The UCLA football team has had a rough go this season, but they have also shown that they can make plays. If they want to beat Arizona State, they need to follow these three keys to the game…
It is actually not that hard for the UCLA football team to get a win, it is just that a few things have not gone their way in the last few weeks.
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UCLA has to use their strengths and suppress their faults. It is not that hard. They just have to stick to the plan. Here are three things they need to do to accomplish that…
1. RUN! THE! BALL!
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If one thing is apparent from last week’s game against Oregon it is that the Bruins need to give Joshua Kelley and his co-stars the ball a lot more often than they throw it. In that contest, UCLA threw the ball 49 times and ran it 38 times. That number should be flipped and the stats prove it. Though the Bruins threw for 297 yards, their completion percentage was only 46.9. When Kelley ran the rock, he averaged 6.2 yards per attempt.
In his last four games (103 attempts for 544 yards), “The Machine” has averaged 5.3 yards per attempt. Doing the simple math, Kelley can technically get a first down every other time he gets the ball. Now, and for the rest of the season, one of UCLA’s key to the game is RUN THE BALL.
2. Shut Down N’Keal Harry
Last week, UCLA’s defense went against one of the top Pac-12 receivers in Oregon’s Dillon Mitchell – who was in concussion protocol the week prior – and he torched the Bruins for 156 yards and 2 touchdowns, averaging 19.5 yards on 8 receptions. This week, they face what could be THE best receiver in the conference, possibly the nation, in N’Keal Harry.
Harry has 828 yards on the season and 9 touchdowns. UCLA, without collecting penalties, needs to shut down Harry. Double team him, force him into awkward receiving positions, pester him, switch up Darnay Holmes, Nate Meadors and Elijah Gates on him… anything to shut down ASU’s biggest receiving threat.
3. Limit Mistakes on Special Teams (and overall)
With the debacle that occurred last week in Eugene, Chip Kelly had more focus on special teams this week in practice to try and prevent the same from happneing in Tempe. UCLA cannot give up free points or plays that lead to easy scores against Arizona State. The Sun Devils will pounce on every opportunity that is given to them. Last week UCLA gave up a punt returned for a touchdown. Two weeks ago, Harry returned a punt 92 yards for a touchdown.
UCLA also needs to make the tackle. They need to play smart. They have to be aware of the personnel needed on every given play. They have to be attentive. They need to stop with penalties that push kicker JJ Molson back. They need to limit mistakes, period.