Was it a step ahead or one other stride to nowhere? Is determined by one’s perspective.
Some would possibly see UCLA’s 34-17 loss to No. 16 Louisiana State on Saturday as a reprieve, a setback that felt like an indication of one thing higher to return. The staff confirmed sustained combat one week after being knocked flat. The offense scored a number of touchdowns for the primary time this season. A shorthanded protection stored issues aggressive regardless of failing to mount any semblance of a move rush.
Others may query whether or not incremental enchancment is sufficient in an period when coaches make thousands and thousands, some gamers pocket CEO cash and followers are requested to maintain funding the entire operation, win or lose. UCLA was shut out within the second half by one of many weaker defenses it’d face this season and is averaging 15.3 factors per sport, rating No. 124 amongst 133 main faculty groups.
Sooner or later, it’s indeniable that the Bruins (1-2) are going to wish a breakthrough past ethical victories to have one thing to promote to recruits and construct donor help for the title, picture and likeness funds wanted to import high-level transfers.
Listed here are 4 takeaways from a loss that gave some hope and sunk others additional into despair:
Garbers is a gamer
His jersey smudged with grass and even a touch of purple from the LSU defenders who stored smashing into him, Ethan Garbers by no means wavered underneath strain.
The UCLA quarterback’s most interesting second got here late within the first half when he eluded the preliminary move rush by stepping up and firing a landing move to Logan Loya exactly for the time being that he absorbed a large hit.
Garbers’ spectacular play was the first purpose the Bruins solid a halftime tie, however his being pressured to play hero ball on an offense with no working sport additionally has its drawbacks. Firing so many passes underneath strain goes to result in inevitable errors.
Learn extra: UCLA misses likelihood to alter narrative on begin of DeShaun Foster period in loss to LSU
The effectivity numbers are the worst of his profession. Garbers has accomplished 56.7% of his passes whereas logging extra interceptions (4) than touchdowns (three). He’s additionally misplaced two fumbles and had one other in opposition to the Tigers that went for a 19-yard loss within the third quarter after proper deal with Garrett DiGiorgio pounced on the ball.
Garbers has mentioned his No. 1 objective this season is to play in each sport, however which may not occur if he doesn’t get higher safety. He’s been sacked eight instances in three video games and hurried a further 10 instances.
“It’s simply the want-to, you’ve received to wish to get in there and hold that man away from our quarterback,” UCLA coach DeShaun Foster mentioned of the blocking, “so after I watch this tape and actually dissect what was occurring on the market, we should always have the ability to repair this.”
In want of a rush
One purpose that Garbers might need appeared so good in practices for the reason that spring is that he didn’t face a lot of a move rush.
Since notching 5 sacks within the opener in opposition to Hawaii, UCLA has added none in its final two video games in opposition to extra stout offensive strains. The Bruins moved linebacker Oluwafemi Oladejo to edge rusher in opposition to LSU and it paid a small dividend — Oladejo contributed one of many staff’s three quarterback hurries — however did little to alter the general image.
UCLA’s lack of a move rush was an enormous purpose the Tigers had been in a position to maintain 96- and 92-yard drives within the second half to finish the Bruins’ probabilities of an upset. LSU additionally transformed 10 of 15 third downs, sustaining a worrisome pattern for a UCLA protection that has allowed opponents to transform 23 of 41 possibilities (56.1%) in these conditions, worst within the nation.
Extra of that, please
There may be hope within the working sport. His title is Jalen Berger.
The switch from Michigan State confirmed some burst in his three carries Saturday, one going for 13 yards. A much bigger function might be simply what the Bruins must get occurring the bottom after Berger has totally rounded into type from the season-ending harm he sustained in his last 12 months with the Spartans.
UCLA has averaged 60.3 dashing yards per sport, rating No. 131 within the nation. Starter T.J. Harden has averaged 2.6 yards per carry and backup Keegan Jones a extra sturdy 5.2 yards in solely 9 carries. However assist for Garbers in shifting the ball, it appears, is right here.
“A great run sport,” Garbers mentioned, “is a quarterback’s greatest pal.”
Youth motion
Some child Bruins are rising up.
True freshman Kwazi Gilmer made the catch of the day when he juggled a move from Garbers and hauled it in for a 32-yard reception at LSU’s three-yard line late within the second quarter. Gilmer completed with two catches for a team-leading 61 yards.
Redshirt freshman Carter Shaw sparked UCLA’s last landing drive with a nine-yard run on a reverse.
“Two freshmen coming in there they usually’re in a position to play in entrance of 100,000,” Foster mentioned, referring to the gang at Tiger Stadium. “I’m wanting ahead to what they’ll do for the remainder of the season.”
To not be outdone, redshirt sophomore Brody Richter averaged 49.2 yards on his 4 punts, together with a 61-yarder. He additionally pinned the Tigers inside their 10-yard line thrice.
This story initially appeared in Los Angeles Instances.
