With a string of road wins, UCLA Bruins return to comfort zone

UCLA returns to what has been a comfort zone: the road. The Bruins have won seven consecutive games away from the Rose Bowl and need this one in order to keep their Pac-12 Conference title hopes alive. Staff writer Chris Foster examines the game’s story lines and matchups:

Secondary issues

Washington will probably start three freshmen in the secondary: Sidney Jones, Budda Baker and Naijiel Hale, who is expected to take over for Marcus Peters.

Peters, a top NFL prospect, was dismissed from the Huskies this week.

The Washington secondary is so thin that receiver John Ross III has been asked to play cornerback in passing situations.

UCLA’s passing attack has been frustrated in recent games by opponents who have dropped as many as eight players into coverage. But Bruins quarterback Brett Hundley remains a formidable threat, whether passing or running.

Hundley’s 71% completion rate is second in the nation, and his 156.5 pass efficiency rating is 12th. He also has 424 yards rushing in the last four games.

UCLA could get a bounce from the return of receiver Thomas Duarte, who missed the last two games with a hamstring injury. Duarte is a big target who can carve up the middle of a defense.

The Bruins also have plenty of other threats — among them, Jordan Payton, Devin Fuller, Devin Lucien, Eldridge Massington and Kenneth Walker III — to throw at a young secondary.

Line of the day

Washington is tied for second nationally with 37 sacks. Hau’oli Kikaha is the nation’s individual leader with 15.5.

UCLA has 13 sacks.

The Bruins’ offensive line has improved considerably since allowing 10 sacks against Utah. Tackle Conor McDermott’s return from shoulder surgery allowed Malcolm Bunche to move to guard, where he has been more effective.

UCLA has given up seven sacks in the last four games.

The line has been the backbone to an effective running game. The Bruins have averaged 293 yards rushing in the last four games.

Paul Perkins is the Pac-12’s third-leading rusher, averaging 119.3 yards per game. With 1,074 yards total, he is the 13th UCLA player to top 1,000 yards rushing in a season.

Hanky habit

UCLA gets penalized ... a lot.

The Bruins have been penalized more than 100 yards in back-to-back games, and won both. The offense was called for holding five times in last week’s 17-7 win against Arizona, and the defense contributed two major penalties to the Wildcats’ lone scoring drive.

Getting defensive

UCLA limited Arizona’s high-powered spread offense to 255 yards.

Washington’s attack is less formidable. The Huskies are last in the Pac-12 in total offense and next to last in passing yards.

Washington quarterback Cyler Miles returned from a concussion to complete 13 of 19 passes for 206 yards and two touchdowns against Colorado last week.

What might have been

It’s not a subject either coach cares to discuss, but UCLA’s Jim Mora and Washington’s Chris Petersen could have been working from opposite sidelines Saturday.

Mora, a Washington alum, was the first coach Huskies officials called last December after Steve Sarkisian left for USC. Mora listened but chose to stay in Westwood after UCLA gave him a raise and a contract extension, boosted the salaries of his assistant coaches, and committed in writing to build a football facility.

Washington then coaxed Petersen from Boise State.

In the past, UCLA officials had twice pursued Petersen. He was the Bruins’ first choice as coach in 2007 when Rick Neuheisel was hired, and again in 2011 when Mora was hired.

Follow Chris Foster on Twitter @cfosterlatimes