Remember what the feeling was around Westwood five weeks ago?
At that time, an endless amount of optimism surrounded the young and gutsy UCLA football team. A quick start to the season hinted that perhaps the program’s rebuilding process was ahead of schedule.
Those elevated expectations have since disappeared. Winning three games, but then losing the following three, as the Bruins did, will do that to a team. Now, halfway through their regular season schedule and more than a month removed from their last victory, the Bruins look to regain that feeling with a win against Arizona on Saturday at Arizona Stadium.
“We’re eager to play our best game and see where the chips fall,” coach Rick Neuheisel said after the team’s practice on Thursday. “We’ll take our chances if we play our best.”
But recently, the Bruins (3-3, 0-3 Pac-10) have been plagued by their inability to play soundly in all facets of the game.
The UCLA defense, arguably the team’s most experienced unit, has struggled to stop opposing offenses. In its three losses, UCLA gave up 372, 303 and 494 yards of total offense to Stanford, Oregon and California, respectively.
Offensively, things haven’t been much better for the Bruins, who rank 104th nationally in total offense with just over 310 yards per game. Last week’s 448-yard showing against Cal was promising, but the Bruins still have to work on capping drives with extra-point attempts rather than field goals.
“We still need to score more in the redzone,” redshirt freshman quarterback Kevin Prince said. “We just know that we got to keep getting better, and that’s our focus right now.”
UCLA is 16 for 19 in the redzone, with 10 of the scores coming from redshirt junior Kai Forbath’s right leg. Forbath leads the nation with 17 field goals made, a bittersweet statistic, at least for the coaching staff.
“We’re going to keep coming to work and keep busting our tails knowing that there’s brighter days ahead,” Neuheisel said.
Defensively, the Bruins have had to prepare for a different offensive style for four consecutive weeks. The first challenge was Stanford’s bruising tailback Toby Gerhart. Then came Oregon’s shifty running back LaMichael James, followed by Cal’s backfield tandem of Jahvid Best and Shane Vereen. UCLA was unable to contain any of the four.
Arizona (4-2, 2-1) leads the conference in total offense (443.7 yards per game) and passing yards (259 yards per game).
“We certainly understand we’re playing a very effective offense and one that’s hot right now,” Neuheisel said.
The Bruins, meanwhile, rank second in the conference with less than 170 passing yards allowed per game. Something will have to give on Saturday.
“It’s basically us against a thousand,” redshirt senior linebacker Reggie Carter said. “So we have to fight for each other, win for each other.”
The Wildcats have averaged more than 30 points per game, with sophomore quarterback Nick Foles connecting on just under 74 percent of his pass attempts.
In addition, UCLA might finally regain the services of redshirt freshman cornerback Aaron Hester, who has been sidelined since fracturing his leg in the season opener against San Diego State. Neuheisel said Hester will travel with the team but will not know his status until game time. Neuheisel added that redshirt senior offensive lineman Nick Ekbatani will start at right guard for the injured Eddie Williams.
“As quick as you lose three, you can win three,” sophomore receiver Nelson Rosario said.
With reports from Andrew Howard, Bruin Sports senior staff.