UCLA plans to keep expanding the playbook for Josh Rosen

When UCLA played California last week, the Bruins and quarterback Josh Rosen faced a defense that was stacked near the line of scrimmage hoping to stop the run.

It was as if the Golden Bears were daring him to pass, Rosen said, probing whether he would play like a timid freshman or more like the quarterback UCLA hopes he will become.

Rosen and offensive coordinator Noel Mazzone responded with aggressiveness they hadn’t shown, but may become commonplace.

Seven games into Rosen’s college career, the playbook is beginning to open up, Mazzone said Wednesday.

“Every week, the lights come on a little bit more,” Mazzone said. “So I think we’ve got the lights on in the basement right now. We’re working to get the lights on in the kitchen and the living room this week.”

Mazzone’s caution isn’t personal. He also moved deliberately with Rosen’s predecessor, Brett Hundley, not using the entire playbook until Hundley’s second season.

It takes time for a quarterback to master college defenses. And it takes time, too, for a coordinator to trust a young passer.

Mazzone said Rosen hasn’t changed drastically since he arrived in Westwood. But over time, Mazzone has learned to put more faith in him.

“He’s the same guy,” Mazzone said. “Obviously, he knows the offense better. The aggressiveness probably comes from me being more comfortable.”

Against Cal’s run-oriented defense, Mazzone called on Rosen to throw a season-high 47 passes. His 34 completions set a UCLA game record, and he threw for 399 yards and three touchdowns.

Cal is 10th in the Pac-12 Conference in pass defense. Saturday’s opponent, Colorado, is expected to provide a stiffer test for Rosen.

The Buffaloes often use man-to-man coverage in the secondary, and their 216.8 yards passing given up per game is fourth in the conference.

“Each week, we’re putting more on his plate,” receiver Jordan Payton said of Rosen. “He’s just developing more and more.”

Stand-up guy

Tackle Kenny Clark likes the Bruins’ new look across the defensive line.

Against Cal, defensive coordinator Tom Bradley used sets with only two down linemen, one down lineman or, at times, no down linemen.

Instead, Clark and his linemates stood and were allowed to move around more freely.

“We don’t get to do that too often, so when we do get a chance to do that we want the coaches to keep doing that,” Clark said. “So you’ve got to make an impact doing it.”

Clark, who had been credited with half a sack going into that game, had 1 1/2 sacks against Cal. And the defense overall had five sacks, only the second time this season they’ve had more than one in a game.

Bradley said the schemes will change from week to week, so there may be more traditional formations and fewer stunts against Colorado. Buffaloes quarterback Sefo Liufau has rushed for five touchdowns and the Bruins are wary of his running ability.

“We’ve got to know where the quarterback is,” Bradley said.

No snoozing

Before Saturday’s victory at Oregon State, Colorado had lost 14 consecutive conference games. However, that losing streak nearly ended last season against UCLA, when the Buffaloes took the Bruins to double overtime.

“Colorado is definitely an underrated team,” Payton said. “I think that people really sleep on them a lot. And not saying that we did, but a lot of turnovers and penalties plagued us in that game.”

Clark rejected that idea that UCLA took Colorado lightly.

“We don’t overlook anybody,” he said.