By week 9 of the college football season every team has its dings and nicks, and players are taking a daily inventory of what hurts and how much. UCLA, though, coming off a physical first loss of the season to Stanford, is harder hit than most.
Leading tackler Eddie Kendricks left the game early last weekend with a bruised kidney and had to be taken to the hospital for tests. The Bruins’ #1 and #2 left tackle both went down with third quarter injuries, Simon Goines (MCL) and Conor McDermott (dislocated shoulder). Leading rusher Jordan James left the Utah game in a boot, and right tackle Torian White is out for the season with a broken ankle. The Bruins start a true freshman at right guard, Alex Redmond, a player the Ducks coveted in recruiting.
But even with the injuries Jim Mora’s squad in a dangerous opponent. They have the size and speed at wide receiver to exploit everything that worked for Washington State on Saturday. Quarterback Brett Hundley is a future high draft pick and current Heisman Trophy candidate operating offensive coordinator Noel Mazzone’s offense.
Linebacker Anthony Barr leads the PAC-12 in tackles for loss, and has passed Jadeveon Clowney on the NFL draft boards, now the leading contender for national defensive player of the year awards, maybe even a dark horse Heisman pick. In six games, Barr’s racked up 13.5 sacks and 21.5 tackles for loss; in his Sunday press conference Mark Helfrich compared him to Terrell Suggs, but with a quicker first step.
Prepare to launch: Missing a running back and three offensive linemen, Brett Hundley will try to feast on the defense that made Nick Aliotti furious and defensive after allowing 38 points to the Washington State Cougars. WSU quarterback Connor Halliday frustrated the Ducks with quick throws, screens and underneath routes. Hundley has 1661 yards passing and 287 rushing for the season, accounting for 16 touchdowns.
Asked about the injuries after the 34-27 Thursday night win on the road against the Utah Utes in week 7, Mora jutted out his jaw and said, “To me, they’re character-builders. Everybody wants it to be easy and pretty all the time. I don’t. I want us to build character along the way, because I think that will serve us over time. I want us to get in hard games and tough environments, and I think that will serve us along the line. It’s nice to grow and get better.”
5-1 and ranked 12th after Saturday’s 24-10 loss to Stanford, the Bruins have had enough character-building. They need a road win over the Ducks to keep pace with Arizona State in the PAC-12 South. With Kendricks out The Cardinal pounded the Bruins inside last weekend. Running back Tyler Gaffney had 36 carries for 171 yards and two tds. Kevin Hogan added 227 yards through the air, including a 30-yard touchdown to Kodi Whitfield, another 36-yard nonscoring strike to Devon Cajuste.
Hundley and the Bruins offense couldn’t get anything going against The Cardinal and their stout front seven. The sophomore dual threat was held to 24-39 passing for 192 yards, intercepted twice. With James out the running game was paltry, 22 attempts, 74 yards, a flat and discouraging performance in Palo Alto after being ranked in the Top Ten for the first time since Karl Dorrell’s 2005 squad, a year they started the season 6-0 after a win against Stanford, 5-6 that year under Walt Harris. The faces and names in college football have changed, and so have the ranked and the hapless.
Football is a game of change and constant adversity. The Ducks have handled their seven easiest opponents with speed and precision, and now they face their five hardest, teams that are a combined 25-8, the next two ranked 12th and 6th, the Beavers 25th. It’s an opportunity to close strong and make a convincing argument for the #2 spot in the BCS, because the college football playoffs are still a two-team affair.
For the season the UCLA defense has recorded 13 sacks, but the offense has surrendered 14. Hundley sometimes holds on to the ball too long; he’ll be encouraged by all those passes Connor Halliday got off against the Ducks on his way to a media guide extravaganza, 53-89 for 557 yards Saturday night. The defense gives up 415 yards per game, but they have 32 takeaways, 15 interceptions and 17 fumble recoveries. They’re mean and opportunistic, a little edgy after being kicked around by David Shaw’s oversized minions.
The Bruins outscore their opponents 40-19, and their resume includes a come-from-behind win over Nebraska and a 6-interception defensive effort against the Utes. They’re big, physical and athletically talented, but it will be a tough week figuring out who can step off the plane on two feet.
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