UCLA Football: How will Wilton Speight run the offense as starting QB?

With the announcement that Wilton Speight will be starting for the UCLA football team on Saturday, we look at how he will fit into the offense and lead the Bruins against Cincinnati.

To understand what Wilton Speight will do depends on what the UCLA football team will do. Head coach Chip Kelly wants his quarterback to be able to read the defense before he commits to a play. It is about Kelly entrusting his players to recognize assignments and know when to change them according to matchups and the number of defenders in the box.

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Kelly wants to run the ball, but he wants to optimize his chances of getting the most yards. If there are enough defenders in the box, the Bruins will likely stay away from a run unless they have a clear advantage in the matchups. The more popular option is to send the ball flying.

In that case, receivers need to always be on alert as a pass could be heading their way, but they also need to get in between the defenders and try to make a play in the open space. If there is no one open and the play breaks down, the QB might have the option to run it himself, but he also does not want to get himself killed trying to run all over creation.

Sound like a lot to focus on? That is exactly what the starting UCLA quarterback has to be aware of when trying to direct this offense, but there is even more to it. The QB then has to run to the line of scrimmage and do it all over again and again and again and again until the ball is in the end zone.

The reason Wilton Speight got the job over Devon Modtser and Dorian Thompson-Robinson is that of his experience and because he has been successful with that experience. It may seem odd for a pocket passer like Speight to be selected to lead the fast-paced running offense that Kelly wants to employ, but there is something about Speight that Kelly likes or he would not have brought him into the program to begin with.

Whilst at Michigan, Speight usually stayed in the pocket, but he was known to run on occasion when there is open space. Lucky for Speight, part of Kelly’s game plan is to create space. Whether the QB runs or his running back, tight end or receivers get out in the open and try to make plays, this offense needs find ways to move forward.

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As stated above, the QB is going to have to read the defense. Speight is good at reading what the opposition is putting up and will use his vision to help make the best options. If it is a run, hand it off to Joshua Kelley or Bolu Olorunfumi. If he passes, he will be able to quickly fire the ball out to a receiver. His accuracy is strong and can make a tight pass that will set his receivers up for success. Essentially, Speight has good control over his offense.

Another reason factoring into Kelly’s decision to pick Speight might have to do with the fact that he knows what the Cincinnati Bearcats are all about. in 2017, Cincinnati took on Michigan in Week 2. Speight was able to take apart the Bearcats with a 221 yards, 2 touchdown performance.

Even if this gives the Bruins the slightest edge, you have to go with it.

But do not forget, Speight has been named the starter but that does not mean we won’t see Modster or DTR. Keeping Cincinnati’s defensive coordinator guessing by using these two mobile QBs is another advantage Kelly can take advantage of.

Though many Bruins fans have their favorite to start at QB, you have to trust the process. Kelly knows what he is doing and believe me, he is in total control.