The formula for stopping UCLA’s offense is simple.
Hold the Bruins’ running game in check, and more often than not, you’ll keep them out of the end zone.
Under the direction of renowned offensive coordinator Norm Chow, UCLA implemented a version of the pistol offense this off-season. But unfortunately for the Bruins, the pistol hasn’t exactly been firing on all cylinders.
While UCLA’s rushing game has been productive and is ranked No. 13 in the country at an average of 223 yards per game, the aerial attack has been another story.
The Bruins are ranked No. 118 in the nation in passing with a woeful 95.50 yards per game. Redshirt sophomore quarterback Kevin Prince has regressed from an encouraging freshman year in which he threw for 2,050 yards and completed 56.2 percent of his passes. This season Prince has only completed 44.7 percent of his throws while throwing three touchdowns against five interceptions.
Prince has also dealt with an assortment of nagging injuries virtually all year.
His backup, Richard Brehaut, has completed only 19 of his 38 pass attempts with no touchdowns and one interception.
While Prince is currently listed first on the Bruins’ depth chart, it’s unclear whether he or Brehaut will start under center against the Ducks. Either way, it’s apparent that UCLA’s rushing game will present a more significant challenge. Case in point — the Bruins have 13 rushing touchdowns compared to three passing.
Jonathan Franklin is UCLA’s feature back, leading the team in carries (with 112 attempts) at 6.1 yards per carry.
Franklin is complemented by Derrick Coleman (7.5 yards per carry on 44 attempts) and true freshman Malcolm Jones (4.0 yards per carry on 30 attempts).
But Oregon doesn’t plan to alter its defensive strategy to stop the unbalanced UCLA offense.
“We don’t change up what we do for other teams,” Oregon defensive tackle Brandon Bair said. “We come out and just do what we do every day.”
Oregon’s defensive line wants to get off blocks and attack the ball.
“Pretty much the run game is the run game,” Oregon defensive line coach Jerry Azzinaro said. “You have guys blocking you and you try to defeat the blockers and get after the ball carrier.” And it’s not much different with a pistol offense than a pro-style set.
“It’s kind of the same thing as we run,” Bair said. “The only difference is the backs behind the quarterback instead of one side or the other.”
The size of UCLA’s offensive line and running backs could pose problems for the Ducks. The starting five on the Bruins’ offensive line weighs an average of 317 pounds, significantly more than Oregon’s defensive line.
And though the 5-foot-10-inch, 198-pound Franklin has the speed to bounce outside, the Bruins have two backs (Jones and Coleman) who weigh more than 220 pounds and are certainly capable of overpowering a defensive front.
With that thunder (Jones and Coleman) and lightning (Franklin) dynamic at play, Oregon’s defenders have a responsibility to be aware of each Bruin runner and study his tendencies.
“That comes in almost at an individual level,” Bair said. “You have to have studied the team enough to know which back is in and what plays you’re going to get more often than not. You have to recognize that as a player when you’re on the field and that’s going to change up your mentality and the way that you play.”
If Oregon can do that, they’ll have a good shot at taming the Bruins. In their three wins this season, UCLA averages 322.3 yards on the ground. In its three losses, they average only 123.7.
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