UCLA Bruins 3-2 Overall (0-2 Conference)

This Week’s Score: Oregon 24 – UCLA 10

Next Week’s Opponent: California

This one hurts, plain and simple. Rick Neuheisel’s club outplayed Oregon at many points throughout the game, but everything came crashing down within the first four minutes of the second half.

For the second straight week, UCLA put together a very disappointing offensive effort coupled with uncharacteristically poor rushing defense. The Bruins had their chances against Oregon, but QB Kevin Prince and the rest of the offense could never capitalize in the key moments of drives. UCLA fans are still probably sick to their stomachs over the goal line failure, but that was one example of many disheartening moments for Norm Chow’s offense.

Would a TD on that drive have changed the game? It certainly would have had an impact, but there is no reason to believe that the offense could have produced much more than 17-20 points against Aliotti’s D. One thing that has become painfully clear is that the UCLA offensive coaches need to place a heavy emphasis on fixing the red zone offense.

Is there now a QB controversy in Westwood? Many Bruins fans might think Richard Brehaut is the future (I have stated in the past that I feel that way), but Neuheisel and Chow remain adamant about sticking with Prince.

“For the immediate future, we’re going to stay with Kevin Price and believe in him” Neuheisel said.

The defense played fairly well, but I am having trouble understanding how a unit led by DT Brian Price and LB Reggie Carter can allow two teams in a row to gash them in the running game (Oregon went off for 221 yards rushing altogether). Clearly the offense cannot be trusted to win games right now, so this Bruins D has to be great, not just good. I am by no means blaming the defense for this loss, as the unit only gave up 10 points to a high-powered offense, and actually scored the only UCLA TD (what a play by Ayers!). That said, I would like to see the unit generate a few more turnovers, because the Bruins offense needs a short field to score these days.

The next four weeks will make or break the Bruins season, as Cal, UA, OSU, and UW are all capable of beating the Bruins and sending them to 0-6 in the conference. To avoid that fate, UCLA will have to rally around Prince, establish a consistent running game, and play relentless defense for all four quarters. We should find out quite a bit about the will of this team against the Cal Bears this Saturday.

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