Know Your Opponent: UCLA Football vs. Cal 2017

Cal Defense

This defensive line shows offenses plenty of looks up front bouncing between three and four man fronts. Typically playing out of the 3-4 front Chris Palmer is an intimidating force at 330 pounds. UCLA Football center Scott Quessenberry has played better this season than 2016 but last week was a reminder that powerful defensive linemen can have their way with him if his technique falters.DE James Looney has NFL bloodlines and NFL ability. He flashes the ability to be stout and shed blocks and is due for at least three big splash plays a game.

Devante Downs would have been the name to know for this group before he was lost to injury for the season against Washington State. As a result of his injury the defense, particularly in run support, has dropped off but there are still capable players in this unit. Washington transfer Gerran Brown and red-shirt junior Jordan Kunaszyk bring size and athleticism to the position with Kunaszyk being a downhill thumper but struggling to go sideline to sideline.

Elijah Hicks headed to Cal was a little bit of a recruiting surprise but he’s proven to be one of the young freshman this team is going to lean on as this program moves forward. Camryn Bynum has two picks so far on the season and gives the Golden Bears a very solid starter on one side. He’s not afraid to mix it up in the run department either which is valuable given how without Downs this front seven doesn’t defend horizontally very well. Ashtyn Davis and Jaylinn Hawkins make a strong safety combo but Davis has been beaten repeatedly over the top this season. Still they are going to face the best QB they’ve seen all year in UCLA Football QB Josh Rosen. This unit certainly will be tested by a QB/WR combo that has the ability to go over the top.

Prediction

This game is huge for both the UCLA Football Bruins and the Cal Golden Bears. For the seniors and those planning to declare early this could potentially be the end of their football journeys. Look for the Bruins to devote numbers to the box to keep the Cal offense from doing what it really wants to do and that’s run the football. The Bruins’ secondary has stepped their game up over the course of the season and likely play a ton of man against a WR unit that features very good but not great talent. Another reason to go heavy man outside is to dare the spunky but still inexperienced Bowers into some bad decisions.

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With an defense and offense that had some of it’s best production a week ago and an axe to grind for their former coach look for the UCLA Football Bruins to overwhelm Cal at home and send their seniors out the right way with a 45-20 win.