EUGENE, Ore. — Competing proved to be a mainstay in Jim Mora’s mantra leading up to Saturday’s 42-14 road loss against the No. 2 Oregon Ducks.
The UCLA coach guaranteed to media throughout the week that his Bruins, whose troubles include an offensive line that only has one opening-day starter playing at his original position, would play as hard as they could against the No. 2 team in the nation.
In the press conference following his team’s second straight defeat, however, Mora verbally and physically expressed ambitions for something more than effort.
“We played hard, but playing hard is not enough. We’ve got to get to the point as a football team where we play efficiently, where we don’t make mistakes at critical times. … We’ve got to be get to a point as a football team where we do things on a constant basis that champions do,” Mora said.
The UCLA coach went on to express discontent with the results produced by a 5-2 UCLA team that he feels still needs to find consistency.
“To heck with being close. Losers can be close. … We want to win those games. It’s time for UCLA to turn the freaking page, and be something different and win those games,” said Mora, at one point during his statement thumping the conference table with his hand.
Mora’s sentiments were epitomized by the lone two scoring drives UCLA allowed in a 14-14 first half.
Inside linebacker Eric Kendricks had a clear one-on-one shot at Oregon junior running back De’Anthony Thomas in the flat along the sideline on the play following a 66-yard run off of a fake punt. But the redshirt junior couldn’t corral the speedy Duck, and Thomas ended up placing the ball on the Bruins’ 1-yard line after a seven-yard catch and run. Thomas wound up punching the ball in later.
On Oregon’s second touchdown, sophomore cornerback Fabian Moreau flew into the lower body of sophomore running back Byron Marshall to make a tackle as freshman outside linebacker Myles Jack was sealed off by a block on the outside. At most, Moreau’s diving attempt grazed Marshall, who went on to sprint 40 yards along the right sideline and into the end zone.
Outside of the two scoring drives, UCLA mostly contained an explosive offense led by Oregon redshirt sophomore quarterback Marcus Mariota: The Bruins limited the Heisman hopeful to 149 total yards before halftime. Help came in the form of an opening-drive forced fumble by freshman linebacker Myles Jack, a defensive stand on the Bruins’ own 17-yard line and a missed Oregon field goal to end the first half.
Senior Jordan Zumwalt spearheaded a productive evening for a four-man line-backing corps that combined for 31 tackles, five tackles for losses, two forced fumbles and a blocked punt. The inside linebacker’s energized play perhaps jumped out more than his 10 solo tackles and team-leading total of 14: on a couple of occasions, Zumwalt could be seen picking up and slamming to the ground Duck ball carriers.
His intensity seemed to reach a peak in the moments after a hit on an Oregon running back. Zumwalt put his palms together and the back of his hand to his face, miming the act of someone going to rest.
The play elicited boos from the Eugene crowd for a tackle that involved helmet-to-helmet contact.
Oregon’s patience and explosiveness eventually proved to be too much for a Bruin team that could not keep pace. UCLA did not sustain a drive longer than 18 yards in its scoreless second half, while Oregon scored touchdowns on four consecutive drives to end the game.
UCLA defensive coordinator Lou Spanos said he did not feel happy about his squad’s performance, stating that the responsibilities of the defense include getting off of the field in three downs or less and making all tackles while taking the right angles.
Though his body language had communicated a wealth of words on the field, Zumwalt remained nearly quiet when addressing potential effects of his team’s struggling, stagnant offense on his side of the field.
“Next question,” he said when asked about the matter.
What an unfair headline! Implying our defense failed! Our defense played its heart out. If the offense showed up or Hundley knew what color our team was wearing, the outcome would be different. You owe the defense an apology, they gave the offense good field position, Hundley throws an interception. more than once. 3 bad games, bench him and not malign the defense. The game was actually within reach. Imagine to psychology of keeping the early lead after holding Oregon? Drive the ball and turn it over is the cause not the defense, Hope the defense does not join the offense in quitting now or the rest of the season will be a disaster. Bench Hundley or make him a half back, get some one who knows which uniform OUR receivers are wearing and can throw a catch-able pass. Why he is no longer the quarterback he was at the start of the season I do not know, but accept that and remove him.