Know Your Opponent: Week Three UCLA Bruins

Written By Sammy Jacobs (@Hoosier_Huddle)

The Indiana Hoosiers (2-0) head out west to play new Big Ten foe the UCLA Bruins (1-0). The Bruins are coming off a bye week following their season-opening win over Hawaii.

Head Coach: DeShaun Foster (1st Year at UCLA)
Overall: 1-0 (1.000) 1st Year
At UCLA:  1-0 (0-0)
Bowl Games: 38
Last Year’s Record: 8-5 (4-5)
This Year’s Record: 1-0 (0-0)
Mascot: Joe and Josephine Bruin
Colors: Blue  and Gold
Outfitter: Jordan Brand
National Titles: 1
Conference Titles: 17
Heisman Winners: 0

FUN FACT:

“I'm sure you guys don't know too much about UCLA, our football program, but we're in L.A”.- UCLA HC DeShaun Foster

1. Early Bye Week Implications?

UCLA had a bye week in week two after opening the season with a 16-13 win at Hawaii. Early bye weeks may not be as beneficial as one later in the year. The Bruins have only played one game and it was not all that impressive. Usually the most improvement comes between games one and two, but UCLA has had two weeks to get ready for Indiana. The upside is that UCLA has had an extra week to rest from the travel and to watch film of a new Indiana squad, while IU has just one game of film on the new UCLA staff. 

2. Bad Third Down Offense

One game is an extremely small sample size, but entering Saturday the Bruins have the worst third-down offense in the Big Ten as they converted just 30.8-percent of their attempts against Hawaii. UCLA’s average distance to go on third downs in week one was 7.5 yards. On third-and-four or less UCLA was 3-of-4. Getting UCLA off schedule and into third-and-long will help IU’s defense get after UCLA quarterback Ethan Garbers.

3. Big Play Offense Featuring Rico Flores and Moliki Matavao

The Bruin offense produced 10 “big plays”, which are runs over 10 yards and passes over 15 yards, in week one. Seven of them came in the passing game with four of those plays featuring wide receivers Rico Flores and Moliki Matavao. Flores is UCLA’s most dangerous receiver making three catches for 102 yards and a score. He will be targeted often by Garbers.

4. UCLA Run Game Struggles

The Bruins were without both starting offensive tackles in week one and it is unclear whether or not they will play this week. The Bruins ran for just 72 yards against Hawaii, which isn’t known as a big run-stopping defense. Of those 72 yards on the ground, 47 of them came via the quarterback. UCLA running backs had just 24 yards on 13 carries.

5. Havoc Defense

The UCLA defense is the reason they beat Hawaii as they created a lot of havoc in the backfield with 11 tackles for loss and five sacks. The defensive line is the strength of their team and will be the first real test for the IU offensive line. The Bruins defense also intercepted two passes and forced two fumbles. This is where games get flipped upside down.