Every postgame, Daily Bruin Sports breaks down the Bruins’ most recent game, outlining the good, the bad and the final verdict of their performance. This week, we take a closer look at UCLA’s 41-0 shutout win over Oregon State on Saturday at Reser Stadium.
The good: The defense
Just seven days removed from a matchup with Colorado in which UCLA was forced to defend against 114 plays, the defense stepped up once again against Oregon State. The Bruins forced four turnovers, registered two sacks and allowed the Beavers only 12 first downs. The shutout was UCLA’s first since 2007 and first to come on the road since 1987.
The bad: The penalties
This is one issue the Bruins just can’t get past. Regardless of the Beaver taunting at the line of scrimmage, UCLA was undisciplined in racking up yellow flags and lost considerable yardage. Not all penalties were incurred by the offensive line and each flag set the Bruins back considerably. There is no longer any room for error in UCLA’s season as the team looks to win out against stiff competition. To throw away field position is inexcusable and the Bruins have to be better than that.
The verdict: Don’t write them off just yet
Maybe the Bruins were overrated at the start of the season, maybe they have disappointed against elite competition, but this much remains true – UCLA is grinding it out in crunch time. The Bruins are making the most of the end of the season. While they would definitely like to take back the loss against Arizona State, at this point, UCLA’s focus is squarely on Washington State – a surging conference contender in recent weeks.
Player of the game: Freshman quarterback Josh Rosen
Rosen’s recruiting stock showed he could play long before he arrived on campus. What remained to be seen was whether he could be the signal caller that the Bruins needed. The freshman proved he had the qualities of a successful quarterback Saturday, throwing for 333 yards and also coming to the defense of his offensive line following the game. After the O-line’s performance was overshadowed by penalties, Rosen called out Oregon State’s defensive line for unsportsmanlike conduct, which he said caused the yellow flags.
Quote of the game: Junior defensive end Takkarist McKinley, with two sacks
“Personally I feel like I should be in double digits (for sacks on the season). I feel like I missed about four at Cal, missed one at UNLV, missed a couple at BYU. We preach, ‘finish, finish, finish’, and I just gotta finish better. Those are crucial plays.”
Compiled by Claire Fahy, Bruin Sports senior staff.