UCLA Football Preview: Bruins Will Need to Convert on Third Down Against a Tough Utah Defense
The Utes are winning games by holding their opponents on third down.
It feels like déjà vu all over again.
Last week, when writing about the Washington defense, I point out how the operative number was 1/2, as in Washington’s defense giving up 1/2 the yards rushing, 1/2 the yards passing and 1/2 the points compared to their offense.
Now, Utah comes to town and 1/2 feels like the operative number again, but not quite. Utah is giving up a little more than 1/2 the yards rushing that their offense is generating and the same goes for the Ute pass defense.
But there’s one thing which will make tomorrow’s game against Utah much tougher than last week’s game against the Huskies. That’s points instead of giving up 1/2 the points the offense is scoring, the Utes only give up 1/4 the points the offense is scoring.
In other words, the Utes give up the same ratio of yards Washington had done prior to last week’s game, but their defense is even stingier when it comes to putting the ball in the end zone. It makes me think of UCLA’s first drive last week against Washington when the Bruins drove down the field but were stopped just short of the end zone.
If Utah is successful at keepin g the high-powered Bruin offense out of the end zone, it will be really tough for UCLA to win.
The Utes will employ a 4-3 base defense, but their defensive depth chart, like their offensive one, lists more than 11 positions on it. Let’s look at Utah’s defensive personnel.
Defensive Line
The Utes will start four sophomores on the defensive line. Aliki Vimahi will get the nod at right tackle. He’s the biggest guy on the defensive line for Utah. So, while he only has five tackles in five games, his role may be more a matter of keeping offen linemen from blocking the Ute linebackers.
Junior Tafuna will start at left tackle and he’s put up better stats. He has 15 tackles this year including 2.5 TFLs. He has also added an interception and a quarterback hurry.
At right end, expect to see Van Fillinger. Fillinger has made 8 tackles this season including 2.5 TFLs and 2.5 sacks as well as two quarterback hurries. The Utes will likely platoon two guys at end on the left side. Either Jonah Elliss or Miki Suguturaga will start there. Elliss has caused more damage to opposing offenses. He’s made 10 tackles including 2.5 TFLs to go with a quarterback hurry and a forced fumble. Suguturaga has made six tackles with 0.5 TFLs. He also has a pass breakup and a QB hurry.
Linebackers
Mac linebacker Mohamoud Diabate is one of just two seniors who will start for the Utes on defense. Diabate is fifth on the team in tackles with 19, but he leads the team in TFLs with four. The Bruin offensive line will need to make sure they block Diabate to keep him from stuffing the UCLA rushing attack.
Sophomore Karene Reid is the Utes’ Rover linebacker. Reid is tied for the team lead in tackles with 32, ten of those tackles came against Arizona State. So, expect to hear his name called a lot. Last season, he made nine stops against the Bruins and he had his career high of 15 tackles against Washington State. He has three TFLs to go along with half a sack as well as an interception, two pass breakups and a QB hurry.
Over at the Stud linebacker, freshman Landon Barton will get the start. That is, if the Utes start off in a 4-3 defense. They may come out using this as a way to try to slow down the Bruin rushing attack. Barton has made 15 tackles this season including 2.5 TFLs and two sacks. He also has one quarterback hurry. But his time may be limited if the Utes play a lot of nickel tomorrow.
Secondary
Free safety R.J. Hubert is the other senior starter for the Utes. Hubert is third on the team in tackles with 28. In addition to having two interceptions, Hubert leads the team in forced fumbles and is the only Ute to recover a fumble this season.
Sophomore Cole Bishop will be the Utes’ starting strong safety. He is tied with Reid for the team lead in tackles. He also has a sack and 2.5 TFLs. He looks like a force to be reckoned with given that he can help on the pass rush as well as in coverage. He has one pick and two pass breakups to go along with a quarterback hurry.
Left cornerback JaTravis Broughton, a junior from Tulsa, Oklahoma, earned an All-Conference honorable mention selection in 2020. He had his 2021 season cut short after just two games with a season-ending injury, but he’s come back with a vengeance. He’s fourth on the team in tackles with 20 and he has a pass breakup as well.
The Utes’ starting right corner is Clark Phillips III. The sophomore from La Habra HS has started all 24 games Utah has played since he arrived in Salt Lake City. Dorian Thompson-Robinson probably should not pick on him tomorrow as he leads the Utes in interceptions with four. He has also made 10 tackles so far this season.
Last but not least is the Utes’ nickelback, junior Malone Mataele. The Orange County product has just three tackles despite starting four of Utah’s five games and two of them came against San Diego State. Other than giving the Utes an extra defensive back for pass coverage, Mataele hasn’t really done much for Utah this season. Of course, now that I said that, watch him have a career day tomorrow.
Analysis
As a unit, Utah’s defense is formidable, especially their pass defense. They have held opponents to just two passing touchdowns this season and opponents are averaging just 155.4 passing yards per game. That should present a challenge for DTR and the Bruin receivers.
The key to the Utes’ success looks to be holding their opponents on third down. Opponents have converted just 17 of 60 third downs, which is a 28.33% success rate. The Bruins are converting on third down almost 55% of the time. So, it seems like the game tomorrow is going to be won or lost on UCLA’s third down opportunities. If the Bruins can limit Nicholas Barr-Mira’s playing time for both punts and field goal attempts, UCLA should win the game.
Go Bruins!!!
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