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UCLA Football vs. Oregon 2017: The battles to watch

By Michael Chavez

PASADENA, CA - SEPTEMBER 30: Kenny Young
PASADENA, CA - SEPTEMBER 30: Kenny Young /
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PASADENA, CA – SEPTEMBER 03: Josh Rosen
PASADENA, CA – SEPTEMBER 03: Josh Rosen /

UCLA interior OL vs. Jordan Scott

If Scott’s name doesn’t jump out at you don’t worry it’s just a matter of time before he’s talked about as one of the most physically stout defensive tackles in the country. A three-star recruit, Scott had offers from schools all over the country including from the SEC.

Watch a few snaps from him this season and you’ll see why. His size, strength, agility and ability to anchor vs. the double team have Oregon coaches singing his praises. Watch the first drive against ASU below and you’ll see a guy who not only can move well for a 330 pounder but watch him forklift the interior of the ASU OL.

He’s a game wrecker in the interior of the DL who can collapse the pocket or simply toss offensive linemen out of his way in order to make a huge tackle. The interior of this UCLA Football offensive line has been much improved in it’s play from 2016 where it could hardly slow down teams on their way to the QB. This year behind center Scott Quessenberry, LG Najee Torjan and RG Michael Alves Rosen has been given more time to throw, step up into the pocket and the running game has been more successful, although it still needs to improve.

UCLA wants to establish the line of scrimmage and the run game. Both will be difficult to come by if they don’t have a plan to neutralize Scott. Double teaming the nose tackle is standard procedure but when Scott gets his opportunities I’m willing to bet he will look to toss one of the Bruins inside. The fastest way to the QB isn’t around the edges but through the middle of the line and it is traditionally the best way to make a QB’s life miserable.

There will be battles all over the field to watch. Receivers vs. defensive backs. The edge rushers vs. the offensive tackles. Heck even Josh Rosen vs. Troy Dye will be a great battle to watch. However none have the linchpin quality of the battles listed above.

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If this UCLA Football team can find a way to win at least one of those battles they give themselves a chance to win this game and gain momentum moving forward. Winning both would give this team a tremendous building block with bowl eligibility on the line. Losing both will drop this team further into a tailspin and someone is going to feel the heat.