Coach DeShaun Foster said the Bruins’ pitfall wasn’t coaching, play calling or effort in Saturday’s loss to Indiana – it was execution.
But if the team finds a way to execute anytime soon, it’ll have to come against some of the best teams in the country.
No. 16 LSU (2-1, 1-0 SEC) will lead off UCLA football’s (1-1, 0-1 Big Ten) upcoming gauntlet of three consecutive top-20 opponents. To make the challenge all the more daunting, the Bruins will travel to Tiger Stadium – routinely ranked one of the most adverse arenas in American sports – for the first time in program history ahead of Saturday’s game.
“These are the games you come to college for,” Foster said. “Fans are going to be rowdy. It’s going to be exciting – but if you want to play big-time ball, this is a great opportunity.”
Through two games this season, UCLA has scored just two touchdowns and is averaging 290.5 yards of offense per game – 11th worst in the country.
While echoing Foster’s concern over execution, first-year associate head coach and offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy also pointed the finger at himself.
“My job is making sure that guys are in the right place, doing the right things,” Bieniemy said. “But when it’s all said and done with, if they’re not performing, all of that falls on my shoulders.”
Defensive lineman Sitiveni Havili-Kaufusi said Indiana quarterback Kurtis Rourke’s ability to handle pressure and make quick passes took UCLA’s defense out of the game. The redshirt senior added that following Saturday’s 42-13 loss, Foster and team leaders spoke on using the defeat as motivation.
“Jay (senior defensive lineman Jay Toia) brought us together after the game, after we were done talking to the coaches,” Havili-Kaufusi said. “He said we just got to play for each other more and emphasized that sick feeling you get from losing.”
In an attempt to shake off setbacks, junior running back T.J. Harden added that it’s important to look ahead to Saturday’s game against the Tigers rather than wallow in past misery.
Harden – the only Bruin who found the end zone against Indiana – said he’s focused on establishing himself faster against LSU after back-to-back slow starts.
UCLA first-string rusher has accumulated just 29 total yards on the ground in this season’s two first halves combined, but ran for 31 yards in the second half of Saturday’s contest alone – not to mention a 29-yard touchdown run that was called back on a holding penalty.
However, shaky first halves aren’t exclusive to Harden. The Bruins have scored just seven points in first halves this season. In their first offensive play on Saturday, redshirt senior quarterback Ethan Garbers fumbled the ball, leading to an Indiana touchdown.
“Offensively, for us, we got to get off to a better start,” Bieniemy said. “Play one got to start off a little bit better. But that’s just relaxing, understanding your job and your duty and just going out there and being the person. … We got great kids who are very, very good football players.”
Looking to the other side of the field, Havili-Kaufusi said LSU is a team that likes to throw the ball and leverage its pass-catchers – particularly wide receiver Kyren Lacy – for both the run and pass game.
Bieniemy, though, said he is concerned with the Bruins’ ability to fight the Tigers instead of themselves.
“I’d like to see us line up and play against the opponent on a consistent basis rather than us stubbing ourselves in the foot and not doing what we’re actually told and coached and conducted to do,” Bieniemy said. “I’ve seen them do it right out on the practice field. Now we just got to make sure it’s translating on game day.”
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