Conference play just started, but UCLA is already in familiar territory.
For the third straight year and the fourth time in five years, the Bruins (3-3) have opened up Pac-12 play 1-2. Each time, they’ve bounced back to string together at least a three-game win streak.
UCLA dropped three close games to Texas A&M, Stanford and last weekend against Arizona State after struggling to put together complete games, especially on the offensive side of the ball.
But coaches and players said that their team goals of reaching the Pac-12 championship game are still attainable, especially if they can clean up their game starting this week against Washington State (3-2, 2-0 Pac-12).
[Scouting report: A closer look at Washington State]
“It’s not about where you are but where you’re trying to go and we can still do what we want to do,” said sophomore running back Soso Jamabo. “We still have a chance to make the Pac-12 championship and that’s perfectly in our hands, we just have to keep playing how we need to play.”
The offense hasn’t played up to its potential according to offensive coordinator Kennedy Polamalu, but little details and a renewed focus on fundamentals can change the Bruins’ offense.
“You get caught up in the game plan, but it’s still fundamentals,” Polamalu said. “You simplify the process. We always want to keep it flowing. Always simplifying the task. This offense is a system of what they’ve done well in the past and what we believe will carry us in the season, not just one game or one opponent, but the whole season and I believe that.”
The defense has turned the corner after giving up more than 300 yards against the Aggies and the UNLV Rebels.
[Related: Backup quarterback falters, defense remains strong in ASU loss]
Since the BYU game, defensive coordinator Tom Bradley’s unit has limited teams to just 22.5 points a game and 187.7 yards in the air.
Now the Bruins are hoping their offense can turn in the same performance for the second half of the season, as it forgets about the first six games and moves on to the Cougars.
“We’re just a very resilient team,” said redshirt senior offensive lineman Conor McDermott. “We keep working hard. We don’t let a loss get to us.”