Looking Ahead To The New UCLA Defense – Tom Bradley Has A Lot Of Options

Now that UCLA has a defensive coordinator in position, the next step for recently hired Tom Bradley is figuring out what to do with the hand the that he has been dealt. As one of the most successful college football defensive coordinators in the last two decades landing at UCLA, Bradley takes over a talented team that was third in arguably the best conference in the nation. But what happens with the UCLA defense now? That question has already started to find it’s answers the day Bradley was hired.

UCLA Bruins

Forget that this will be Jim Mora‘s fourth year at UCLA. In regards to the defense, it might as well be his first. The Bruins are venturing into new territory with their defense for the third time in three years. That is not good for consistency, yet surprisingly, the Bruins have been sustainably consistent. The thing they have not been is elite.

What needs to happen now in Westwood is not only trying to figure out where the #BruinRevolution is going but to make sure it is heading toward greatness. That starts with a few simple steps that Bradley is most likely going over with a fine tooth comb. For UCLA, the question is, what is the best defense?

Whether or not UCLA will be elite is yet to be determined. Right now, they have to decide if they are going to continue along the path of the 3-4 defense that Jim Mora prefers or move to something more familiar with Bradley. During his time at Penn State, he worked with a 4-3. Last year at West Virginia, he was part of a defense that ran a 3-3-5 formation. Though that last scheme does not seem plausible for UCLA to run, it is not out of the question, for reasons we will get into. Right now, Bradley and the Bruins have to run what best suits them.

So many options, so many combinations and so many ways to try to make the UCLA defense a legitimate threat in 2015.

The defensive line and linebackers are not the deepest position group but they are not devoid of talent. It seems that the constant in this UCLA defense, Jim Mora, would prefer to keep things in a 3-4 set, but the Bruins have also shown that they can be flexible to different formations. In the last two years, UCLA has implemented more of a nickel back formation (four defensive backs with a fifth that is a DB/LB hybrid), which was put into heavy rotation last year in Jeff Ulbrich‘s first and only season as a defensive coordinator. Part of that was due to UCLA being very deep and talented in the secondary.

Though the imbalance in the roster would favor a 3-3-5, it just does not seem plausible for the Bruins to run it, especially in conference.

Nov 8, 2014; Austin, TX, USA; (Editors note: Caption correction) West Virginia Mountaineers senior associate head coach Tom Bradley prior to kickoff against the Texas Longhorns at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brendan Maloney-USA TODAY Sports

Though the Pac-12 is overflowing with quarterback talent in several spread-offenses, it is also stacked with players that can and will run the ball down their opponents throat. That is where the 3-3-5 could be exposed. Despite not having a lot of depth at DL and LB, look for UCLA to continue to run use a 3-4 and even throw in a 4-3, mainly to have that “Front 7” presence.

Sep 25, 2014; Tempe, AZ, USA; UCLA Bruins defensive lineman Takkarist McKinley (98) hits Arizona State Sun Devils running back Demario Richard at Sun Devil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Another thing to watch out for is the fact that the Bruins have a lot more choices for pass rushing. Last season the Bruins were blessed when Takkarist McKinley committed mid-season and played one week later against Arizona State. Then there was the emergence of Deon Hollins who became a solid weapon later in the season (he had 3 sacks in the Alamo Bowl). The Bruins might also a have a third option with the pass rush this fall as in-coming freshman Keisean Lucier-South could make it into a few games in his first year.

Though Bradley is most likely busy constructing his defense as you read this, he comes into Westwood with a lot of tools and choice of schemes at his disposal. Though it might take a season or two to implement what he feels is best for the Bruins, right now he is like a kid in a candy store. So many options, so many combinations and so many ways to try to make the UCLA defense a legitimate threat in 2015.