UCLA Vs Cal: Position Group Report Card
It was a tough win but the Bruins managed to pull out a win up at Berkeley for the first time since 1998. It was the seventh road win in a row for UCLA nd they did it behind some tough football. Aside from some crucial turnovers, the Bruins had this game well in hand. Here is the position group report card for UCLA Vs Cal:
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Quarterbacks: B
Brett Hundley having a fumble and an interception was bad and lead to 14 points for Cal (UCLA had three turnovers that resulted in a total of 21 points). The plus side is that in the passed for 330 yards with two touchdowns and added 94 rushing yards with a touchdown.
Running Backs: B+
The Bruins have been doing an increasingly better job at getting a run game going. UCLA had totaled 237 yards carrying the ball with Hundley getting 94 and Paul Perkins getting 86. Jordan James added a touchdown with some time on the field after Perkins went out with an injury. Myles Jack even got in the game with two rushes for 18 yards.
Receivers: A-
it seems general knowledge that Hundley is good passer. He’s complaining 72.5% of his passes right now which you have to credit his receivers as well. Once again the Bruins were throwing the ball all over the field as ten Bruins tallied a reception. The receiving unit was doing a good job of getting to where they need to be and making big plays. So many that they went for 330 yards through the air. Eight players got 20 or more yards for the game with Perkins topping everybody as he collected 75 yards with two touchdowns.
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Offensive Line: B+
With Malcolm Bunche moving over to the guard spot and Connor McDermott at left tackle, things were a lot more stable for UCLA. Cal had put on some pressure, but the offensive line has been steadily getting better and showed it during this game as they allowed UCLA to total 567 yards. The Cal defense got pressure, but the line did even better to push forward.
Defensive Line: B+
If not applying pressure was a problem before, UCLA is addressing that and is doing everything they can to get guys into the backfield and disrupt the opposition’s game plan. UCLA did not register any sacks but they did have several tackles for loss by Owamagbe Odighizuwa, Takkarist McKinley, Ellis McCarthy and Kenneth Clark. Getting into the backfield and disrupting the opposition’s passing/running game and it seems that UCLA is finally getting on the track.
Linebackers: B
Once again Eric Kendricks and Myles Jack were the linchpins for the linebacking corps. Along with the frontline, the linebackers and helped limit Cal’s running game to 56 yards. Though the Golden Bears are known to be more of a passing team it was great to see that UCLA can shut down any sort of ground game. Now they just need to improve on their aerial protection game.
Oct 18, 2014; Berkeley, CA, USA; UCLA Bruins defensive back Marcus Rios (9) intercepts a pass intended for California Golden Bears wide receiver Kenny Lawler (4) in the fourth quarter at Memorial Stadium. The Bruins defeated the Golden Bears 36-34. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports
Defensive Backs: B-
You can’t really be too hard on the unit that did not do the best in the game overall, but ended up saving the win for the Bruins. Aside from giving up 310 yards and 3 touchdowns through the air, cornerback Marcus Rios made a game saving interception that had to be reviewed because of the angle of the catch and where he landed. The catch was ruled good and UCLA had saved a win despite the unit not having its best game.
Special Teams: B
if kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn is putting the ball through the uprights then we have nothing to talk about. Fairbairn was getting some heat in the two losses for crucial field-goal misses. but he turned it around to get a three scores against Cal (not to mention his extra points). As for returns, teams are getting wise to not kicking to Ishmael Adams. The Golden Bears had several squib kicks that sent the ball to the second line of UCLA’s kick return team, giving UCLA decent field position anyway. A win-win here.