UCLA offense must improve before Big Ten stretch begins
Senior quarterback Ty Dieffenbach and coach Bob Chesney say the Bruins need faster starts to survive the final four games.
By Olivia Miller ·
UCLA football coach Bob Chesney admitted his offense needs work before the Bruins face their final four opponents. The team is 8-0 and ranked No. 5 in the AP Top 25. That ranking is the highest for the program in more than 20 years. The next four games are against Minnesota, Illinois, Michigan, and USC.
Chesney spoke after a 27-0 win over Nevada on Oct. 31. The defense recorded its first shutout of the season. However, the offense struggled to start the game. UCLA gained only 25 total yards in the first quarter. The team recorded three possessions in that span. They eventually found a rhythm, but Chesney said the early slowness is a problem he must fix.
"A lot to be desired in moments on the offensive side," Chesney said. "Overall to get yourself to 8-0 was a big deal. I like where we’re at, and there’s a whole lot more that we’ve got to continue to step up."
The running game was the main issue against Nevada. UCLA rushed for 125 yards. The Wolf Pack defense had allowed 166 rushing yards per game before that matchup. This was the second-lowest rushing total for UCLA this season. Wisconsin held the Bruins to 120 rushing yards on Oct. 17.
Senior quarterback Ty Dieffenbach started the season as a backup. He took over the starting role after Nico Iamaleava suffered a season-ending knee injury against Oregon on Oct. 10. Dieffenbach has thrown the ball well in his first three starts. He has protected the ball and relied on the running game when necessary.
"I think we got to come out fast and not shoot ourselves in the foot … defense starts fast all the time, so we can just feed off them," Dieffenbach said. "But yeah, just coming out faster."
Chesney noted that the team was close to executing better plays against Nevada. He said the preparation was there, but the connection failed on a few key snaps. "I thought that what we did with our preparation put us into position to be able to do some things. We just didn't connect," he said.
The Bruins aim for their first spot in the 12-team College Football Playoff. To reach that goal, the offense must perform at a higher level in the final third of the schedule. Offensive coordinator Dean Kennedy is working with Chesney to adjust the game plan. The defense has been dominant, but the offense cannot rely on it for every win against Big Ten competition.
