Three games into the season, we haven’t learned much about the 2008 UCLA Bruin football team. We knew they were inexperienced. We knew they were undermanned. We knew the kicking game was awesome.
This weekend’s skirmish against No. 25 Fresno State will illuminate exactly what kind of developmental season this will be in Westwood. Will a solid foundation be laid for next year, when the team steadily improves and gels, as the upset over Tennessee hinted? Or will this be a long and painful year, more like the last two weeks when UCLA has been outscored 90-10?
On opening night during the Tennessee game, Fresno State happened to be playing Rutgers some 3,000 miles away in New Jersey. The mood among journalists watching the game in the press box was that Pat Hill’s Bulldogs were vulnerable because they struggled with a Rutgers team that has yet to win a game.
Last week Fresno State escaped, of all places, the Glass Bowl in Toledo, Ohio, with a 55-54 double overtime victory, allowing nearly 600 yards and 54 points to the lowly Toledo Rockets.
Yes, I’d say the Bulldogs are vulnerable.
Which means for the second time this month a ranked team saunters into the Rose Bowl ripe for an upset. The key for the Bruins, which could very well define their season, is finding a semblance of offense that hasn’t been present since the fourth quarter of the Tennessee game. Since then, the offense has had 22 possessions, scoring a paltry three points. And they say the economy is struggling.
Run blocking was also a problem in the first two games; UCLA ranked dead last in the country in running the ball heading into the Arizona contest. There was improvement on the ground ““ the Bruins amassed a season-best 115 yards Saturday ““ but unfortunately, pass protection broke down throughout the game, and Kevin Craft was pressured all day and unable to find any rhythm. Craft must be better for UCLA’s offense to move, but so must his blockers.
This Saturday, expect even greater strides from UCLA running the ball. Kahlil Bell is probable to return, although the Bruins shouldn’t need him to run on the Bulldogs ““ Fresno State surrendered 297 yards rushing to Toledo. That same Toledo team had just 74 yards rushing against Arizona earlier this month.
Coach Rick Neuheisel has called Fresno “street-tough.” In other words, they know how to win. Despite the defensive shortcomings, Fresno State has a considerable edge in experience and timely playmaking.
Arizona held the same advantage last week, and it showed in the fourth quarter as the Wildcats impressively pulled away for victory. This could be the difference if the game is close down the stretch.
Yet more important this week than a win or a loss is how the Bruins play. Can they compete with a team they should be able to compete with? Can they manufacture long drives? Can someone on their offense score besides kicker Kai Forbath?
Whether the answers to these questions are yes or no, Saturday afternoon will provide a good measuring stick for where this team is headed in 2008.
If you think UCLA will upset Fresno State on Saturday, e-mail Taylor at btaylor@media.ucla.edu.