One of the biggest questions that faced the Bruin secondary on Saturday was whether they could contain Wildcat tight end Rob Gronkowski.
The 6-foot-6, 260-pound sophomore had yet to see any action this season due to illness, but presented a serious matchup problem for the Bruins, whose tallest starting defensive back is 6 feet, 1 inch.
“We didn’t have too much of a plan just to stop him,” junior corner Alterraun Verner said. “We had a scheme to try to help the inside people out and leave our corners outside, a little bit more vulnerable. The tight end just came up with some big plays. They used him real well. He hadn’t played all year, so it was kind of hard to gauge how they were going to use him. They just tried to exploit his size and they did a good job."
Gronkowski finished the game with only three receptions, but two went for touchdowns. The first came on a fade route into the corner of the end zone in the second quarter, while the second was a slant across the middle in the fourth. He beat strong safety Bret Lockett both times, using his size to muscle him away from the ball.
“It would’ve been a tough assignment for anybody,” Verner said. “I mean, you throw Deion Sanders out there and it would’ve been tough. He’s a good player and he’s only going to get better. He’s going to give a lot of people problems this year.”
Gronkowski started nine games last year as a freshman All-American and caught six touchdowns.
COLEMAN GETS FIRST CARRIES: True freshman Derrick Coleman officially started his collegiate career on Saturday with seven carries for 24 yards, including his longest run of nine yards. With runningbacks Khalil Bell, Ray Carter and Aundre Dean all out with injuries, Coleman became the No. 2 back behind Chane Moline at least for the day.
“It felt good,” Coleman said. “My first college football game, straight out of high school. It really isn’t that much different. It’s still football. Guys know what they’re doing more than they do in high school. I can hang with these guys.”
The Bruins came into the Rose Bowl with an emphasis to reinvigorate the running game despite a depleted backfield. Through their first two games, the Bruins were last in the NCAA in rushing offense. Now through three games, they’re third from last with an average of 51.0 yards per game on the ground.
Coleman and Moline combined for 18 carries for 98 yards against the Wildcats, by far the most rushing yards gained in a game this season.
WIDE OUTS SHUT OUT: The Bruin offense put up 81 yards of passing offense against Arizona, a frustrating statistic for wide receiver Terrance Austin, who sees it as underachieving.
“It’s tough,” Austin said. “I know what we’re capable of. We know what we’re capable of and it’s frustrating. It really is.
“We’ve got the weapons. It’s just more execution.”