Go Joe Bruin
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Where Does UCLA Football Go From Here?

By Tyler Glaze

SALT LAKE CITY, UT - NOVEMBER 21: "Joe Bruin" the mascot of the UCLA Bruins works the sidelines during a game against the Utah Utes during the first half of a college football game at Rice Eccles Stadium on November 21, 2015 in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by George Frey/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - NOVEMBER 21: "Joe Bruin" the mascot of the UCLA Bruins works the sidelines during a game against the Utah Utes during the first half of a college football game at Rice Eccles Stadium on November 21, 2015 in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by George Frey/Getty Images) /
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PASADENA, CA – OCTOBER 20: Tight end Caleb Wilson #81 of the UCLA Bruins is brought down by Arizona Wildcats defenders as teammate Theo Howard #14 helps with a block after Wilson caught a pass to get the first down late during the second half of the NCAA college football game at the Rose Bowl on October 20, 2018 in Pasadena, California. The Bruins defeated the Wildcats 31-30. (Photo by Victor Decolongon/Getty Images)
PASADENA, CA – OCTOBER 20: Tight end Caleb Wilson #81 of the UCLA Bruins is brought down by Arizona Wildcats defenders as teammate Theo Howard #14 helps with a block after Wilson caught a pass to get the first down late during the second half of the NCAA college football game at the Rose Bowl on October 20, 2018 in Pasadena, California. The Bruins defeated the Wildcats 31-30. (Photo by Victor Decolongon/Getty Images) /

The Way Forward

So what is the way forward?  If UCLA is to win any more games this season, the defense must improve.  Linebackers need to heal, then make better reads.  Defensive backs, once thought the pride of the defense, need to be allowed to play more man coverage, and take more risks.  The defensive line needs to find a way to generate pass rush, either by additional blitzers or generating their own.  But if the defense cannot force the opposing offense to give up the ball either by turnovers or three-and-outs, UCLA will lose, and continue losing.

On offense, UCLA must focus on what it does best (relatively): throw the football.  The offensive line cannot be trusted to create holes for the UCLA run offense, so priority one needs to be establishing a passing game, and forcing the defense to commit more players to coverage, or to the pass rush, opening up running lanes by default.  If opponents are blitzing often, UCLA needs to rely on screens and slant routes.  But they need the ball, and only the defense can give it to them.