(Photo: Action Network)
Campus Clash
(21) UCLA Bruins at (13) Oregon Ducks
UCLA (4-0):
Coaching changes are sometimes needed, and so far, they’ve benefited from them. That seems to be the theme of this year, and a perfect example of that is what’s been happening in Gainesville with the Florida Gators under Jon Sumrall. The same can be applied to this group here in California. Bob Chesney was the head coach for the James Madison Dukes for the last two seasons, and they were a playoff team last year. Last December, he left to take the job in California, and the rest is history. So far, Bob deserves a lot of credit for the strong start they’ve gotten off to. This has been one of the more explosive offenses in the Big Ten, and their ability to run the ball with Wayne Knight and Anthony Woods has given them a two-headed monster out of the backfield. As an entire unit, UCLA has scored 45, 28, 52 and 54 points, meaning they can strike at any time. My biggest takeaway with them has been Nico Iamaleava. Yes, the former Tennessee Volunteers quarterback who happens to look far more comfortable now than he did while playing in the SEC. I said this about Conner Weigman, and I’ll apply the same thing to Nico: not everyone is cut out for the SEC, and sometimes leaving that conference is best. Now, Nico doesn’t have to take games over and throw it 40 times a game because he can lean on that running game. Defensively, they’ve been solid all around except for their pass defense, which I still question. Week six will be their biggest test when they make their way to Eugene and Autzen Stadium.
Oregon (3-1):
I’ve been disappointed with them so far, and it dates back to Week 1 when they allowed the Boise State Broncos to hang around, but they survived it. What have I always said? The issues you may have as a football team will always find a way of coming back to hurt you, and that’s exactly what happened in Week 2 when they were upset at the hands of the Oklahoma State Cowboys. They bounced back in a big way against Portland State the following week with an 84-point outburst, but last week is what I want to talk about more. It was their first conference game of the year against a familiar opponent in the USC Trojans, and Dante Moore was having a nice game until he took a hit that unfortunately knocked him out of the game. But there’s something we can all learn from this game, and that’s how important it is to have an experienced backup quarterback. That’s exactly what they were able to turn to in Dylan Raiola. The former Nebraska Cornhuskers quarterback came in and helped lead the Ducks to a victory. I think they can turn this thing around and play much more consistently. Their passing attack has been incredible this year, and it’s not just one receiver. Everyone has joined the party, and as expected, Oregon is one of the top-scoring offenses in the country. They’ve had their bye week and return to the field for their first home conference game of the year.
UCLA X-Factor: Wayne Knight
One of the pieces of that two-headed monster in the backfield for the Bruins has been an integral part of their offensive attack this year. Wayne has been phenomenal through their first four games with 445 rushing yards and nine touchdowns on the season. He’s the guy who helps keep their offense on schedule, and even if he’s gaining five to six yards per carry, this will neutralize the Oregon pass rush. He’s explosive when he gets into space and has several runs of 30-plus yards. He helps keep Nico clean, and the more effective the running game is, the cleaner the UCLA passing attack will be. Wayne is also a matchup problem in space, meaning he must be accounted for at all times, even when the ball isn’t in his hands.
Oregon X-Factor: Dylan Raiola
I was so impressed with him when he stepped in for Dante in Southern California, and the biggest takeaway from all of that was that he still kept this offense on track and showed that the offense doesn’t necessarily fall apart even if Dante isn’t on the field. The reason why I picked him as an X-factor is because he can attack the weakness of this UCLA defense, which is their secondary. If Dylan can play the way he did against USC in Week 4, it could be a really long day for the Bruins on the defensive side. The Oregon coaching staff believes he can give them legitimate offensive upside.
Final Thoughts:
It’s still a little strange saying this is a Big Ten matchup because I remember all the times they met in the Pac-12, but things change, I suppose. This is a true test for the UCLA Bruins, and Oregon is still looking to continue its winning ways after falling short to Oklahoma State in Week 2. Autzen Stadium is one of the toughest places to play, and these fans really get into it. There’s no need for UCLA to get away from what’s been working for them this year, which is the running game. In this game on Saturday, they must continue to run the ball relentlessly! If Knight can make his presence felt, UCLA has a much better chance of competing in this football game. They need to protect Nico against this Oregon pass rush and force Oregon to beat them with the passing game underneath. For Oregon, these keys go hand in hand: limit the Bruins’ rushing attack and dare Nico to beat you by throwing the football. This means loading the box while maintaining enough coverage integrity to prevent the big play downfield. Lastly, the Ducks’ defense must win on first down. Push the Bruins’ offense back and keep them as off schedule as possible. This is how UCLA has won games: through ball control and forcing teams out of their comfort zone. That will be a tall task for the Oregon defense. In other words, I’m saying don’t allow UCLA to dictate the tempo of the game.
