In the wake of a 62-27 drubbing of a bitter conference foe, the Bruins had little to complain about. Unfortunately for UCLA, over the first four games, neither have opposing quarterbacks.
UCLA allowed a season-high 488 yards through the air to Arizona State backup quarterback Mike Bercovici as the Sun Devils converted 55 percent of their third downs and held possession for over 34 minutes.
However the most concerning stat for UCLA isn’t the number of plays Arizona State ran – 105 – or the number of passes Bercovici threw – 68 – but what UCLA did, or rather didn’t do, on those plays. Despite such ample opportunity to get after the quarterback, the Bruins sacked Bercovici just once.
It’s the latest in an inconsistent and rather unproductive start for the Bruins’ pass rush, which has managed just four sacks in the team’s first four games. To coach Jim Mora, that simply isn’t good enough.
“It needs to improve. We need to win more one-on-one battles,” Mora said. “We need to do a better job of creating for those guys and putting them in a position to rush when we know its going to be a pass.”
Thus far the Bruins have, for the most part, failed to do just that. They have averaged just one sack per game over the first four this year, whereas they averaged 2.4 per game last season.
The result? Teams have converted on third down 42 percent of the time after doing so 35 percent last year, while opposing quarterbacks are completing 64 percent of their passes – up from 61 in 2013 – and are throwing for 313 yards per game, nearly a hundred more than last year.
With such potent passers as Oregon’s Marcus Mariota, USC’s Cody Kessler and California’s Jared Goff still on the docket, UCLA can ill-afford to allow the nation’s top conference of quarterbacks more time to throw.
Still, UCLA has been able to offset its inability to consistently get to the quarterback with opportunistic play, as the defense has four touchdowns and four interceptions in as many games. Furthermore, the Bruins have been effective when they do get to the quarterback, as evidenced by sophomore linebacker Deon Hollins’ – the team’s sack leader with two – strip-sack of Bercovici in the third quarter of last Thursday’s game.
Buoyed by such play, sophomore defensive lineman Eddie Vanderdoes believes the Bruins’ sack numbers will rise sooner than later.
“It’s one of those things when you watch film every week it’s like right there, we’re right there,” Vanderdoes said, pinching his fingers together. “It’s like they were a second or two late to the quarterback, or if we hit him with one move we would’ve been there. We are almost there to get more sacks.”
The missing piece?
UCLA should receive a boost – literally – in its pass rush from new addition Takkarist McKinley. Mora said that while the young defensive end’s inexperience showed in his limited playing time against Arizona State, he possesses speed and a raw burst on the line of scrimmage that can’t be coached.
“We need that,” Mora said. “ We are missing that right now.”
Though multiple teams missed out on McKinley, UCLA defensive line coach Angus McClure made sure that the speedy defensive end didn’t get away.
McKinley said that his new position coach was the only person to notice that McKinley wasn’t listed as a non-qualifier, and could potentially be able to play this year, adding that McClure’s role in the process played a big role in his decision to come to UCLA.
Now that he is finally eligible to play at the college level, McKinley said his eyes are open after his first game action.
“It’s a whole new level.” McKinley said. “Here they’re much stronger, faster, bigger, more athletic. I’m just trying to get adjusted to the next level and do the best I can do.”
Injury report
Alex Redmond wore a protective boot on his right foot after spraining his ankle early in Thursday’s contest. Mora didn’t comment on the sophomore guard’s status for Saturday’s game against Utah, but didn’t seem too concerned about the injury, saying that the new footwear was a “precautionary” measure.
Junior Kenny Orjioke will undergo a procedure on his right knee Tuesday. Mora said that the initial belief was that the outside linebacker had suffered a bruise but will be checked out by doctors to determine his status. The severity of the injury is currently unknown.