UCLA Football Preview: Boise State Rush Defense May Pose a Problem for the Bruins
UCLA has lost to every Top 50 rush defense they have faced this year. Boise State's rush defense is ranked 29th in the nation.
The Boise State Broncos will play a defense that the Bruins have become very familar with over the past two seasons. They will be playing a 4-2-5 which will feature the secondary playing as field and boundary corners and safeties.
Despite playing this alignment, the Broncos have a stronger run defense than their pass defense. Boise State’s rushing defense is ranked 29th in the country. Their pass defense is ranked 74th.
By comparison, the Bruins’ rushing defense is the best in the country while UCLA’s pass defense is ranked 24th.
So, while Boise State’s defense is very good, their defense isn’t quite as good as the Bruins were under former defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn. It’s very possible, however, that the Bronco defense will be able to slow down the barely passable offense that the Bruins have had all season.
Let’s look at the Broncos’ defensive personnel.
Defensive Line
The Bronco defensive line is anchored by 306-pound nose tackle Herbert Gums. Expect Gums to do what most nose tackles do — provide a big body in the middle to stop up the works. He’s not going to make a lot of tackles, given that he only has 20 tackles all season, but just by being there, he forces teams to run the ball somewhere else.
Next to Gums will be the Broncos other defensive tackle, Braxton Fely. While Fely’s 14 tackles are fewer than Gums, he does have four TFLs including three sacks. So, that makes him a guy UCLA needs to keep away from Ethan Garbers.
Another guy UCLA needs to keep away from Garbers is defensive end Ahmed Hassanein, who leads the Broncos in sacks with 12.5. That puts Hassanein into a category like Laitu Latu, who had 13 sacks this season for the Bruins. If the Bruin offense line lets Hassanein get to Garbers, it may very well lead to Chip Kelly having to send in either Collin Schlee or Chase Griffin.
On the other side is edge rusher Jayden Virgin. Virgin took over as the starter midway through the season after Demetri Washington went down with an injury. He has 23 tackles this year including 2.5 TFLs. He also has three breakups, three QB hurries, and two fumble recoveries.
Linebackers
The starting middle linebacker for Boise State will be DJ Schramm. Schramm has made a respectable 42 tackles this year including four TFLs and one sack. He also has one QB hurry.
Will linebacker Andrew Simpson looks like the Broncos’ top linebacker, which you usually wouldn’t expect from a weakside linebacker. He’s third on the team in tackles with 60 including 15 TFLs and his 6.5 sacks is second best on the team behind Hassanein. His two interceptions, two pass breakups, six QB hurries, two fumble recoveries and one forced fumble tell you that Simpson is a disruptor on defense for the Broncos. Expect to see Simpson right in the middle of several big defensive plays for Boise State.
Secondary
Moving to the secondary, field cornerback A’Marion McCoy is the guy to avoid throwing the ball near. That’s because McCoy leads Boise State in interceptions with three. He’s also broken up four passes and made 31 tackles this season.
On the other side, Jayden Clark will start at the boundary cornerback spot. He leads the team in pass breakups with eight and he’s seventh on the team in tackles with 48 including two TFLs.
Boundary safety Alexander Teubner leads the Broncos in tackles with 73 including 2.5 TFLs. He also has an interception, four pass breakups and a fumble recovery.
Redshirt junior Rodney Robinson will start as the field safety. Robinson is fourth on the team in tackles with 57 including one TFL. He also has an interception, a pass breakup, a QB hurry, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.
Finally, Seyi Oladipo will be the Broncos’ starting nickelback. He is second on the team in tackles with 64 including eight TFLs and 1.5 sacks. He has also broken up four passes and he has an interception, a QB hurry and a forced fumble.
Analysis
Every time UCLA has faced a Top 50 rushing defense this season, the Bruins have lost, and each of UCLA’s losses have come against teams whose rushing defense is ranked in the Top 50 nationally. Utah, Oregon State, Arizona, Arizona State and UC Berkeley are all ranked in the Top 50 in the nation in rushing defense. With Boise State’s defense ranked 29th in the country, they are ranked in between Arizona and Arizona State.
This doesn’t bode well for the Bruins’ chances tomorrow evening. In fact, I’m going to go out a limb here and predict another Bruin loss tomorrow due to UCLA’s ineffective offensive under Chip Kelly, Offensive Genius. Let’s hope I’m wrong.
Go Bruins!
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You are not wrong sadly. But hope springs eternal. I never thought we’d beat $C so that’s something we can hang our hat on.