Ruhl’s four-yard touchdown punctuated the opening statement made by the UCLA special teams’ defense of its place atop the college ranks: In their first game, the Bruins were back to making plays, a season after tying for the national lead in blocked kicks.
Orjioke’s block, which Ruhl called an “unbelievable play,” and the subsequent recovery caused redshirt sophomore quarterback Brett Hundley to sprint from midfield and into the end zone to congratulate him.
“It was an amazing feeling to celebrate with your best friends and see how happy they are for you,” Ruhl said.
Ruhl’s reception by his teammates validated UCLA’s special teams and linebackers coach Jeff Ulbrich’s feelings as to both the intangible and practical importance of units responsible for a significant amount of field position.
“(The special teams) need to be the emotional leaders of the team. There’s so much field involved with special teams, momentum can just sway … (there are) just huge swings of momentum on a special teams play,” Ulbrich said. “I think our guys take a lot of pride in the fact that they can control the momentum and the emotion of a game with their special teams play.”
Ruhl believes that UCLA’s productivity against kicks stems from the muscle memory developed from the Bruins devoting at least 20 minutes a practice to constant running and drilling among the special teams. He said that coach Jim Mora once stated that UCLA likely practices special teams more so than any other team in the nation, helping to explain how the Bruins have already blocked a punt and kick this year.
“It looks almost effortless when we do it, but it takes a lot of practice,” said Ruhl, who plays on both punt and kickoff return in addition to kickoff coverage.
Defensive end Cassius Marsh supplied the Bruins’ second and most recent kick rejection on a blocked field goal Saturday against New Mexico State. The Aggies consequently entered the locker room at halftime down 31-0, and would not venture farther into UCLA territory than the spot of the kick until the start of the fourth quarter.
Ulbrich counts Marsh and Orjioke as two players who have a “knack” for blocking kicks. He said that natural ability must be present with technique in order to effectively defend against punts and kicks.
Marsh’s denial, which kept the New Mexico State scoreless at the time proved emblematic of the Bruins’ 59-13 mauling of the Aggies, but Ulbrich’s special teams acumen played a more timely role during the previous week at Nebraska.
Ulbrich, who Orjioke called a “football junkie” in tune with the various weaknesses of his squads, noticed how one of a Nebraska lineman looked repeatedly at his coach. The UCLA special teams coordinator said he interpreted the lineman’s body language as a question as to whether a fake could be run from a certain formation.
Ulbrich said he responded by sending his defense into the game, allowing the Bruins a better shot at shutting down any runs. Nebraska indeed attempted to run for a first down out of a punt formation. Sophomore safety Randall Goforth cut out the legs from under a ball-toting Brodrick Nickens, rendering the 305-pound defensive tackle’s conversion attempt one yard short and giving UCLA the ball at the Cornhuskers’ 44-yard line with a 10-point lead late into the third quarter.
Thigpen Set to Return
Mora expressed no doubts about redshirt senior Damien Thigpen’s ability to play Thursday against Utah, but he is still thinking about the running back’s usage, given the plethora of options within the UCLA backfield.
“He’s coming back for Utah. It’s a definite. I can’t tell you how many snaps he’s going to play. It would be great to get him a few carries,” Mora said.
The coach said he feels that game-time contact will be important for Thigpen, who returns to the lineup after tearing his ACL against USC last November.
“When you’re coming off an injury like that, it’s important that you take some shots, so that you build confidence,” Mora said.
Mora’s high confidence in Thigpen results from seeing positive body language from the running back as he plays.
“He’s very confident … he looks like he’s going full speed through his cuts, he doesn’t tiptoe through holes … he doesn’t look hesitant at all,” Mora said.
Mora will refrain from inserting Thigpen into special teams returner for now, but may try out the explosive redshirt senior in a couple of weeks. Thigpen racked up 473 yards and four touchdowns from catches and carries last season.