UCLA defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich doesn’t mind taking the heat

The glare of the spotlight has found UCLA defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich.

Ulbrich’s first year in charge of the Bruins’ defense has been eventful. Three touchdowns by his unit against Virginia in the season opener saved UCLA. But in the last two games, Utah’s running game gave the Bruins a pounding and the apparent ease with which Oregon was scoring touched off a sideline dust-up between Ulbrich and Coach Jim Mora.

All of which has Ulbrich answering questions.

“I don’t relish us not playing well, but I relish the opportunity to take the brunt of it from media,” Ulbrich said. “These are 18-, 19-, 21 -year old kids. They need to be protected that way. I’m old enough and don’t really care what public perception is.”

UCLA is giving up an average of 174.7 yards rushing per game after Utah and Oregon combined for 500 yards the ground the last two games. The Bruins also have only seven sacks — two Pac-12 Conference players have more: Washington’s Hau’oli Kikaha, 10, and Utah’s Nate Orchard, 8.5.

UCLA is giving up 28.5 points a game, up from 23.2 in 2013.

“He is really good,” Mora said of Ulbrich. “It might not really show in the statistics right now, but it will. We’ve just got to stick to it and it will.”

Ulbrich, who played linebacker for the San Francisco 49ers when Mora was the defensive coordinator, coached UCLA’s linebackers the past two seasons. He was promoted to coordinator when Lou Spanos left to run the Tennessee Titans’ defense.

“When you’re a position [coach], your eyes are on your position,” Ulbrich said. “You’re in a different place with your eyes as coordinator. Rather than coaching the guys up when they come to the sideline, you’re thinking about what you called that series, how are they attacking you, what do we do going forward.”

That is the question now, what do they do going forward?

The Bruins had huge holes in the defense, with four starters from last season heading to the NFL and safety Randall Goforth lost to a shoulder injury.

Ulbrich said there have been scheme issues, but some of the unit’s woes come from defenders trying to make big plays instead of sticking to their responsibilities.

“We’re a little bit of a work in progress from that standpoint,” Ulbrich said. “The beauty is they’re starting to truly understand it at a high level.”

But the Bruins are still fighting instinct.

Said Ulbrich: “When it gets hot and you get in the moment and it’s competitive and it’s Saturday, you revert to what you’ve always done. We’re overcoming that more and more.”

Pass happy

The Bruins face a California team that slings the ball around. It’s another defensive challenge in the Pac-12, which seems to have spread offense in its DNA.

“You have to change it up on them,” Mora said. “I always thought it was important not to show your coverage until the quarterback has the ball in his hands, make him guess.”

As for pressure, Mora said, “the way they play, it’s tough. You’ve still got to find ways to make the quarterback feel uncomfortable. Then you have to disrupt the receivers, throw them off their timing.”

Quick hits

Tackle Simon Goines will make the trip to Berkeley. He will suit up for the game and might see some playing time. A two-year starter, Goines has not played in a game since undergoing knee surgery in August. … The status of guard Alex Redmond, who missed the last two games with an ankle injury, will again be determined at game time, Mora said. … Freshman defensive back Ron Robinson sat out Thursday’s practice after suffering a sprained ankle.

chris.foster@latimes.com

Twitter: @cfosterlatimes