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UCLA Football: UCLA vs Arizona Early Analysis

By Michael Chavez

Sep 26, 2015; Tucson, AZ, USA; UCLA Bruins running back Paul Perkins (24) scores a touchdown during the second quarter against the Arizona Wildcats at Arizona Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Casey Sapio-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 26, 2015; Tucson, AZ, USA; UCLA Bruins running back Paul Perkins (24) scores a touchdown during the second quarter against the Arizona Wildcats at Arizona Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Casey Sapio-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 19, 2015; Albuquerque, NM, USA; Arizona Wildcats quarterback Anu Solomon (12) drops back to pass during the first half against the New Mexico Lobos in the 2015 New Mexico Bowl at University Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 19, 2015; Albuquerque, NM, USA; Arizona Wildcats quarterback Anu Solomon (12) drops back to pass during the first half against the New Mexico Lobos in the 2015 New Mexico Bowl at University Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports /

3 Key Players

QB Anu Solomon
Despite missing games with injury in 2015, this QB is still one of the best in the PAC-12 when he’s on. A much improved passer, he also is dangerous with his legs and was able to slash the UCLA defense before being knocked out of the game.

Each season Solomon has sharpened his skills as a QB from accuracy to reading defenses so I fully expect him to get right back on that horse and make another jump as a QB in what may be his last season should he decide to forgo his senior season. After returning to action after suffering a concussion, Solomon did show a little more hesitation running the ball up until the Utah game so while he may not be as willing to run all over the place, he’s still needs to be accounted for when drawing up defensive gameplans.

RB Nick Wilson
West Coast college football fans shouldn’t need too much of a backstory but here it is anyway. In 2014 Wilson blew it up for Arizona. He rushed for over 1,300 yards and had 16 scores on the ground. 2015 saw a drop in his stats but he was still just as effective as a runner by averaging 5.5 yards per carry last season and eight touchdowns. Last year the Bruins let Wilson run wild to the tune of 136 yards but managed to keep him out of the endzone. Will the UCLA Football team improve it’s run defense or will Wilson get to have another field day?

DE Jack Banda
New defensive coordinator Marcel Yates had the pleasure of having one of college football’s best pass rushers in Kamalei Correa who was drafted in the second round by the Baltimore Ravens. Now at Arizona, Yates will likely look for a guy who he can use in the same types of ways and that guy will probably be Banda.

Gifted with an explosive first step and strong hands, Banda was second on the team in 2015 with three sacks but has the potential and now the scheme to easily double that total. He will be facing off against a UCLA team that has very talented bookends but is retooling it’s O-line.

Related Story: Stanford Will Be the First Test of Power

Stats

  • The Wildcats scored 486 points on the season and were deadliest in the second quarter (145).
  • The Arizona defense was one of the worst in the country last year (113) which prompted much of their defensive changes. Boise St., where new defensive coordinator Marcel Yates spent 2015 was ranked 22nd.
  • UCLA racked up a meager 28 sacks in 2015. The Wildcats only produced 27. There were 16 different players in division one last year who had at least eleven sacks.
  • UCLA is 23-15-2 against the Wildcats and is currently enjoying a four win streak.

Next: Offenses vs Defenses