UCLA Football: What Bruins Must Do to Avoid Letdown Before Oregon Game

Expectations for Jim Mora and the No. 8 UCLA Bruins are incredibly high. After demolishing Arizona State last week, many people have seemingly jumped back onto the Bruins bandwagon after a slow start to the season. 

For a program languishing in mediocrity before Mora's arrival, this is foreign territory. UCLA hasn't been considered a top-10 team since the days of DeShaun Foster and Cade McNown (aside from a brief time in 2005). 

With expectations come pressure and, thus, a potentially inflated ego. A younger team (such as UCLA) could be more susceptible to losing a game it shouldn't.

"Trap games" also seemingly pop up at the most inopportune moments. UCLA potentially faces one this weekend, as it hosts a stingy Utah team.

Why is this a dangerous game?

The following week, UCLA will host No. 2 Oregon Ducks in Pasadena, California. If both the Ducks and Bruins can remain undefeated, next week's contest will likely be the most significant game at the Rose Bowl involving UCLA in over a decade.

Kyle Whittingham's team enters the contest having lost a tough game last week to Washington State. The Cougars outscored the Utes 28-6 after the first quarter, narrowly winning the game by a point.

After the big win over Michigan in Ann Arbor, this was a difficult defeat to swallow. 

Make no mistake, Utah is a talented team. Dres Anderson is one of the best wide receivers in the Pac-12 Conference. The special teams unit is potentially the best in the country. The kicking duo of Tom Hackett and Andy Phillips is excellent, and returner Kaelin Clay has already scored four touchdowns on kick and punt returns. 

Defensive coordinator Kalani Sitake is also adept at bringing pressure in creative and exotic ways. As Mora told Kyle Goon and Matt Piper of The Salt Lake Tribune, "This is an outstanding defense. They actually use their linebackers well to get pressure. What they do is kind of simple, but also difficult because of their speed and decisiveness."

Rick Bowmer/Associated Press

Utah doesn't have the "sexy" appeal of an Oregon or Southern Cal. Nonetheless, the Utes are a very respectable opponent. 

In terms of a schematic standpoint, this piece will address areas in which UCLA can avoid a letdown before a potentially colossal affair the following week. 

Make Travis Wilson Uncomfortable

Utah's signal-caller isn't the most accurate quarterback. His shaky footwork and funky release directly correlate with a 58.3 percent completion rate on the year. Although he's thrown seven touchdowns and no interceptions, the Utah offense has sputtered in recent weeks. 

The Utes were able to score only one offensive touchdown in each of the past two games. Much of the scoring output has come from the special teams and defense. Against Washington State, Wilson went 18-of-38 for 165 yards. 

Wilson gets into trouble when he tries to force things down the field. It appears he has improved in the area—as evidenced by not throwing an interception to date this season. 

Against UCLA a year ago, he threw six interceptions. The Bruins brought pressure early and often against the signal-caller. Wilson got flustered in the pocket, and it contributed to poor throws. 

UCLA hopes it can recreate the same scenario again on Saturday night. 

Stop The Run

Utah running back Devontae Booker leads Utah in rushing with 357 yards and three touchdowns. He's a physical runner with impressive breakaway speed. 

UCLA will have to bottle up the talented back. The Bruins' best shot at victory is slowing the run, while having Wilson try to beat them with his arm. The strength of Utah's offensive line appears to be in regards to its run-blocking capabilities. 

In terms of pass protection, it's a different story. Wilson was constantly badgered by pressure last week when he attempted to drop back and throw the football down the field. Utah's offensive line is massive but not overly athletic or mobile. 

This bodes well for the likes of UCLA edge-rushers Deon Hollins, Owamagbe Odighizuwa and Takk McKinley. 

Should Booker sustain success rushing the football, it will take pressure off Wilson. It will also open things down the field for Anderson, Clay and Kenneth Scott. 

Control Kaelin Clay

With Utah's offensive struggles in recent weeks, the electric returner out of Long Beach has given the team multiple shots in the arm—via four touchdown returns on punts and kickoffs. Not only does it give Utah points, but these awesome displays of athleticism also boost the team's morale considerably. 

Per Jack Wang of the Los Angeles Daily News, UCLA will kick to Clay. As Mora said, "We kick off to whoever. We have one of the best kickoff coverage units in college football. We have not given up a single yard yet in four games on a punt return." 

UCLA does possess impressive statistics when it comes to defending against kicks. However, it still has to be very cognizant of Clay's return ability. 

There are many signs that point to this being a potentially tough game for UCLA. Utah is a well-coached football team. It will certainly be wanting to atone for the loss last weekend. 

However, this UCLA team appears to be on a mission. I expect Brett Hundley to have another great game, taking advantage of a thin and injured Utah secondary. I also believe UCLA's pass rush will get some production versus the Utes offensive line. 

When speaking about the potential for "looking ahead" to Oregon, Mora said, via Piper and Goon: "It's a week-to-week proposition. This week we're playing a team that had a tremendous win last time they went on the road. If you talk about not overlooking guys, it can get into players' heads and be kind of a self-fulfilling prophecy. For us, it's about trying to play up to our standard."

If the players possess the same sort of mindset as their head coach, UCLA should be able to avoid any sort of letdown.