The UCLA Football team and their “Amoeba Offense” will use elements of both the power game and the spread offense, which could inject some life into the team.
Before I talk about the “Amoeba Offense”, I have to give credit to my Go Joe Bruin writer and What’s Bruin Show podcast co-host Jake Merrifield who coined the term.
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What is this “Amoeba Offense”? It is the offensive style that will utilize UCLA Football‘s offensive system of the last four years (the spread offense) and add some power elements to it.
It seems that when Head Coach Jim Mora and Offensive Coordinator Kennedy Polamalu decided to add some power to the offense, it was misconstrued and believed that the Bruins were going completely toward smash mouth football.
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The worries are warranted as another Go Joe Bruin writer, Michael Hanna, pointed out in his article The Philosophical Gamble That Could Define The Jim Mora Era of UCLA Football. Simply, Hanna states that a complete shift would be risky because (1) they do not have the players for the system and (2) UCLA has not proven to be a very disciplined team that could handle the power game.
Both points are a huge cause for concern, but it does not seem UCLA is “all in” with the power game. That is probably why Mora got a little miffed during spring practice when it was brought up that the Bruins were going to a “pro-style offense”. He stated they were not a “pro style” team and reiterated several times during spring that the Bruins would also use a lot of their offense from last season. And why not? Go with what you got.
During the Spring Showcase, UCLA continually put out four receivers on different plays, but also used a fullback to power their short game. That is what this “Amoeba Offense” is and it could be a very good thing.
With sophomore QB Josh Rosen looking to top his record breaking freshman season, this new offense could open up a lot of opportunities for him and the offense.
Next: Using The Amoeba In Game Planning and Match Ups
Game Planning
UCLA already has a very good ground game with Soso Jamabo, Nate Starks and Bolu Olorunfunmi and will be a lot stronger with fullbacks and tight ends in the mix. Additionaly, we could see more runs and read options from Rosen now that he has QB help.
Rosen is still getting used to his new flock of receivers after his top three left after last season, but with more attention given to the run, the “Amoeba Offense” could help the passing game flourish. UCLA has several young speedsters, so if they develop in the new offense, we could see an exciting passing game.
The only question with all of this is how the offensive line will hold up. They also lost three players from last season, but Conor McDermott, Scott Quessenberry, Kenny Lacy and Kolton Miller will help keep it all stable while the Bruins find their nitch.
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Match Ups
Another reason why having an offense that can morph between a spread and power offense are the match ups it creates against specific teams. How great would it be for the Bruins to base their game against Stanford in the power (and hopefully be successful) and then the next week, attack Arizona’s weak pass defense with the spread?
Even better, the Bruins can make in-game adjustments with both elements if a certain style is working better against a certain opponent. The Bruins can go away from forcing plays that haunted them late in 2015 as defenses were able to figure out what former OC Noel Mazzone was doing way too often. That will change this year.
Next: The Use Of Power Is Nothing New For UCLA
The Use of Power Is Nothing New
It is definitely a risk to go in a direction like this, but if the “Amoeba Offense” works, it could help UCLA’s offense really take off. If anything, it will keep the Bruin’s opponents on their toes.
Though this new offense will help the Bruins expand their horizons, it is nothing new. We have seen what power can do for the UCLA football team in recent years and they have been very successful with it.
Remember the 2013 UCLA Football game at Arizona? The Bruins were down to the bare minimum with running backs as several were out of this game due to injuries. Then someone that you usually see on the field with the defense, was on the field with the offense in a particularly awkward looking formation (awkward in the fact that Bruin fans have not seen it before this game, but would see it a lot more after).
UCLA was in a power/diamond formation with linebacker
Myles Jackon the field and what happened next was incredible. Jack finished the game with six carries and 120 rushing yards which was highlighted by a a 66-yard touchdown run.
It has been so successful that even DT Eddie Vanderdoes has a touchdown in the UCLA’s power formation. Now that is the type of football that will keep UCLA’s opponents guessing.
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The power can and has worked for UCLA. What Polamalu wants to do with it is embed it more into the offense so UCLA can use it at a moment’s notice. If UCLA can catch teams off guard with their ever-changing “Amoeba Offense”, then we could be in for a very exciting season. Go Bruins!