The first half looked all too familiar.
Missed assignments, slow starts and another opening half where UCLA’s defense could not get off the field – managing only 110 total offensive yards compared to UNLV’s 250 marred UCLA’s performance.
But something changed after halftime, and it was not just a whiteboard adjustment or more exuberant sideline energy – it was clarity.
The Bruins’ defensive identity, which is still developing, finally showed signs of structure, as the unit simplified its approach by narrowing the playbook.
Redshirt junior defensive lineman Anthony Jones felt it firsthand.
“We just had to take some things out,” Jones said. “We were going to play some man coverage, so we had to get to the quarterback.”
And they did.
UCLA notched one sack and two tackles for loss in the second half alone, a sharp contrast from its first 90 minutes of football this season.
That shift was crucial, especially for defensive coordinator Ikaika Malloe. After installing a more complex front-seven system in fall camp, the former linebacker quickly realized that the game plan limited the defense’s playmakers.
“It really came back to me,” Malloe said. “The package was just too much. Some guys that should be on the field, I couldn’t get them on the field.”
So Malloe stripped it down, returning to the basics and relying more on instincts. One of the first beneficiaries was Jones, who made his first impact play since transferring to UCLA with a quarterback takedown in the second half against UNLV.
“Just working with the guys inside, Gary, Keanu, they make my job easy,” Jones said. “I just had my one-on-one and had to go work that.”
Malloe said he is still looking to rotate personnel and tweak fronts to protect certain spots, which could provide opportunities for players like true freshman Jewelous “JuJu” Walls, who Malloe and Jones both highlighted as a breakout candidate.
“He’s going to be a guy,” Jones said. “He’s a real dynamic player.”
But the biggest defensive issue has been reaction, not recognition.
Malloe pointed to post-snap breakdowns as the root cause of early struggles, especially when formations shift or routes hit the seam.
“It’s really right now, it’s post snap,” Malloe said. “The expectation changes, and they’re still playing the expectation.”
Yet UCLA’s secondary has quietly excelled in man coverage.
Now it is about giving them better help over the top and disguising coverage more creatively. Malloe emphasized that he now feels confident in knowing how and when to supplement his defensive backs’ coverage ability.
The Bruins surrendered 5.55 yards per carry and gave up 11 plays of 15 yards or more across their first two games.
“First down is by far the most important for us,” Malloe said. “It’s when they shorten the sticks, then we’re stuck in personnel.”
Despite the rocky start, UCLA’s defense is embracing resiliency while building something sustainable, not just reactive.
Malloe said that last year’s unit leaned into its strengths and adjusted on the fly to find a midseason groove.
But this group may just be forced to adapt faster.
UCLA ranked fifth in rushing defense at 22.2 points per game last season. However, the Bruins have allowed an average of 36.5 points per game through their opening two contests this year – a defensive performance that likely will limit their ability to remain competitive in the Big Ten.
But there is potential, especially on the defensive front. Jones and redshirt senior defensive lineman Kechaun Bennett have flashed burst and bend on the edge.
Malloe also said the linebacker play is improving along with the front seven, which should elevate the entire defense.
“When a defensive line can play a little bit better with fundamentals, our linebackers can start to play a little faster,” Malloe said. “It starts off from the inside, and those two guys have to be a lot better than they have.”
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