UCLA vs. Washington Complete Game Preview

WHEN: Saturday, Nov. 8; 7 p.m. ET 

WHERE: Husky Stadium; Seattle

TV: Fox Sports 1

A week after UCLA's homecoming win over Arizona, Bruins head coach Jim Mora is out for another kind of homecoming victory at Washington. 

Mora leads his UCLA team—ranked No. 18 in the Associated Press Top 25—to face his alma mater in a city he spent three seasons as an NFL coach.

The rumor mill linked Mora to the Washington Huskies a few times in the coach's career, most notably in 2006 when, as head coach of the NFL's Atlanta Falcons, he called it a "dream job." 

Mora's name was again rumored in association with the position after Steve Sarkisian left for the USC vacancy last December, but he quickly shot down speculation. 

"We’ve only just scratched the surface of our potential, and as a Bruin fan, I’d be champing at the bit just to see what UCLA football is going to do next," Mora said, per Jack Wang of the Los Angeles Daily News. 

Washington instead hired Chris Petersen, the nation's winningest active head coach through his tenure at Boise State. 

Petersen has found tougher sledding in his first season at Washington. The Huskies endured losses in 3 of 4 Pac-12 Conference games before beating Colorado on the road last week, 38-23.

Another loss would match Petersen's most in a single campaign during his eight-year run with Boise State. He finished the 2013 campaign 8-4 before accepting the Washington vacancy.

UCLA must drop Petersen and the Huskies to that four-loss mark to keep its own Pac-12 championship hopes alive. The Bruins' defeat of Arizona, coupled with Utah's loss at Arizona State, puts UCLA behind only the Sun Devils in the South division's loss column. 

Keys to Victory for UCLA

Gus Ruelas/Associated Press

Keep the Washington Defense Out of the End Zone

Offense becomes a defensive endeavor when faced with an opponent like Washington. The Huskies defense has scored seven touchdowns this season—and that's not even counting the two rushing scores linebacker Shaq Thompson's notched while playing running back. 

"

Huskies set school record for defensive touchdowns http://t.co/OsqH9URlzs @chatsports #Huskies #NCAA

— Washington Huskies (@ChatHuskies) October 29, 2014"

There's plenty that goes into preventing Washington from turning defensive snaps into scoring opportunities. The first and most obvious element is ball control, something that has been a sticking point for the UCLA offense in recent weeks. 

The Bruins came into Saturday's contest with Arizona having turned the ball over at least once in each of their previous four games. UCLA maintained possession throughout the night, until a fumble late in the fourth quarter gave Arizona a chance at cutting into the 10-point deficit. 

Quarterback Brett Hundley doesn't throw many interceptions—he has just four on the season. Fumbles are more vexing for the redshirt junior, and those are byproducts of the pressure opposing defenses are able to put on him. 

And few teams pressure like Washington. The Huskies have 37 sacks on the season, second behind only Utah. The Utes, of course, teed off on Hundley 10 times in their Oct. 4 meeting. 

The onus is on UCLA's blockers to protect Hundley, while the quarterback must be decisive in his playmaking. 

Washington has struggled offensively this season, but that matters little if the Bruins allow the Huskies to get defensive scoring chances. 

Keep Building Defensively 

The UCLA defense put together its best performance of 2014 by a significant margin last week when it held prolific Arizona to just 255 yards. 

Linebacker Deon Hollins said the Bruins just needed a breakthrough and that every positive "stacked up." 

If that's the case, UCLA goes into Saturday's contest with something rather impressive put together. But given the ups and downs of this season, the Bruins cannot rest on last week's performance against an opponent they should stifle. 

The Huskies are searching for their offensive rhythm amid injuries and roster fluctuation. By duplicating its showing against Arizona, UCLA should be able to dominate on that side of the ball, giving the offense the breathing room it needs to operate. 

Keys to Victory for Washington

USA TODAY Sports

Back Shaq

Two-way linebacker and running back star Shaq Thompson buoyed Washington's offense in a 38-23 win last week at Colorado.

His 174 yards on the ground kept the Huskies in the game despite the Buffaloes building an initial double-digit-point advantage.

Thompson is fast becoming the top weapon on the Washington offense, but that's more out of necessity than luxury. The Huskies' play on that side of the ball has been sporadic at best.  

Washington is No. 11 in the Pac-12 in passing offense and last in total offense, the result of instability at quarterback and injuries to the team's corps of running backs. 

The Huskies need support behind Thompson to muster any sort of consistent offensive attack against UCLA this Saturday. 

Play to Strengths

What Washington does well—creating turnovers, pressuring opposing quarterbacks—counters precisely what UCLA hasn’t done well this season.

The Bruins have improved protection for Hundley somewhat in recent weeks but still allowed four sacks against Arizona to remain ranked last in the conference with 29 given up for the season.

Hundley’s fourth-quarter fumble was UCLA’s 12th turnover of the season—a respectable total, as the Bruins rank No. 40 nationally for giveaways.

The volume of turnovers isn’t so much UCLA’s problem as it is the impact coughing up possession has had. Against Colorado, for example, the Buffaloes capitalized on takeaways in UCLA territory.

Oregon did the same in its win at the Rose Bowl on Oct. 11.

No team is quite as adept at parlaying turnovers into points as Washington, and doing so once more is key to the Huskies’ efforts on Saturday.

UCLA Players to Watch

USA TODAY Sports

OFFENSE

WR Jordan Payton 

Hundley's favorite target demonstrated exactly why he's earned such distinction this season last week. Jordan Payton beat his defender along the sideline late in the third quarter, and Hundley found him for a 70-yard score that effectively slammed the door on Arizona. 

"

Go #UCLA #Bruins 3Q UCLA B. Hundley pass,to J. Payton for 70 yds for a TD Video - via @SportsCenter http://t.co/vKq8IRFgtA

— jforrest26 (@jforrest26) November 2, 2014"

Payton should once again play a central role in the Bruins' passing attack. Washington ranks No. 112 in the nation against the pass, giving up 275.3 yards per game. 

More specific to Payton is that as UCLA's No. 1 target, he will likely find himself opposite the Huskies' premier defensive back, Marcus Peters. 

"

Jordan Payton said UW CB Marcus Peters does everything well: "You only get a couple of those corners that come your way in your lifetime."

— Ryan Kartje (@Ryan_Kartje) November 3, 2014"

Peters is one of the conference’s top coverage cornerbacks, but Arizona State found some success attacking him with its top target, Jaelen Strong. Strong was limited to just three receptions but one was a crucial touchdown catch when up against Peters one-on-one.

Going to Payton against Peters early may be UCLA’s best formula for passing success later in the contest, as it should spread out the Washington secondary for other Bruins receivers to make one-on-one plays.

QB Brett Hundley

Saturday's matchup presents Hundley with a feast-or-famine proposition. Washington's aggressiveness up front leaves the Huskies susceptible to surrendering big passing plays, but the consistent pressure also challenges UCLA where it has faced its greatest struggle.

If Hundley can avoid pressure, he should be able to spread the ball around via the pass effectively—and the Bruins may have to come out firing early to keep Washington honest.

Coming off a 131-yard rushing effort, Hundley’s scrambling ability will once again play a potentially key role. Both escaping the Washington pass rush, as well as attacking on designed runs in anticipation of the blitz, could be vital to keeping the Huskies honest.  

DEFENSE

LB Myles Jack 

Ever since rumors of Washington coaches testing Thompson at running back surfaced, comparisons between the Huskies' phenom and Myles Jack were unavoidable. 

The parallels are understandable, given both are such rarities in the modern football landscape: players who are as effective on offense as they are defense. 

Because UCLA has a player so uniquely comparable to Thompson, it stands to reason that the Bruins have one of the Pac-12's best answers to the two-way Washington star. 

Last week, Jack was flagged twice for unsportsmanlike conduct to extend an Arizona drive. In the aftermath, Dan Greenspan of the Associated Press reports that the possibility of Jack moving to offense full-time arose. 

"

Jack said #UCLA coaching staff has asked him if he wants to move to RB permanently. Said his heart is on defense, though.

— Dan Greenspan (@DanGreenspan) November 3, 2014"

Facing his counterpart, Thompson might reignite Jack's play at linebacker. 

DL Kenny Clark and Eddie Vanderdoes

Arizona came into last week's contest averaging 193.4 yards per game. UCLA held the Wildcats to just 80 yards on the ground, an effort defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich said was due largely to the play of the Bruins' line.  

"The interior line, it starts with them always," he said. "The fact they played so well on the dive and the inside stuff, the outside guys didn't feel like they had to help so much. 

Kenny Clark and Eddie Vanderdoes were vital to UCLA plugging up Arizona’s run plays up the middle, combining for 12 tackles. Vanderdoes’ eight were a team high.

At just 179.4 yards per game, Washington has one of the Pac-12’s least-potent passing offenses. If Vanderdoes and Clark can effectively plug the Huskies run game up the middle, Washington will be taken completely out of its offensive comfort zone. 

SPECIAL TEAMS

KR Ishmael Adams

Ishmael Adams returned a kickoff the length of the field for a touchdown in UCLA's Sept. 27 win at Arizona State. The play was noteworthy because it marked the program's first return for a score in seven years. 

Adams also gave opposing special teams coordinators something to think about, evident last week when Arizona opted to kick short so he would not have return opportunities. 

Washington is one of the nation's worst teams as far as giving up big kickoff returns, allowing seven run-backs of 30 yards or more. The Huskies may be forced to adopt a strategy similar to that of Arizona, which eliminates the potential for Adams breaking off a long one but also cedes field position to the UCLA offense. 

Washington Players to Watch

USA TODAY Sports

OFFENSE

QB Cyler Miles

Miles stepped in for an injured Keith Price in Washington’s loss last November at the Rose Bowl and performed admirably against the UCLA defense. He threw two touchdown passes and completed 15 passes for 149 yards.

A suspension that spanned much of the offseason impeded Miles’ acclimation to the new coaching staff, and his absence contributed to the merry-go-round Petersen’s played at quarterback much of this season.

Miles is one of three Huskies to start at least one game behind center, along with Jeff Lindquist and Troy Williams, but Miles has clearly been the best option.

He’s still seeking his breakout effort, and Washington will need it to come this week if it’s to have much chance of scoring on the rejuvenated Bruins.

RB Shaq Thompson

Thompson's move to a primarily offense role last week paid dividends, and his 174 rushing yards against Colorado would seemingly give Petersen reason to leave the talented junior at running back for the remainder of the season.

Thompson is explosive in space and has the strength to keep plays alive after initial contact. Colorado's struggles tackling Thompson manifested in him gaining more than 11 yards per carry. 

DEFENSE

DT Danny Shelton

They don’t come much bigger than 6’2”, 339-pound Danny Shelton. And those defensive linemen who actually are Shelton’s size or larger are hard-pressed to match the senior’s mobility and dexterity.

Shelton sets the foundation for Washington’s aggressive pass-rushing defense by commanding blockers’ attention on the interior of the line. But Shelton is much more than just a space-eater meant to open the edges for pass-rushers.

Shelton has a whopping 7.5 sacks and 13 tackles for loss total. Shelton is also one of Washington’s best run-stoppers with 71 tackles on the year.

UCLA will have its hands full trying to contain Shelton in the middle, which will leave the Bruins’ sometimes-shaky blocking on the outside vulnerable to the blitz.

DE/LB Hau'oli Kikaha 

Only one player in all of college football has more sacks than Utah’s Nate Orchard, who brought down Hundley four times last month. That player is Washington’s Hau’oli Kikaha.

Kikaha played mostly on the line for former Huskies defensive coordinator Justin Wilcox, now at USC. But new defensive coordinator Pete Kwiatkowksi experimented with using the intimidating pass-rusher in an outside linebacker role, and the move has paid dividends.

Kikaha’s 15.5 sacks are far-and-away most in the nation, 3.5 ahead of Orchard.  Giving UCLA’s struggles with surrendering sacks, Kikaha offers arguably the worst matchup the Bruins have faced or will face all year.

What They're Saying

USA TODAY Sports

UCLA 

Mora on avoiding emotional mistakes:

“One thing that we have to do, as everybody knows, is do a better job of channeling our passion and our energy and that youthful exuberance in a positive direction and play smarter so that we don’t hurt ourselves.”  

Ulbrich on continuing the defensive success after shutting down Arizona:  

"It’s got to be something we build from and grow from. It can't just be a flash-in-the-pan. We have to gain more consistency with playing well, and I think that will come as they gain a better understanding of what we’re trying to do defensively.”

Running back Paul Perkins on UCLA players eliminating turnovers and penalties in the final stretch:

“It really comes down to the players. The coaches…can’t play the game for us, so it’s pivotal for us to cut [mistakes] down.”

Washington

Linebacker Travis Feeney on Washington's mentality in close games, via CUBuffs.com: 

"

This team is always fighting. We never give up and we always know that we are always in the game no matter what. They got on top of us fast. We knew that they were going to fight. Every game they’ve played has been a tough game. It was no different here. We got our heads back in the game and fought back and played hard.

"

Thompson on imparting his defensive experience on offense, via GoHuskies.com:

"

When you see the hole, you've got to hit it. That's the main thing at running back. I have played linebacker so I have the linebacker mentality...I was just looking at the linebackers to see which way they [were] going, and if they [weren't] there, I'd just attack the hole.  

"

Prediction

USA TODAY Sports

UCLA's certainly done its part to contribute to the 23-12 overall record of Pac-12 teams in road games. The Bruins can close out a perfect mark away from the Rose Bowl with a win Saturday at Husky Stadium.

Conversely, Washington returns home from its win at Colorado on the other end of the conference's astounding road-team success. The Huskies dropped their last two in Seattle and could muster just 23 combined points in the losses. 

Those 13- and 10-point outputs against Stanford and Arizona State, respectively, perfectly reflect Washington's most critical flaw this season: The Huskies lack offensive identity. 

As UCLA can attest, it's not necessarily ideal when a team's most productive ball-carrier is a linebacker.

But what Washington lacks in clear offensive strength, it compensates for with a dangerous defense. The Huskies play a style that is perfectly suited to exploiting UCLA's greatest weaknesses on offense, and the likely result this week is a low-scoring affair.  

The Bruins have just enough firepower to escape Seattle with a win and remain in the hunt for the Pac-12 title. Look for UCLA to survive yet another grinder and return to the Rose Bowl on Nov. 22 with an unblemished road record.  

Prediction: UCLA 21, Washington 17 

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