For the past two weeks, UCLA’s defense has been beaten – and at times into – the ground. Though the Bruins figure to get a reprieve from that this week, they have little time to relax, as the possibility of a three-game losing streak and a quickly unraveling season stares them straight in the face.
UCLA (4-2, 1-2 Pac-12) will head north to Berkeley to take on a Cal offense that averages just under 136 rush yards per game – good for 102nd in the nation. That’s about where the good news ends for a Bruin defense that has allowed over 240 rushing yards each of the last two weeks.
Cal (4-2, 2-2) starting quarterback Jared Goff leads a Bears air raid passing attack that ranks among the most prolific in the country. Goff has thrown for more yards – 2,179 – than all but three quarterbacks, while seven different receivers have hauled in 12 or more receptions.
“(Cal has) a lot of athletes, a great receiving corps. (And) they have some fast running backs that can get out of the pocket and run routes, too,” said redshirt senior linebacker Eric Kendricks. “You’ve got to change your mindset a little bit as far as running to the ball, being aggressive in this area or that area.”
However, given the success of the Ducks’ and Utes’ ground games, the Bruins said they are expecting too see a healthy dose of Bears freshman quarterback Luke Rubenzer, who the team likes to bring in to run the ball in certain packages.
With the prospect of facing another running quarterback likely, UCLA knows it can’t afford to commit the same mistakes – namely missed assignments and a lack of discipline – if it is to put an end to its two-game losing streak.
“The onus is on us to play smarter, not necessarily harder,” said sophomore outside linebacker Deon Hollins. “With the running quarterbacks, when we stay square, we don’t have very many problems. It’s a technical thing.”
Whether or not Cal does follow through on UCLA’s expectations, the Bruins’ primary objective on defense will be slowing down Goff, who has tossed 22 touchdowns to just three interceptions on the year.
Key to that will be generating a pass rush, which has more or less eluded the Bruins this season. To ensure Cal’s quarterbacks don’t do the same, defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich said that the team will continue to add different looks on defense.
“I don’t have the type of ego where it’s just my way and we are going to do it this way the entire time,” Ulbrich said. “We are continually evolving and trying to put the best product out there that we can. If that means you got to put a few more little wrinkles in, then that’s what we got to do.”
Not included in those plans, at least for now, is more of Myles Jack rushing the passer. The sophomore outside linebacker has been used almost exclusively in coverage this year and that will almost certainly continue against the Bears on Saturday.
Further down the line for Jack is a position switch – but not to the running back spot, which offensive coordinator Noel Mazzone said he has a package for each week.
“I think he can do both (rush the passer and drop into coverage). I think his true value is behind the ball a little bit more,” Ulbrich said. “He’s a great outside backer, but there’s going to come a point in time in his career where he becomes an amazing inside backer.”