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UCLA Football: Who is running the run game and can it get better?

By Mike Regalado

NORMAN, OK - SEPTEMBER 08: Running back Bolu Olorunfunmi #4 of the UCLA Bruins tries to break through the Oklahoma Sooners defense at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on September 8, 2018 in Norman, Oklahoma. The Sooners defeated the Bruins 49-21. (Photo by Brett Deering/Getty Images)
NORMAN, OK - SEPTEMBER 08: Running back Bolu Olorunfunmi #4 of the UCLA Bruins tries to break through the Oklahoma Sooners defense at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on September 8, 2018 in Norman, Oklahoma. The Sooners defeated the Bruins 49-21. (Photo by Brett Deering/Getty Images) /
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The UCLA football team is trying to get their run game going, but so far it has been very slow going. Though there are four backs that could possibly get it done, no one has yet emerged as the go-to.

UCLA football head coach Chip Kelly has been known to get a team’s run game going. That was what his Oregon offenses were based on earlier this decade. Unfortunately, it has been stalled since implemented at UCLA.

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Last season, UCLA was only able to run for 116.4 yards per game, which was an improvement from 2016 when they ran for 84.2. Through two games in 2018, UCLA continues to improve with 136.5. That is progress, but it is not exactly what Bruins’ fan expected. It might not be a stretch to say that it is not exactly what Kelly was hoping for either.

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In these two games, Kelly has used four backs to try to get something started. Unfortunately, it has not panned out as a positive for the Bruins.

Before both the Cincinnati and Oklahoma games, Kelly released a depth chart with both Joshua Kelley and Bolu Olorunfunmi as the starters, but Coach Kelly has also used Kazmeir Allen and Martell Irby (who made an appearance against the Sooners for the first time this season) and it looks like he will use this committee method to try and find someone who can break free (additionally, the Bruins get senior Soso Jamabo back for the Fresno State game, but after serving a two-game suspension, will he even be an option for Kelly?).

There have essentially only been two big plays in the first two games, both by the freshman Allen. Against Cincinnati, he had a 23-yard run and a 74-yard touchdown sprint. But if we take those out, he has been averaging numbers similar to his counterparts. Without those two big runs, he is only running for 3.7 yards. That is not horrible, but it is not great either. It is nowhere near Oregon great.

All four backs are doing what they can with the play calls that have been bestowed upon them, but so far UCLA is collectively putting up only 3.37 yards per attempt.

UCLA Individual Rushing Stats

  • Bolu Olorunfunmi: Carries – 24 | Yards – 69 | Avg: 2.9 | TDs – 3
  • Kazmeir Allen: Carries – 15 | Yards – 145 | Avg: 9.7 | TDs – 1
  • Joshua Kelley: Carries – 11 | Yards – 27 | Avg: 2.5 | TDs – 0
  • Martell Irby: Carries – 10 | Yards – 36 | Avg: 3.6 | TDs – 0

Is this on them? Not exactly. So far, the offense has had several missed connections across the board. Whether it is the offensive line not working together, the WRs/TEs/RBs missing on blocks or the runners themselves not being able to find a hole, things are just not syncing up.

The plan is to get players into the open because when that happens, all four of these backs will be able to make some plays and collect some yards. Clearly, this is the goal, but how do the Bruins attain that goal?

It’s repetitive, I know, but the Bruins just have to keep working together to make this thing move. They are young and trying to figure out a new system. I hate to say it, but the run game might not blossom into what we hoped in the next few games. Maybe not even this season.

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Who knows? Maybe that will change, maybe we will see a few sparks of life for this running games sprinkled throughout this insanely difficult schedule, but right now, the Bruins have to try and get better. One day at a time.