UCLA Football: Bruins O-Line Getting Comfortable in Time for Pac-12 Play

Some may have been reaching for the panic button with the way UCLA's offensive line performed in the three games before the start of Pac-12 play.

Not Bruins offensive coordinator Noel Mazzone. 

After Wednesday's practice at Spaulding Field, Mazzone credited the linemen's growing familiarity and comfort with one another for UCLA's success last week at Arizona State. 

"It's kind of like a girlfriend. Date her long enough and you get to know her good habits and her bad habits," he said. 

OK, so maybe the Bruins offensive line won't be taking one another out for dinner and a movie. But for the first three weeks when the unit was under heavy scrutiny, the linemen were still in the early portion of their getting-to-know-you phase. 

Opponent	Rushing Yards	Rushing YPC	Passing Yards	Passing YPA	Sacks Allowed
Arizona State	225	6.4	355	15.4	1
Texas	217	4.6	226	6.6	3
Memphis	144	3.5	396	9.0	4
Virginia	116	3.0	242	7.1	5

"We keep forgetting that even through [preseason] camp and going into the first couple weeks [of the season], every day it was a different guy at guard or a different guy at center," Mazzone said. 

UCLA faced a rash of injuries across its front five well before facing Virginia in Week 1. Most notably, tackle Simon Goines had to have surgery to remove bone spurs from his ankle and center Jake Brendel hurt his knee. 

Brendel's void was particularly glaring in the season opener, as Virginia routinely brought pressure up the middle to get to quarterback Brett Hundley—which the Cavaliers did five times. 

In contrast, the Bruins surrendered just one sack to Arizona State in last Thursday's 62-27 win. The UCLA offensive line also paved the way for the team's best rushing performance of the season, with 225 yards and 6.4 yards per carry. 

Mazzone said the unit is "starting to jell a little bit," and that extends beyond the typical starters. 

Injuries remain a concern going forward, particularly with guard Alex Redmond coming out of the Arizona State game and his status for this Saturday against Utah being up in the air.

Picking up the slack a week ago was redshirt freshman Kenny Lacy, a product of Phoenix Mountain Pointe High School making his return home for the Pac-12 opener.  

Lacy worked seamlessly with the rest of the line, both in pass protection and as a run-blocker. Lacy said he was particularly pleased with how he picked up assignments. 

"That's something I pride myself on," he said.

The first-year lineman's contribution to the improving unit caught the eye of Mazzone, as well.   

"He came in and did a really nice job," Mazzone said. "I was proud of Kenny." 

The challenge for Lacy and the rest of the Bruins offensive line this week is taking the next step in that developing relationship. Utah comes into the Rose Bowl Saturday night with the second-most sacks in the Pac-12 and the stingiest run defense in the conference. 

The Utes promise to test a UCLA run game that has found its rhythm behind running back Paul Perkins. Perkins surpassed the 100-yard mark in each of the last two games, and the Bruins gained more than 200 yards as a team each contest. 

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"We're typically and historically pretty good run defenders," Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham said on Tuesday's Pac-12 conference call. 

Indeed, Utah has finished ranked No. 23 nationally or better against the rush in each of its first three seasons since joining the conference in 2011. This year, opponents are averaging just 2.97 yards per carry against the Utes defense.

"If we're going to have a chance to win the ballgame on Saturday, we're going to have to continue to do a good job in that area," Whittingham added.

So how can the UCLA offensive line keep the honeymoon going when faced with a front seven that includes linebacker Jared Norris (6.5 tackles for loss), defensive end Nate Orchard (4.5 sacks) and defensive tackle Clint Shepard (three tackles for loss)?

At least one Bruin has an idea.  

"I plan to play better this week," Lacy said.  

No Yellow Light for Hundley 

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Hundley's explosiveness outside of the pocket is one driving force behind the UCLA rushing attack. Thursday, despite coming off an elbow injury that required the quarterback to wear a bulky brace, Hundley went for 72 yards on eight carries—one of which culminated with him leaping over a would-be tackler. 

Did Hundley's run make his coaches a little nervous? 

"I closed my eyes," Mazzone said.

Nerves or no, however, the dual-threat playmaker won't get a red or yellow light on improvising as the situation dictates.  

"We weren't going to put him out there unless we felt and he felt he was 100 percent. And that's Brett," Mazzone said. "That's how Brett plays. We wouldn't want him out there if he wasn't playing that way."

UCLA Defense Gearing Down for a Slower Tempo 

Uptempo offenses are all the rage around the Pac-12. Just last week, the UCLA defense faced 105 snaps against Arizona State, per UCLABruins.com.

Utah comes into Saturday's affair averaging 30 fewer offensive plays per game, via UtahUtes.com. Though this year's Utes offense plays at a somewhat higher tempo than past Utah teams—the handiwork of coordinator Dave Christensen—this remains one of the slower-paced teams in the conference.

UCLA defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich said after Wednesday's practice that the Bruins' preparation reflects Utah's more methodical style. 

"It's different," he said. "We go all through training camp and you see our offense, they're always on the ball. They're always rolling. It's just super, super fast. So [facing a lower tempo team] it's almost like, what's going on? Why hasn't the ball been snapped?" 

The risk a defense accustomed to playing an uptempo style faces against an offense like Utah's is allowing impatience to dictate actions. Ulbrich said the Bruins defense is adapting to the "different mindset."

Rick Scuteri/Associated Press

Of course, UCLA has had an equalizer that effectively counters any type of offense thus far in 2014: converting turnovers into touchdowns. 

Cornerback Ishmael Adams' 95-yard interception return for a touchdown was the Bruins' fourth defensive touchdown on the year. 

Utah quarterback Travis Wilson has yet to throw a pick this season, but UCLA got him for six last year. 

"We take that into consideration," said defensive back Anthony Jefferson, who intercepted Arizona State quarterback Mike Bercovici last week. "I'm pretty sure [Wilson] is going to want to have a good game this year, so we're going to have to lock it down." 

Quotes obtained firsthand unless otherwise cited. Statistics courtesy of CFBstats.com.