Every UCLA football Saturday, whether at the Rose Bowl or on the road, has so much more to it than a win or a loss. That’s why each postgame Monday, the Daily Bruin will break down the Bruins’ most recent game, outlining the good, the bad and the verdict for their performance.
This week, we take a closer look at UCLA’s 38-33 loss to Arizona State on Saturday at the Rose Bowl.
The Good: Special Teams, Minus Kicking
With redshirt sophomore running back Steven Manfro still nursing an ankle injury and sophomore wide receiver Devin Fuller not dressed for Saturday’s game, it was sophomore cornerback Ishmael Adams who was called on in the return game.
Returning five kickoffs and one punt, he owned the job, averaging better than 35 yards per kickoff return and taking the punt – nearly to the house – for 49 yards.
At the end of the third quarter, Arizona State kicked out of bounds to draw a flag, keeping the speedy Adams away from the ball and potentially out of the end zone.
It was also special teams that put UCLA back within striking distance on Saturday. After scoring a quick touchdown to open up the second half, UCLA’s defense quickly forced a three-and-out. On fourth down, ASU’s long snap briefly made contact with the turf, allowing charging senior outside linebacker Anthony Barr to recover a fumble and set the Bruins up on the ASU 15-yard line.
Despite two missed kicks from sophomore kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn Saturday, the special teams often made things easier for a UCLA offense that at times just couldn’t help itself.
The Bad: High-Pressure Situations
In nearly eliminating a 22-point halftime deficit, UCLA showed that its athleticism was on par with ASU’s.
Its ability to make the necessary plays down the stretch, however, was not.
Needing to stop the Sun Devil offense in the closing seconds of the first half, the Bruins swung and missed. ASU scored on an 19-yard sideline throw from quarterback Taylor Kelly to wide receiver Jaelen Strong, securing the 22-point lead from which the Bruins would never fully recover.
Two UCLA goal-line missteps were notable. The first, in the second quarter, resulted in a 23-yard field goal, and the second, in the fourth quarter, ended in a missed field goal from 37 yards.
On its final drive of the game, UCLA looked to have something brewing when two consecutive holding calls on freshmen offensive linemen Alex Redmond and Scott Quessenberry dashed any potential miracles.
And just a year after his game-winning kick in Tempe, kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn struggled, with 39- and 37-yard missed field goals, the latter coming with just more than four minutes to play in the fourth quarter.
Verdict: Status Verified
Following UCLA’s 42-14 loss at Oregon, Jim Mora delivered impassioned statements detailing the frustrations of leading a team still a step or two behind Pac-12 powerhouses like Stanford and Oregon. Had UCLA stayed down and out at 35-13 coming out of halftime, the Bruins might have ended their pursuit of a Rose Bowl game berth even further away from greatness than they were in Eugene, Ore. But after clawing back to come within one touchdown drive of beating Arizona State, this year may be seen as something of a lateral move. As of now, this UCLA team does not own any victories over teams currently ranked in the AP Top 25, yet doesn’t have a horrific loss on its record comparable to last year’s 43-17 dismantling at the hands of Cal. Still, UCLA comes away from games against the conference’s best three teams without a win, a fact that demonstrates how the program has yet to take the proverbial next step.
Consistency remains the key issue for these Bruins. UCLA overcame a generally awful first half to erase an 18-point hole against Nebraska, and nearly escaped a 22-point deficit versus a ferocious Arizona State front that sacked quarterback Brett Hundley nine times. Grit and heart may endear a team to coaches and fans alike, but developing the consistency not to have to show those intangibles would go a long way in the quest to evolve as a program.
Player of the Game: Sophomore cornerback/kick returner Ishmael Adams
Ishmael Adams proved to be UCLA’s most effective weapon, bar none, in his first game as a kickoff and punt returner. The sophomore cornerback racked up 234 total all-purpose yards. The bulk of Adams’ production came on a 49-yard punt return and kickoff returns of 58 and 69 yards.
Even on occasions where Adams was not a step or missed tackle away from completing a house call, he produced: Each of the defensive back’s returns gained at least 17 yards. Adams also turned in a few impactful stops on defense. He picked up a tackle for a loss on a short pass to running back Marion Grice and broke up a long third-down pass intended for ASU receiver Jaelen Strong.
Adams’ explosive special teams showing figures to make a serious case for a featured role moving forward. His 185 yards on kickoff easily best UCLA’s prior top kick-return performance, a 110-yard effort by Steven Manfro against Utah.
Quote of the Week: ASU coach Todd Graham, on celebrating his team’s win.
“I cried twice and you all know I’m not much of a crier.”
Compiled by Andrew Erickson and Emilio Ronquillo, Bruin Sports senior staff.