Jon Gaines and the rest of the Bruin offensive line will need to step up if UCLA wants to control the game offensively. (Photo Credit: Scott Chandler/uclabruins.com)
This evening, the UCLA football team will look to become bowl eligible for the first time in the Chip Kelly era when they take on the Colorado Buffaloes at the Rose Bowl.
Colorado comes in as a team that is battling Arizona for the cellar in the Pac-12 South.
Of course, the Buffs are led by former UCLA head coach Karl Dorrell. For anyone who has a short-term memory, Dorrell is the guy responsible for the creation of the old site we used to write for and, by extension, he is partly responsible for the eventual creation of The Mighty Bruin.
Until Chip Kelly, he was generally considered the worst football coach in UCLA history. Last year during the COVID-shortened season, Dorrell led the Buffs to a 4-2 mark.
Year Two under Dorrell has been rougher for Colorado. You could even call it Dorrellian since the Buffs are just 3-6, but things could be changing for the team after they managed to take Oregon State to overtime last week. Ultimately, the Buffs won the game in double overtime, 37-34.
So, Dorrell will hope that his team will. uild on that win.
Darrin Chiaverini is still the offensive coordinator for Colorado. This year, Dorrell has replaced his defensive coordinator. Tyson Summers is out and Chris Wilson was promoted from defensive line coach.
Special Teams
Freshman Cole Becker is the kicker for the Buffs. After missing a few field goal attempts to start the season, Becker has been pretty solid. He even made a 52-yarder last week against the Beavers.
Junior Josh Watts is a solid punter. He is averaging 41 yards per punt. Of his 51 punts, 22 have gone for more than 50 yards and his long is 64. He has put opponents inside the 20 on 13 of his punts.
Redshirt freshman La ‘Vontae Shenault is the younger brother of former Buffs receiver Laviska Shenault, Jr. He will return punts tonight. He has returned three so far this year for 38 yards.
Brenden Rice, the son of Jerry Rice and brother of former Bruin Jerry Rice, Jr., will return kickoffs for Colorado. He has returned all but one kickoff that Colorado didn't fair catch. He is averaging 28.6 yards per return and his long is 67.
Offense
Passing Game
Colorado will rely on the arm of freshman QB Brendon Lewis. Lewis is in his second season with the Buffaloes. He only saw action in the Alamo Bowl last season. He is completing almost 60% of his passes this season and is averaging 10.9 yards per completion.
Expect Colorado to attack the Bruin defense with short passes just like Oregon did.
Look for Lewis to target Rice frequently today, given that Rice has the most receptions on the team. Rice also leads the team with three receiving touchdowns.
Brady Russell is the second favorite target of Lewis. Russell has caught 15 balls for 204 yards.
But Lewis will likely spread the ball around. Four other Colorado receivers have made at least ten catches.
It looks like a possible recipe for the Bruin pass defense to make Lewis look like a Heisman candidate.
Rushing Game
Colorado's leading rusher is Jarek Broussard. Broussard is averaging 4.47 yards per carry and just 56.7 yards per game. His 151 yards against Oregon State last week was his biggest game this season.
Colorado also likes it when Lewis uses his legs. As a result, he is second on the team I rushing yards with 281 yards gained. Unfortunately, he has also lost 138 yards, thanks to an offensive line which includes two sophomores and a freshman.
Defense
The Colorado defense seems to play right into UCLA's strengths. They are allowjbg an average of 177 yards per game on the ground and 231 through the air.
Look for linebacker Nate Landman to lead the Colorado defense. He leads the team in tackles with 71.
Colorado doesn't get very many sacks. Carson Wells leads the team with just three so far and the Buffs only have seven as a team.
Colorado has a plus-one turnover ratio and that's because the Buffs have intercepted five passes. While DB Isaish Lewis leads the team with two picks, linebacker Carson Wells did return his for the team's only pick six.
Analysis
This game is another possible trap game. Colorado will cone into the Rose Bowl riding high after beating the Beavers last week. Meanwhile, the Bruins could get caught looking ahead to next week's game against Southern Cal.
If the defense doesn't improve today against Colorado's short passing game, it is very possible that the Bruins could lose another home game.
This is your UCLA vs. Colorado game thread.
Here's how to watch tonight's game.
UCLA Football (5-4, 3-3)
Opponent: Colorado Buffaloes (3-6, 2-4)
Series Record: UCLA leads, 11-5
When: 6:00 pm PT, Saturday, November 13, 2021
Where: Rose Bowl, Pasadena, CA
TV: Pac-12 Networks with Ted Robinson and Yogi Roth
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It baffles me that anyone could watch even the first half of this game and think these coaches have earned another game, let alone another year. Especially juxtaposed against the basketball program. Not only are they simply not very good, they kill themselves with dumb mistakes, and the play calling is atrocious. The only positive plays come from when everything doesn't work, and DTR runs for his life.
Funny, I stopped and had to remember, "I hope they get better and win this game, and win three more games and get a good bowl." 'Cause I am ready for them to lose enough for Kelly to go, and that's a f****d up place for a fan to be.
I miss my youth. Every game was Saturday at 1230 or 1pm. Always on 2 4 or 7. None of these screwy kickoff times on screwy networks. I’m in Palm Springs now and I can’t even get 1150.
U
Fire Jerry Azzinaro
What is it about being drawn offside?
Oh, my Azz!
suck!
sheet!
Thank God for Mick Cronin!
It is really hard to go from last night and then stomach this.
Double sheet!
A flat, unprepared and embarrassing performance.
It baffles me that anyone could watch even the first half of this game and think these coaches have earned another game, let alone another year. Especially juxtaposed against the basketball program. Not only are they simply not very good, they kill themselves with dumb mistakes, and the play calling is atrocious. The only positive plays come from when everything doesn't work, and DTR runs for his life.
Funny, I stopped and had to remember, "I hope they get better and win this game, and win three more games and get a good bowl." 'Cause I am ready for them to lose enough for Kelly to go, and that's a f****d up place for a fan to be.
Huge run plays by Colorado… run defense is porous
unbelievable how terrible the defense is.
And another stupid penalty.
Oh gawd!
Jarmond should just fire Azz at halftime. That would earn him a lot of respect with the Bruin faithful.
Fire Jerry Azzinaro
The student section was chanting "fire jerry"
Dorrell isn’t looking so bad now!
Colorado is a bad team. But we are making them look great. It is just so sad how the coaches have let this team down. We have plenty of talent.
This is like watching a slow moving car wreck. It's disturbing, but I can't look away.
Well, we can take timeouts.
Pyrrhic victory.
Wouldn't be complete if they weren't outplayed in every facet of the game, so good to know Colorado is also better at kicking.
Don't forget....this is coming off an "improvement week"
I miss my youth. Every game was Saturday at 1230 or 1pm. Always on 2 4 or 7. None of these screwy kickoff times on screwy networks. I’m in Palm Springs now and I can’t even get 1150.
On a separate topic, Drew Timme of Gonzaga is still a douchebag.
TD charbonnet!!
Poor Barr-Mira is stuck on the struggle bus
Ah yes, the vintage 25 yard run on 3rd and 2. A classic from the ucla defense.
Great run by DTR! Offense bailing out the defense right now
Offense looking great and 100% winning this game for the defense right now
Fantastic 3rd quarter by the offense. DTR showing a ton of heart.
UCLA scores 23 unanswered. Over on ESPN2, Gonzaga destroying Texas but it’s still early in 2nd half
Gotta credit the D there that was a great stop!
I just figured it out... it's so much more fun when we play well. What do ya think???
Here we go!!!
30 unanswered now, way to put it away!
What was Michigan thinking
I'm out of here, Bruins. Go Bruins!
I guess the alarm finally went off after they hit the snooze button at 6pm.
PHILIPS lets go!!!!
Woo-hoo!
The second half has been better.
Way to answer a poor start Bruins! Awesome finish!!
What a strange game. 2nd half was a joy to watch. Phillips us awesome.