Go Joe Bruin
Fansided

UCLA Football: Three takeaways (concerns) from non-conference play

By Mike Regalado

PASADENA, CA - SEPTEMBER 01: Dorian Thompson-Robinson #7 of the UCLA Bruins enters the game after an injury to Wilton Speight #3 during the second quarter against the Cincinnati Bearcats at Rose Bowl on September 1, 2018 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
PASADENA, CA - SEPTEMBER 01: Dorian Thompson-Robinson #7 of the UCLA Bruins enters the game after an injury to Wilton Speight #3 during the second quarter against the Cincinnati Bearcats at Rose Bowl on September 1, 2018 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 3
Next
PASADENA, CA – SEPTEMBER 15: Head coach of the UCLA Bruins Chip Kelly reacts after a Fresno State Bulldogs touchdown to trail 31-14 during the third quarter at Rose Bowl on September 15, 2018 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
PASADENA, CA – SEPTEMBER 15: Head coach of the UCLA Bruins Chip Kelly reacts after a Fresno State Bulldogs touchdown to trail 31-14 during the third quarter at Rose Bowl on September 15, 2018 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /

3. Play Calling

Maybe it is tempo, maybe it is the use of so many new players, maybe it is the fact that this is an entirely new system… maybe it is the playcalling. Kelly wants to win but right now that is not happening. There are so many things going wrong that the Bruins are not able to produce anything on offense.

More from Go Joe Bruin

One of the biggest issues seems to be the play calling which is not putting the Bruins in a position to win. One thing I noticed against Fresno State is that there were several runs going up the middle of the field and though a few of them were successful, most times the Bruins were not able to repeat that production and bring any consistency to their drives.

Right now it might be a bit more beneficial for the Bruins to try and run to the outside to get yards, especially with speedsters like Kazmeir Allen and Dorian Thompson-Robinson running the ball. Kelly has to try to find a way to get his players into the open to make plays. Right now, the Bruins cannot do a whole lot when they run right into their opposition.

The same goes for receivers. Passes seem to be thrown to players who do not have a lot of space to operate. The majority of receptions against Fresno State were immediately stopped and limited yards after catch. DTR did a good job of getting passes into small spaces, but he has to try and get the ball to players that do not have defenders within reach. Getting the ball out into the open will truly benefit this team, especially if they want to get yards in chunks on a consistent basis.

Next. The 30 Greatest UCLA Football Players of All-Time. dark

Kelly has a plan and he is sticking to it. I am sure he is aware of what needs to improve and what needs to change with this team. He did not come here to lose and eventually he will find out what makes this team go and will ride that wave. Until then, we all have to be patient.