Offseason edition looking back on the 2019 season

2019 would be the second year of Chip Kelly with the Bruins. After a rough 2018 season that was considered a rebuild year as Kelly’s vision would come together. 2019 would only get one game better as they would finish 4-8 which was one game better than the 3-9 in 2018. For a second straight season, UCLA would struggle on both sides of the ball. But the offense started to show some promise. Scoring 26.7 points per game which was more than two points better than 2018. The defense allowed 34.8 points per game which was similar to the season before.

Granted, UCLA had the second hardest strength of schedule in the nation. They had many tough opponents on their schedule, which skewed the numbers. That included two top 10 matchups with Oklahoma and Utah, that UCLA was humbled in. They did go on a three game winning streak after a 1-5 start that put them at 4-5 on the season. Showing positive signs that they were building the future. The highlight of the season was winning a game 67-63 over Washington State in one of the best college games ever.

Dorian Thompson-Robinson started to progress as a quarterback. Although he still struggled with accuracy and turnovers as he completed 59.7% of his passes and threw 12 interceptions. He did have 21 touchdown passes and 2,701 yards through the air. While also running for four touchdowns as well. Showing the Bruins had a piece coming back for the next year they could build with. Little did we know that would be the COVID year.

Joshua Kelley had another really good year running for 1,060 yards and 12 touchdowns for a second straight year. He was able to turn that into being a 4th round pick by the Los Angeles Chargers in the 2020 NFL Draft. As Chip continues his masterpieces at the running back position dating all the way back to Oregon. Osa Odighizuwa started his stardom on defense with 10 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks. 2020 was the time for UCLA to take the next step in Kelly’s third year at the helm.