Keys to the Game: UCLA

(What's a Bruin anyway!?)

Most of the discussion in this past week’s press conference and interviews with the coaches and players inevitably surrounded Cal ’s loss to Arizona. Far less has been said about Saturday’s opponent UCLA.

Saturday provides an excellent opportunity for Cal to bounce from a tough loss as they regain momentum as they officially begin their second half of their season. UCLA looks to be just the right type of team for the Bears in this situation. The Bruins aren’t terrible enough of a team for the Bears to simply cruise through the game without gaining a better sense of where or if they’ve improved. At the same time, UCLA doesn’t appear to be as dangerous of an opponent as say— Oregon or Oregon St. who has the ability to punch a team right in the mouth.

So let’s look at what the Bears need to do for the Dubya, and more importantly, show they’re ready to rebound from last week’s loss.

Regain Running Momentum
The best way for Cal to get back to its winning ways will be by getting back to their running game. Once the second best rushing attack in the conference (averaging over 180 YPG earlier in the season), Cal has seen that average fall to 168 YPG over the past few weeks. The Bears have particularly gotten away from the run in the second half of games. While game situations have certainly dictated the rushing attack’s success in recent games, Cal will need to reestablish their strength on offense on the ground.

With Jahvid Best beginning to get back into the swing of things, and the question marks that still surround Cal’s quarterback situation, Cal’s running game may be more important on Saturday than ever.

UCLA features a scrappy and athletic defense that has struggled on the road this season, but should still feature some talent up front. While the Bruins’ defensive line has had to make some positional switches due to injury at the defensive end position, they also have the luxury of featuring one of the better defensive tackle tandems in the conference in Brian Price and Brigham Harwell. Expect linebackers Reggie Carter and Akeem Ayeres to also stack the box and try to stifle Cal’s run game.

Cal needs to split reps more evenly between Jahvid Best and Shane Vereen to ensure that Best is still fresh and able to play going into the fourth quarter, where it may be critical to effectively run the ball, and milk the clock, assuming Cal can jump out to an early lead. The offensive line will also need to regain its swagger, as run blocking has taken a drop in productivity the past few weeks due to some key injuries.


Don’t let Crafty Craft get Pass Happy
UCLA’s running game isn’t much of a threat at this point, currently ranked 9th in the conference in rushing yards per game, only averaging 91 yards per game. While it will be important for Cal ’s run defense to regain some confidence against Bruins’ mediocre run game, it will be more important for the Bears to halt UCLA in the air.

UCLA QB Kevin Craft, a 3rd stringer pushed into the starting role after a series of injuries to Patrick Cowan and Ben Olsen, has already shaved about seven years off Rick Neuheisel’s life with his inconsistent play. Cowan particularly struggles the first half of games, committing the occasional turnover, prompting a flurry of cussing from Neuheisel on the sidelines. But Craft is a mobile and athletic QB who will constantly get outside of the pocket and can be a threat dangerous when given the opportunity to settle down, and is capable of creating plays and sustaining some solid drives in the second half.

Cal’s secondary will also have to bounce back after a tougher showing against Arizona’s potent passing attack by facing a solid receiving corps. in wide receivers Terrence Austin, Taylor Embree, and TE Ryan Moya who share 90 catches and 966 yards on the season. Assuming the Bears shut down the run, containing Craft and limiting the receivers from getting downfield (particularly Austin) will all but stifle any sort of offensive attack for the Bruins.

Put the Game Out of Reach by the 4th Quarter
For all of its struggles this year, UCLA has shown that it can be a tough team to put away, and has a very strong chance of stealing a win as long as it can stay in the game by the 4th quarter.

The Bruins were only down a point by the end of the 3rd quarter last weekend against Stanford, before pulling out the win on a late game pass from Craft to Cory Harkey for the 23-20 win.

Crafter had also mounted outstanding drives in the second half against Tennessee , leading the Bruins to an overtime win over the Volunteers to open the season.

They nearly did it against Oregon and Fresno State as well.

The Bears need to get out to a fast start offensively, and not let up. Even if the Bears jump out to an early lead, Cal can’t afford to give the Bruins any life in the second half, by getting too conservative on offense. UCLA has shown that if given the chance, they’ve got a way of taking advantage of it.

In Closing
All in all, UCLA provides Cal a prime opportunity to get back into its own proverbial skin. A home game against a scrappy rival team may be the best preparation as Cal buckles down for the remainder of Pac-10 play.

As much as some Cal fans started crying that the sky was falling after each respective loss, losing to a 5-2 Maryland squad or a 5-2 Arizona team isn’t really the end of the world—although the manner in which we lost both games was disparaging.

What would be incredibly disappointing however, would be if we dropped this game against a mediocre UCLA squad, at home. Then Cal fans can begin really worrying about this season. I don’t expect that to be the case though. While the score might be a bit closer than fans would like, I’m going with a Cal win.
Cal 31 UCLA 20