With the reputation the UCLA defense built last year as a rare Pac-10 force, no team has taken them lightly five games into this season.
And against opposing teams’ best shots, the front seven have established a solid rush defense.
But the vaunted secondary has at times been picked on this season, becoming the target of pass-happy offenses.
The unit that starts four seniors currently ranks No. 100 in the nation in pass defense, giving up over 272 yards per game.
Despite their early struggles, the Bruins in the back still carry a certain swagger.
“If teams want to go out there, line up and throw the ball, we’ll be ready for it,” redshirt senior cornerback Trey Brown said. “We like the challenge and that’s the type of competitors we have on the back end.”
That challenge has come in the form of 217 passing attempts thrown at them in the first five games ““ the seventh-most in the country.
“Most of the teams have figured that the only way they can attempt to beat us is to throw the ball so many times,” senior cornerback Rodney Van said. “As a secondary it was a bit of a challenge. Our coach challenged us this week. We were winning and it wasn’t so much of a problem, but you lose a game and it becomes a problem. And we had to address it.”
Last week in Corvallis, Ore., the secondary addressed it, pitching their first solid game of the season, allowing 146 passing yards and only seven points on defense.
They continually frustrated Oregon State’s sophomore quarterback and added two interceptions, both by Brown.
“(That game) was very big,” Brown said. “We’re trying to make that next step in order to become a shut-down type of defense. When you go out and perform like the way we did, the only thing you can do is get better. You got to improve each and every week. You don’t want to play a game well and go back and have a downfall. You’ve got to be consistent each and every week you’re out there.”
That consistency was not there earlier this season.
After giving up 346 and 391 passing yards in their first two games to Stanford and Brigham Young, respectively, defensive coordinator DeWayne Walker had had enough, specifically challenging the unit to step up.
“We had been OK in the run but we had been kind of (poor) in the passing game so (Walker) wanted us to improve,” Van said. “And he put that challenge on us this past week and we met the bell.”
For Brown, one of the leaders on the experienced defense, the pressure of being the No. 1 corner on a secondary that gets consistently challenged is exactly what he wants.
“I handle that responsibility and I welcome it,” Brown said. “I feel like I’m a big-time player and big-time players have to make big plays. Not only in big games but any time you’re out on the field. That could be practice, walk-through, whatever. As long as you carry that sense of urgency about being a playmaker, it stays with you no matter where you’re at.”
That playmaker’s mentality is still evident despite the secondary’s low ranking, and last week’s performance just added fuel to the fire that could carry them through the next games, Van said.
“We always thought we had one of the better secondaries,” he said. “Last week proved it and the next few weeks are going to continue to prove that we do have one of the best secondaries in the nation.”