLA threw out a new look in the running game. Pulling the tackle on the opposite side all the way across the field to try and set an edge for Perkins. It was a smart thought considering that Bunche and Benenoch are both guards playing tackle. The first time resulted in a 15-yard penalty by Benenoch, then UCLA ran the exact same play 3 snaps later for 3 yards where Malcolm Bunche pancaked the hell out of a linebacker but the playside guard Scott Quessenberry whiffs on his man and then turns and tackles Perkins on accident. Net gain on these two plays: -12 yards.</span></li>
<li><span>On a 3rd and 7, Hundley scrambles for 6 yards (I'd argue that he easily got 7 yards and got a poor spot from the side judge) but loses his helmet and has to sit out a play or force UCLA to use a timeout to get him back on the field for a 4th down conversion (which is what should have happened in a must win game, but NFL mindset wins out). On first viewing, it looked like Oregon ripped off Hundley's helmet. In reality, <i>IT WAS KENNY LACY TRYING TO PULL HUNDLEY FORWARD</i>. A Bruin offensive lineman took off his QB's helmet. That happened in this game.</span></li>
<li><span>The sack and fumble was rough to rewatch because you see a visible adjustment made by Hundley backfire on him. Last week, Hundley got sacked once because he didn't recognize a corner blitz off the left side. Oregon shows the same corner blitz early and Hundley does what he is supposed to do as a QB. Signals to the WR for a hot route in case of a blitz. While Hundley looks back for the snap, the corner drops out to cover the hot route WR in man and the slot defender from the right side blitzes instead. While Caleb Benenoch does a poor job of not recognizing a defensive end blitzing from the slot (probably should have been a red flag that <span>Tony Washington</span> was over Jordan Payton on this play) and helps inside, leaving Washington unblocked. Hundley looks to the single WR, who is covered and is <b>sacked at 2.28 seconds after the snap</b> by my watch. Hit sends the ball 10 yards back and Oregon recovers.</span></li>
<li><span>Anthony Jefferson gets juked by <span>Taylor Alie</span> on the 2 point conversion. Not a good look for a very good player. If UCLA gets the stop there, then 6-0 Oregon after they got the ball at the 13-yard line to start a drive isn't bad.</span></li>
<li><span><span>Cameron Judge</span>, who has probably been the special teams player of the year for UCLA thus far, whiffs on his man on a kickoff return. Adams get tackled at the 15-yard line. This game was so bad that the special teams even played poorly.</span></li>
<li><span>Scott Quessenberry gets beat inside instantly on a 2nd and 5 that ends up being a 1-yard loss by Hundley. This was a sack that wasn't counted as one for some reason by the official stats.</span></li>
<li><span>Kenny Young does everything right, but misses a tackle and turns a 1-yard gain into a 9-yard gain on 1st down in the process.</span></li>
<li><span>Myles Jack just gets flat out beat in man coverage by Pharaoh Brown for a TD.</span></li>
<li><span>Negative for Brett Hundley: He tries to do way too much on another sack that wasn't counted as a sack. Oregon does that DE from the slot corner blitz again, but Perkins is swinging into the flat right where the blitz comes from. Hundley is looking that way, sees Perkins with no defender in front of him for at least 10 yards and tucks and tries to get around the left side. He also has Duarte on a curl wide open for a 2nd read. This was one play after he'd scrambled for 25 yards, so he looked to be trying to single handedly take UCLA into the endzone when he just needed to trust his teammates.</span></li>
<li><span>Positive for Hundley: The next play he does exactly what he's supposed to do against the exact same blitz. Dumps it to Duarte in the vacated area for 8 yards to make 3rd down manageable.</span></li>
<li><span>Positive for Hundley: Making an unblocked NT miss on a pass play and then throwing it away to keep the clock from running down.</span></li>
<li><span>Ishmael Adams gets trucked by Freeman in the open field, giving Freeman an extra 5 yards.</span></li>
<li><span>Tahaan Goodman decides that it is a good idea to trash talk Byron Marshall after Marshall picked up 7 yards and a first down to give Oregon a 1st and 10 from the UCLA 23-yard line.</span></li>
<li><span>Tyler Scott is for some reason still in the game on the drive after UCLA goes down 35-10. He runs an atrocious route as Hundley's primary read, gets rerouted and forces Hundley to check down to Fuller for no gain. <b><i>WHY WAS HE IN THE GAME?</i></b></span></li>
<li><span>Malcolm Bunche gets embarrassed on a key 3rd and 5. DE runs right around the edge and tackles Hundley for no gain, which is the only way this avoids being a sack.</span></li>
<li><span>Some kind of missed communication between Caleb Benenoch and <span>Ben Wysocki</span> (who actually came in for Scott Quessenberry late in the 3rd quarter) on a 2nd and 10 on UCLA's last drive of the 3rd quarter. It's a read option to the left side and Wysocki down blocks, which seems like the way UCLA normally blocks this play. But Benenoch just kind of floats out to the right. This looks bizarre on replay. He's just in the middle of the field with no defender or offensive player within 5 yards of him. Bunche gets beat inside on the left side of the play. Whether Perkins or Hundley got this ball it was going to be a TFL.</span></li>
</ul>
<p>This wasn't nearly as bad as the third section, but still a rough outing on all 3 aspects of on-the-field play. <b>C- (1.7)</b></p>
<p><b><i>6.) Do we have leaders on the field?</i></b></p>
<p>2nd week in a row I am redirecting this a little bit towards the sideline.</p>
<p>The NFL-mindset of Jim Mora isn't going away. It probably never will because it is asking a man to undo a lifetime of experience doing things one way.</p>
<p>Kicking a 20-yard FG against Oregon is not an option. 4th and goal from the 2-yard line on a team with Brett Hundley at QB, Myles Jack and Eddie Vanderdoes as options at RB and with a rushing offense that averaged 6+ yards per carry in this game and to end a 17 PLAY DRIVE. Inexcusable and cowardly, to be honest.</p>
<p><b><i>But that is the NFL wa</i>y. <i>Take the points. You need those 3s.</i></b></p>
<p>Realistically, in the worst case scenario, you're making Oregon go 98 yards to score after you've stopped them on both real drives in the 1st quarter.</p>
<p>Trying to kick a 41-yard FG on a 4th and 3 from the 23-yard line down 15-3 was perhaps even more cowardly. There is no difference between being down 12 points and being down 9 points in a football game. Mathematical difference, sure. But it is still a 2 score game, Oregon still has the confidence that they stopped you after scoring a touchdown on their last drive and having their offense start to click. That isn't even taking into consideration that Kai'mi Fairbairn is a totally different kicker (mentally, physically, whatever) from outside of 40 yards.</p>
<p><b><i>But that is the NFL way</i>. <i>Take the points. You need those 3s.</i></b></p>
<p>Punting on a 4th and 5 from the 42-yard line while your team is down 35-10 in the 3rd quarter was even more cowardly than any of those previous decisions.</p>
<p><b>Really, I should have stopped counting stats from this point forward because <i>this is point where the coaching staff gave up on the game.</i></b></p>
<p>Is anyone surprised that the defense gave up more points after that decision? Punting there is a coach ending the game in the 3rd quarter. It's the most cowardly decision that I have seen Mora make.</p>
<p>As far as players go: Think of the stars of this team coming into the season. Myles Jack and Eric Kendricks on defense, the best linebacking tandem in the NCAA. Brett Hundley, the dual-threat Heisman candidate.</p>
<p>Myles Jack made back-to-back outstanding plays on the 2nd drive of the game. A TFL and a pass deflection, but he went out his way to taunt Oregon's sideline after both plays. If you want a little insight into why UCLA is the most penalized team in college football, look at those plays.</p>
<p>Remember Anthony Barr's celebrations? You shouldn't because he acknowledged his teammates and jogged back to the line of scrimmage unless it was a game ending sack against Southern Cal.</p>
<p>Jack is arguably the most talented linebacker in the NCAA, but he needed to be checked after those two plays. Discipline is taught from the top. It is no surprise he got beat deep on the 31-yard TD pass. Jamming a TE on the line when you have no safety help is an undisciplined play by a player that has been Cowboy-ing on defense the entire season.</p>
<p>Eric Kendricks was bad in this game. I don't know who was in his jersey in this game, but it wasn't the Eric Kendricks I have watched play over the years. Cheating instead of reading plays and then trusting your instincts is not the player that Kendricks is. He has to be furious with himself after this game.</p>
<p>Brett Hundley did play like a leader and carried the offense on his back in this game for long stretches but his coordinator was thoroughly out-coached by a defensive coordinator that also doubles as his team's linebacker coach (perhaps a concept worth looking into). Oregon's defensive game-plan was outstanding in this game.</p>
<p>A coordinator that puts in walk-on WRs in key situations, doesn't have enough courage to overrule a head coach on 4th down conversion attempts, creates trick plays that fool nobody, and who failed to maximize the running ability of a QB who rushed for nearly 1000 yards a season ago until the 6th game of the season does not belong coaching the talent on UCLA's roster.</p>
<p>There is no leadership from the sideline, how can you expect there to be tons of it on the field?</p>
<p><b>D (1.0)</b> and this is the grade I am most upset about.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><b>Final Grade Card for the <a href="https://www.addictedtoquack.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Oregon Ducks</a></b></p>
<p> </p>
<p>1.) Is our defense prepared for each and every team we play? <b>D- (0.7)</b></p>
<p>2.) Do we call offensive plays to catch our opponents off guard? <b>D+ (1.3)</b></p>
<p>3.) Do our players look like they know what they should be doing at all times? <b>F (0.0)</b></p>
<p>4.) Do our players play for 60 G-D minutes every game? <b>B (3.0)</b></p>
<p>5.) Do our players execute? <b>C- (1.7)</b></p>
<p>6.) Do we have leaders on the field?<b> D (1.0)</b></p>
<p><b>Oregon GPA: D+ (1.3)</b></p>
<p>For reference, the GPA in UCLA's previous loss to Utah was <b>C-/D+ (1.6) </b>and seemed like the low-point of 2014. The win over Arizona State was a <b>B+ (3.4)</b>, which was the high mark of 2014. The wins over Texas <b>C (2.2)</b>, Memphis <b>C (2.2)</b> and Virginia <b>C+ (2.5)</b> all saw UCLA look exceptionally mediocre.</p>
<p>There is not much else to be said. UCLA can either implode the rest of the season, keep winning games they should win and losing games they should lose, or rebound and win out for a Pac-12 Championship and a New Year's bowl game. The playoffs are out of the picture barring a further destruction of the college football landscape.</p>
<p>Go Bruins!</p>
https://www.bruinsnation.com/ucla-oregon-bruins-ducks/2014/10/13/6968373/the-eye-test-uclas-coaching-staff-and-schemes-exposed-by-oregonIE Angel2014-10-13T10:38:57-07:002014-10-13T10:38:57-07:00Has Mora Lost Control Over UCLA Football Program?<h3 class="link-title"><a rel="nofollow" href="/rss/stream/6727232">Has Mora Lost Control Over UCLA Football&nbsp;Program?</a></h3>
<div class="description"><p><p>Sources painting bleak picture of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UCLA?src=hash">#UCLA</a> situation ..."no discipline, rarely work hard at practice, staff appears lost"</p>— Rich Cirminiello (@RichCirminiello) <a href="https://twitter.com/RichCirminiello/status/521661570779480064">October 13, 2014</a></p></div>
https://www.bruinsnation.com/2014/10/13/6970125/has-mora-lost-control-over-ucla-football-programBellerophon2014-10-13T10:35:35-07:002014-10-13T10:35:35-07:00Bruin Bites: "It All Comes Down To Coaching"
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/UXqwt3AdvrtH1YkKmF0BzM4V6bw=/0x240:3031x2261/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/41781268/151012576.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Scott Halleran</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Coming off of two bad losses, the local media stress that Mora the same won't work. Here are a few observations from UCLA football's local beat writers.</p> <p>The local media spends day in and day out with the UCLA football team. They know this team, these coaches, and have a better view than most as to what is going on with the team. Let's take a look at what some of them are saying.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.ocregister.com/articles/mora-638255-ucla-season.html">Ryan Kartje</a> <span>of the OC Register asks the essential question: </span></p>
<blockquote>
<p><span>So how, after so much optimism and hype before season, does UCLA find itself freefalling?</span></p>
</blockquote>
<p><span>In a conference call with Coach Mora Sunday evening, the press was given some direction for how to answer that question from Mora (</span><a href="http://www.ocregister.com/articles/mora-638255-ucla-season.html">from Kartje</a><span>): </span></p>
<blockquote>
<p><span>Whenever you write anything, the guy that should get all the blame is me, all right...Not the players, not the assistants – I’m the one that gets paid to do it the most. I’ve got the big shoulders. So if you’re ever in a situation where you’d like to blame someone, blame me.</span></p>
</blockquote>
<p>And he is right. We have criticized the play calling and the work being done by some of our coaches and staff, but in the end, Coach Mora hired them, Coach Mora supervises them and Coach Mora can fire them.</p>
<p>Mora continues:</p>
<blockquote>
<p><span>I wish you guys could see how how hard these kids work, and these coaches, but I know it doesn’t matter when you don’t win. It’s my job to shoulder the burden, so if there’s someone you’re aiming it, aim it at me, please.</span></p>
</blockquote>
<p>We agree. But it doesn't mean that criticism of the assistants should cease. After all, if their actions are a problem, then what they are doing needs to be pointed out and fixed. Especially, when asked about Coach Ulbrich and the job he is doing, you get a response like this:</p>
<blockquote>
<p><span>I think he’s doing a good job and getting better every week.</span></p>
</blockquote>
<p>Ryan Kartje and Edward Lewis (of <a href="https://ucla.rivals.com/default.asp">Bruins Sports Report)</a> in their <a href="http://www.ocregister.com/ucla/cover-638225-oregon-recap.html">Cover Two Recap</a> of Saturday's game had some very pointed things to say about the coaching staff as reflected on the field.</p>
<p>Lewis points out that while UCLA was never really in the game after the first quarter, that UCLA individually matches up well with Oregon and might even be better.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>So clearly it came down to coaching.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>With regards to the defense they note that Oregon ran at will. UCLA "didn't even have the fight to stay in this game" and they gave up three unanswered touchdowns. UCLA didn't look like they had a chance past the 1st quarter. They go on to discuss what an open, stand up guy Coach Ulbrich is. How he takes responsibility for the defense's performance and blame in front of the cameras but at some point "you just have to ask for more".</p>
<blockquote>
<p>It's hard to really see a part of their defense in which they've improved in this season...</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Kartje uses sacks as an example, noting that the press has been asking about sacks the entire season and UCLA still has 7 sacks in 6 games. Kartje goes on to discuss that lack of in-game and even different game adjustments Ulbrich has made on defense. He points out the he used the nickel all game long against Utah, and then again against Oregon.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>It was kind of why are you doing that? Where are the adjustments?</p>
</blockquote>
<p>They say that the coaching staff needs to make some big changes that will lead to a better team effort and stop it from spiraling downward.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, the biggest change they note is not in what is happening on the field, but in Mora's demeanor off the field. They said they thought they (the press) was all alarmed by Mora in the post-game press conference. Instead of being "pumped up", "rowdy", "pounding fists", and "in your mouth", he was talking about fan support and the player's energy. <a href="http://www.bruinsnation.com/ucla-oregon-bruins-ducks/2014/10/9/6953415/spaulding-report-comparing-expectations-and-quarterbacks">Like gbruin,</a> they contrast this with Mora's fight and anger after last year's loss. Kartje:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>I think people just want to see him mad.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>but instead</p>
<blockquote>
<p>he got somewhat defensive...</p>
<p>You wonder what's happening inside the locker room. What are they telling these guys. A lot of people would have given their complete trust in Jim Mora at the beginning of this season. I wonder how many still feel that way.</p>
</blockquote>
<p><a href="http://www.ocregister.com/ucla/cover-638225-oregon-recap.html">Watch for yourselves:</a></p>
<p><span><iframe frameborder="0" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/jw5WRbmNwOg" height="315" width="420"></iframe></span></p>
<p>Chris Foster of the L.A. Times also points to the glaring problems with our <a href="http://www.latimes.com/sports/ucla/la-sp-ucla-football-20141013-story.html">ability to stop the ball</a>:</p>
<blockquote>
<p><span>the Bruins need to solve some serious issues. For starters, they have allowed 500 yards rushing the last two games.</span></p>
</blockquote>
<p><a href="http://www.dailynews.com/sports/20141011/ucla-reaches-crossroad-after-42-30-loss-to-no-12-oregon">Jack Wang</a> from The Daily News also notes the defense's inability to stop the run:</p>
<blockquote>
<p><span>The Ducks’ three unanswered touchdown drives to start the second half all ended on runs: one by Mariota and two by true freshman <span>Royce Freeman</span>, who rushed for a career-high 121 yards. They averaged 6.07 yards per carry, easily the most of any Bruin opponent this season.</span></p>
<p><span>Oregon (5-1, 2-1) gained yards so efficiently on the ground that it <b>only faced two third downs in the second half.</b></span></p>
</blockquote>
<p>(Emphasis mine.)</p>
<p>Wang quotes <span>Myles Jack</span> who may be saying it better than anyone:</p>
<blockquote>
<p><span>"We have to change something that — maybe the coaches will figure out, or something we’ll figure out," Jack said. "Something’s gotta change."</span></p>
</blockquote>
<p>Go Bruins!</p>
https://www.bruinsnation.com/ucla_bruin_football/2014/10/13/6969289/ucla-bruins-football-bruin-bites-football-it-all-comes-down-to-coachinguclaluv2014-10-12T18:51:35-07:002014-10-12T18:51:35-07:00Mora: Ulbrich getting better every week<h3 class="link-title"><a rel="nofollow" href="/rss/stream/6727232">Mora: Ulbrich getting better every&nbsp;week</a></h3>
<div class="description"><p><p>Here's what Coach Mora had to say in his Sunday conference call about Coach Ulbrich.</p></p></div>
https://www.bruinsnation.com/2014/10/12/6967511/mora-ulbrich-getting-better-every-weekuclaluv2014-10-12T15:52:24-07:002014-10-12T15:52:24-07:00Ducks Coaches' Quotes Show UCLA Coaches' Failures
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<img alt="Linebacker Eric Kendricks and Head Coach Jim Mora. What could they be talking about?" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/xBN9nkHb4KXhWHg0zzK8j810fkY=/0x30:2453x1665/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/41705596/20141011_ads_usa_185.JPG.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Linebacker Eric Kendricks and Head Coach Jim Mora. What could they be talking about? | Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>If you want to know about the state of coaching at UCLA, you don't have to listen to us. You can just listen to the Oregon coaches. </p> <p>There has been plenty of criticism aimed at Jim Mora, Jeff Ulbrich, Adrian Klemm, and the Mazzones over the last few weeks, both here on Bruins Nation and elsewhere around the UCLA related interwebs.</p>
<p>But those coaches also have their defenders at those places, too, and for those myopic apologists who have a hard time facing facts (a group that includes Dan Guerrero), it's too easy to bury their heads in the sand and say it's all just noise from the irrational fan base.</p>
<p>They don't like hearing it from us? Fine. Then maybe they'll listen to someone else. Someone closer to the situation.</p>
<p>Someone, like, say, the Oregon Offensive Coordinator... (from <a href="http://www.latimes.com/sports/ucla/uclanow/la-sp-ucla-we-learned-loss-oregon-20141011-story.html#page=1">Everett Cook at the LAT</a>)</p>
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<p>After the game, Oregon offensive coordinator Scott Frost said he ran a pretty conservative plan, mostly because the Ducks were running the ball so well even without using the complicated stuff.</p>
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<p>Or maybe the Oregon Head Coach...</p>
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<p>Coach Mark Helfrich said they had a lot more planned for their quarterback, <span>Marcus Mariota</span>, but they didn't need to use it because they were scoring so easily.</p>
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<p>Or how about the Oregon Offensive Line Coach (you know, the guy whose unit gave up zero sacks yesterday)...</p>
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<p>Offensive line coach Steve Greatwood said they anticipated pretty much everything UCLA did. There weren't any surprises.</p>
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<p>It kills me to blog this stuff, because I thought we had everything in place this year for a very special season, but it's not happening and we need to take a hard look on what has gone wrong for this team. I don't see how anyone can question the talent and the character of these kids on the team. There is maybe an exception or two, but it's not remotely enough to go from preseason #1 in some polls to out of the top 25 in the latest.</p>
<p>So that has to point the finger at the coaching staff.</p>
<p>And in a profession where the coaches share a certain fraternity so that you rarely hear anything critical uttered about an opposing coaching staff, those three quotes are pretty damning. Our defense offered no surprises. They were scoring so easily, and with just their conservative plays.</p>
<p>What's that say about our game plan and in-game adjustments yesterday?</p>
<p>Even <a href="http://www.latimes.com/sports/ucla/uclanow/la-sp-ucla-we-learned-loss-oregon-20141011-story.html#page=1">Cook can put it all together</a>.</p>
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<p>And then, on UCLA's side, linebacker <span>Eric Kendricks</span> said that the Bruins are going to go back to fundamentals this week and focus on the things they worked on in training camp.</p>
<p>It's October. Fundamentals should be, for the most part, figured out. One team talked about saving offensive wrinkles because they didn't need them, and one talked about trying to relearn the basic fundamentals of football. <b>Without a doubt, that's on the coaches.</b></p>
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<p>Of course, it could also be that everyone knows those fundamentals, and it's the creative and analytical and insightful coaches who can build from those fundamentals and create something unique and surprising and effective.</p>
<p>The emphasis in bold in the final graf is mine. But it could be Cook's. And it sure sounds like Oregon's staff's. It ought to be every Bruin fan's. And it better damn well be Mora's immediately, because he and Ulbrich (and the rest of the staff) got owned by the Oregon coaches yesterday. Sadly, It's not the first time our coaches have been beaten this year, and I'm afraid it won't be the last.</p>
<p>Go Bruins!</p>
https://www.bruinsnation.com/2014/10/12/6966881/oregon-coaches-comments-highlight-ucla-coaches-failuresgbruin2014-10-12T15:25:24-07:002014-10-12T15:25:24-07:00Mora Back to Blaming His Players
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<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/cGeiVvgzf23zK9jpZ2jcAsF9DcY=/0x0:4000x2667/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/41705080/20141011_ads_al2_188.JPG.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Looks like old habits die hard for Jim Mora, who is responding to the pressure by throwing his kicker under the bus</p> <p>Everyone is rightfully concentrated on the embarrassing sideline blowup between Jim Mora and Jeff Ulbrich yesterday, and it's no surprise that <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8MOWzWqLAlg">Mora led with that in his presser</a>. However, also buried in his opening statement was this ugly little nugget that we just happened to notice:</p>
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<p>You know, when you play a team like Oregon, you got to be almost perfect to beat ‘em. They’re just so explosive and so good and umm, I think we did some things today that were really positive, but we shot ourselves in the foot a couple of times. I think that the turnovers hurt us, certainly. You know when you got a team like, you give them a short field, it’s going to make it extremely difficult on your offense, or I’m sorry, on your defense. Umm you know obviously umm we’ve got to, <b>we’ve got to figure out how to put the ball through the uprights, and we need those threes.</b></p>
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<p>Again, this came out of his opening statement, and this is the tone he wants to set for the news conference. There were four major points: Addressing the Ulbrich situation, talking about how Oregon is good, begging the fans to come back to the Rose Bowl after two consecutive stinkers his team laid there, and tossing his kicker under the bus.</p>
<p>First things first. Yeah, a 41 yarder is in Ka'imi Fairbairn's limited range and should be a make. You know how much that matters? Not a damn bit. It is insane in this particular game to go to that and think that it is worthy of being a lead topic in such a comprehensive failure.</p>
<p>Shooting ourselves in the foot? Sorry, but Fairbairn didn't do that. Mora did. Mora did that with his typical gutless NFL conservative style call to trot his kicker out there when we've got 2 yards to pick up to put us into Oregon's red zone. Mora did that by not recognizing that our opponent is not a nickel and dime, dink and dunk, field position style team. This was Oregon. Is Jim Mora familiar with them yet? They're the team that averages 43 points per game, that doesn't give a damn about our piddly 3 points when they're going for 6 every F-ing time, and then goes for the 2 points afterwards just because they can.</p>
<p>Best case scenario, the Bruins close to within 9 points and give the ball back to the Mariota express and they march down the field again and make it a two possession game. Lo and behold, that's what they went and did! Missed FG or not, on Oregon's next possession, it took them 3 minutes to march 77 yards into the endzone. Ironically enough, Oregon's kicker missed that PAT. Know why Oregon didn't care? Know why Helfrich doesn't feel the need to lament not being able to put the ball through the uprights? Cause they already had six points in their pocket.</p>
<p>Then again, throwing kickers under the bus to distract from his own coaching inadequacies is <a href="http://www.bruinsnation.com/2011/12/8/2621839/seattle-atlanta-fans-lambasted-mora-for-poor-personnel-evaluation">nothing new for Jim Mora</a>. It's pathetic. Mora says he knows that Oregon is explosive and that they're good, but he sure doesn't coach like it. This wouldn't be so upsetting if I knew our fanbase was smart enough to not fall for this kind of red herring. But I have little faith that UCLA fans won't fall into the Herpaderp Fairbairn Hate Train conducted by Mora, rather than looking at the coaches that call for field goals on Oregon's 4 and 23 yard line in a game where even made field goals are next to worthless. So if you're going to come in here and start running your mouth about our kicker all while not mentioning and ignoring the much bigger issue at hand here, then congrats, you're just another one of Mora's useful idiots in this fanbase and you deserve games like yesterday's.</p>
https://www.bruinsnation.com/ucla_bruin_football/2014/10/12/6966577/mora-the-same-mora-blaming-his-playersTydides