This game will be the third meeting in one year, with each team winning once. This year will be different, because the Bruins have a new coach, ‘Slick’ Rick Neuheisel, and former BYU, USC, and Tennessee Titans offensive coordinator Norm Chow.
Neuheisel took over for Karl Dorrell, who compiled a record of 35-27, and if you take away his 10-2 record of 2005, UCLA was just a .500 team on his watch. At least on the UCLA side they will be familiar with BYU, since the Cougars return nearly every offensive star from last year's team.
The Bruins open up with Tennessee at home on September 1, and then have a bye week to rest and prepare for the game at BYU.
Playing Tennessee before is good and bad for the Bruins. UCLA will be playing a top-line opponent in the Volunteers, which will help them when they face a good BYU team later, but on the flip side UCLA will not be as vanilla on offense or defense as if they were playing a low-level opponent. That could help BYU see what the Bruin team will really be like.
BYU is playing Northern Iowa in week one, which will give the Bruins little to go off of since BYU will keep it simple.
Offense: The main question is who will play QB this season. Injuries and inexperience have clouded who will be starting against Tennessee opening weekend. Pat Cowan was considered the number one and Ben Olson number two, but injuries to both in the spring hurt the team in the new offense that Chow has set up.
Here is the QB situation as written from BruinsNation and someone who is closer to the situation than me.
It is safe to say that the offense might struggle, but do not discount Norm Chow, who always gets his teams ready to play with his style of play calling.
As for the rest of the offense, the running back situation is going to be held down by players who saw limited action last year. Chane Moline had only 196 yards all of last year, and another possible contributor is Craig Sheppard, who saw very limited playing time.
This Bruin offense will have new faces and new plays with the changes in the coaching staff.
Defense: Since this is the Pac-10, defense is light, but by conference standards UCLA’s was not too bad. They did give up 20 points or more eight times and lost six of those times.
The BYU offense will be better than last year's offense, which was very solid. In the first of the two games last year between these teams, UCLA allowed 391 passing yards and won. In the Las Vegas Bowl they only allowed 154 passing yards and lost.
Their defense will need to be able to apply pressure to BYU’s offensive line and QB Max Hall.
Early Prediction: BYU is at home, and they rarely lose at home. This should be a BYU win because they are the better team. This game will go BYU’s way with a 7-13 point win.
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2 months ago
I think you underestimate UCLA in this one.
Especially, UCLA offensive line and the running backs. They appeared to run at will against the BYU defense, especially on the left side. They have the BYU 3-4 zeroed in. UCLA seems to take Jorgensen out by running AT him. He is excellent at back side take downs as is Dulin. Perhaps, Tialavea will draw double team blocks and open it up for Jorgenson, I also like a four man defensive line by adding Denny,Aola and/or Afutiti.
A BYU win will be on the backs of the offensive line and their ability to establish the running game. They have to win the line surge and keep the Bruins out of the backfield. A rather simple task that they seemed totally incapiable of accomplishing down in Las Vegas.
I agree, that BYU must re-establish the H back position on offense in order to draw off coverage on Pitta and Collie and open it up for Reed. I hope the coaches give Chambers a chance to open up the season.
2 months ago
Gary have to disagree about UCLA's offensive line, last year it was not good that is why both QB's struggled and most of those guys are gone.
Of course BYU should not underestimation UCLA they have probably the best coaching staff in the country starting with Rick Neuhisal, Norm Chow, as well as their D-coordinator who's name escapes me right now.
I just think BYU will have too much offensively for UCLA, plus BYU does not lose at home.
2 months ago
Jeremy
I appreciate the overall evaluation of last years UCLA O line. My comments are based on what I observed during both games with UCLA last year.
For example: In the first game, following BYU fumbled pass at the UCLA forty (returned to BYU 40), UCLA ran what appeared to be four scripted plays, Behl (?) off the right side for 24 yds, Behl off the right side for 17 yds, Incomplete pass, Behl off the right side for 4 yds and a TD.
In LV UCLA appeared to be able to blast the left side of BYU defense for 7 to 9 yards most of the night while BYU struggled for positive rushing yds. As I see it UCLA won the line surge on both sides of the ball in both games played last year. Hopefully, the cougars can change things this year because as you point out, UCLA has taken corrective action within their own coaching staff.(along with Washington). Basically, BYU opens with a 1AA team, followed by two Pac-10 teams coached by the NFL.
2 months ago
UCLA running back: Bell
last year, 795 yds before being injured early in the seventh game. UCLA was 5-2 when he was running the ball, agreed the UCLA passing game was trashed by injury.
Utah's attacking defense stopped him with 59 yds and shut down the passing game won the game. However, Bell is very good and will be back. Chow will use him not only as a scat back but as reciever as well. Minor thoughts...but what the heck.
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