If there is a true mismatch on the field this week, and if there
is an ultimate reason for the two-touchdown point spread, it will
be seen when the UCLA offense is on the field.
The Bruins, led by quarterback Pat Cowan, have had a rough and
inconsistent year. The Bruins have scored just 23.5 points per
game. Neither the passing game nor the rushing game has been a
consistent force game in and game out.
The USC defense, on the other hand, is one of the more dominant
since Pete Carroll has been the coach. They are allowing just 15.1
points per game, which is, by a fairly wide margin, tops in the
Pac-10. The Trojans limited Cal to just nine points en route to
their 23-9 victory.
Needless to say, it will be a hefty challenge come game day
whether the Bruins will be able to put points on the boards against
such a potent defense.
“They’re fast, real fast,” offensive lineman
Shannon Tevaga said. “They’re as fast as we’ve
seen. They’re quick; they take the right angles.
“We’re going to have to hit our zones and hit our
gaps strong,” Tevaga said.
The Trojans are led by a strong front seven that has allowed
just 95.5 yards per game on the ground this year.
Linebackers Keith Rivers, Rey Maualuga and Dallas Sartz have
been a three-headed tackling machine this year. The speed of this
USC defense could cause fits among the UCLA offensive line, which
has, continuing the theme, had an inconsistent year.
“They’re great, man,” fullback Michael Pitre
said. “They’re the real-deal defense. (But) they put
their pads on just like everybody else puts their pads on.
They’re not special. They’re fast, big and strong, but
we’re excited for the challenge.
“This is why we came to UCLA,” Pitre said.
The Bruins will have to hope that the speed of USC’s
defense proves to be the Trojans’ undoing. With a fast
defense, sometimes gaps will form as the defenders are looking to
make big plays. The West Coast offense is built upon short passing
that could cause trouble for an overactive USC defense.
“I think the fact that they are very fast does leave some
lanes in the passing game and running game,” Pitre said.
“When you have active players like that, you have to tell
them to be patient. I’m sure their coaches have to tell them
sometimes to just be patient and let plays happen.
“But at the same time, we’re going to have to
execute well on every play,” Pitre said.
And that execution could be the real problem.
Cowan has not been an effective passer in terms of completion
percentage this year, completing just 53.7 percent of his passes.
In a West Coast offense built on effective short passes, that is
not a good number.
It is safe to say that the Bruins will need a much-higher
completion percentage from Cowan if they are going to take
advantage of any gaps in the USC defense.
If there is one weakness in the Trojans’ defense, it is
their secondary, which is young. But even in recent weeks, they
have appeared to really start to gel. Still, if the Bruins are
looking to exploit one thing, that is it.
“They’re pretty solid; they have some big
safeties,” wide receiver Marcus Everett said. “If they
have one weakness, though, it’s them. We think we’ve
got a good matchup with them (there).”
The Bruins will need a good matchup somewhere on the field. The
Trojan offense is beginning to click at this late stage in the
season, so they will likely get some points against even the stout
UCLA defense.
Somewhere, at some point, the Bruins are going to need some
scoring out of their offense if they are to pull out a victory on
Saturday against the Trojans and end the losing streak at
seven.