UCLA Football vs Utah 2017: 3 keys to victory over the Utes

UCLA Football looks to get back to it’s winning ways against the Utah Utes, a week after a blowout loss to the Washington Huskies. Here’s how the Bruins can leave Salt Lake City with a win.

The UCLA Football team travel to Salt Lake City, Utah looking to move past the 44-23 loss they suffered at the hands of the Washington Huskies.

The Utah Utes admittedly don’t have the same firepower that the Huskies have at their disposal, but this game will by no means be a walk in the park for UCLA.

A victory on Saturday will give the Bruins one more win than they had all last season. Here are three things the team can do to making that goal a reality.

Stop The Run

It’s no secret that UCLA struggles against the run. Their defense allows over 300 rushing yards per game, 6.1 yards per carry, and three rushing touchdowns per game. Utah’s Zack Moss has the potential to cause problem for the Bruins, as he averages 5.1 yards per carry. However, Moss has found the end zone just three times all season.

Stopping Moss from putting points on the board isn’t impossible for UCLA. They were able to keep Oregon’s Royce Freeman from scoring in their 31-14 victory over the Ducks. Dual-threat quarterback Braxton Burmeister did punch the ball in twice in that game, a feat that is definitely doable for Utah’s Tyler Huntley.

Huntley averages 3.6 yards per carry, which isn’t phenomenal, but he has scored three rushing touchdowns on the year. If UCLA can slow him down and force him to pass, they have a great chance of winning. Huntley has thrown only eight touchdowns to six interceptions. If this becomes a game of passers, Josh Rosen (it he plays) wins easily.

Force Turnovers

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This is an area in which the Bruins need to improve. For the season, they average only one turnover per game, while giving the ball away on offense two times per game.

The secondary did a good job in neutralizing Jake Browning’s arm last week in Washington, allowing the senior just 98 passing yards, no passing touchdowns, and forcing an interception courtesy of freshman Darnay Holmes.

The Utes will look to exploit UCLA’s run defense, as did the Huskies, but Utah averages an interception a game on offense, so it is likely Huntley will toss at least one. The Bruins have forced just five fumbles all season, while Utah gives away less than one per game, so don’t expect the ball to be coughed up. The Bruins have recovered four of the five fumbles they’ve forced, so if the rock does find it’s way to the turf, UCLA has a good chance of collecting it.

Establish The Run

Utah has a stout pass defense. They allow just 199 passing yards per game, although the best quarterback they’ve seen so far is Sam Darnold. The Utes average one interception a game on defense, with Julian Blackmon leading the way with two. Rosen may throw one or two turnovers, but he should be able to put up his usual big numbers if the run game gets going.

This is by no means a way of knocking UCLA’s rushing attack. Soso Jamabo looks much improved and leads the team in rushing touchdowns with five. Bolu Olorunfunmi gives the Bruins’ backfield a one-two punch, as he averages six yards per carry, and trails Jamabo’s team-leading 343 rushing yards by one, at 342.

Next: UCLA Football: What is left for Josh Rosen to play for?

Against the run, Utah is average. They allow 158 rushing yards per game on 4.4 yards per carry. Opposing running backs find the end zone at least once a game against the Utes as well. In UCLA’s last win against Oregon, Jamabo and Olorunfunmi both found paydirt once apiece against a Duck’s defense that only allows one rushing touchdown per game as well. Odds are good that the Bruins’ primary rushers will find success again against Utah.