UCLA defense is more interested in effects on quarterbacks, not sacks

UCLA has spent plenty of time in opponents’ backfields. It has had an impact — as an example, see defensive end Owamagbe Odighizuwa‘s deflection that cornerback Ishmael Adams turned into an interception and a touchdown against Virginia.

But sacks? So far this season, the Bruins have one, and it was a job-share. Ellis McCarthy and Matt Dickerson each received half-credit for the team’s lone sack.

“It’s pressure, not always sacks,” UCLA defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich said. “If you watch the tapes, and don’t look at statistics, you watch [linebacker] Deon Hollins, you watch Owa, you watch Kenny Orjioke, you watch our interior linemen, they are applying pressure. They are affecting the quarterback.”

Ulbrich cited the Seattle Seahawks’ Super Bowl victory over the Denver Broncos.

“I know this is not the NFL, but did they sack Peyton Manning a bunch? No,” Ulbrich said. “But they affected him. That’s what it comes down to, not the statistic of the sack.”

Still, Memphis quarterback Paxton Lynch looked more like “Peyton” Lynch on Saturday. The Bruins sacked him once and pressured him on other occasions. He still threw for 305 yards and one touchdown in the Bruins’ 42-35 victory.

Virginia’s Matt Johns came off the bench the previous week and rattled the Bruins, throwing for 154 yards and two touchdowns.

“We know we’re getting a lot pressure so far,” Odighizuwa said. But, he said, “as a D-lineman, you’re just throbbing to get sacks. We’re just waiting for the opportunity.”

UCLA plays Texas on Saturday in AT&T Stadium. The Longhorns have lost veteran center Dominic Espinosa, who broke his ankle in the opener against North Texas. Starting tackles Desmond Harrison and Kennedy Estelle are suspended for a second consecutive game.

Ulbrich said it is what the Bruins do rather than who they face that matters.

“I got to mix it up a little more, make us a little less predictable,” Ulbrich said. “If I do that, the line will get more effective pressure. We’ll get what we want.”

Odighizuwa has a simple equation for that.

“If we put pressure on the quarterback, we take pressure off the back end,” he said. “If we get sacks, it takes pressure off everyone.”

UCLA got to the quarterback 32 times last season, but lost its top three in sacks, Anthony Barr, Cassius Marsh and Keenan Graham.

They’re driven

When asked, Coach Jim Mora has remained mum on what expectations he and his team have for this season, calling them an internal thing.

Apparently, he didn’t factor in the Pac-12 Networks’ show, “The Drive,” which is focusing on UCLA this season. The cameras caught Mora’s postgame speech Saturday, when he seemed to include some lofty goals.

“We are after greatness, men, we’re not after good,” Mora told the team. “We’re after special. We’re after it all. In order to get it all, you got to be different. Let’s get there fast.”

Of course, those expectations might remain internal. Only about 30% of people in Southern California get the Pac-12 Networks.

Quick hits

Cornerback Marcus Rios missed practice this week because of the flu. His fever fell Thursday and he should make the trip with the Bruins. The flu bug has hit a handful of players this week. … Despite playing in Texas, UCLA will wear its home blue uniforms Saturday. … The Bruins have an 8-4 record in games played in Texas and have won the last two against the Longhorns in the Lone Star State.