Defenses Are Catching Up to UCLA’s Maddox

Last year, after UCLA had lost to USC by 45-42, Bruin quarterback Tommy Maddox observed wryly that he had scored all the points for both teams.

It was an exaggeration, of course, but he was the central figure with a school-record 409 yards passing and three touchdowns, along with three interceptions--two resulting in USC touchdowns and another halting a UCLA drive at the Trojan eight-yard line.

As UCLA’s quarterback, Maddox was the focal point of the offense in 1990. But this season the Bruins have a more balanced offense.

UCLA is averaging 212.2 yards rushing compared to 142.4 for 11 games last year.

“I don’t think I’ve played a real good, good game this year,” Maddox said. “But I’ve done whatever it takes to win, and that’s all that matters.”

Maddox’s statistics are similar to last year’s, when he was a redshirt freshman.

In 1990, he completed 55.7% of his passes for 2,682 yards and 17 touchdowns, while throwing 14 interceptions.

In 10 games this season, Maddox has completed 60.1% of his passes for 2,269 yards and 15 touchdowns along with 14 interceptions.

However, he has been in a bit of a slump in the last three games, in which he hasn’t thrown a touchdown pass.

He threw his last scoring pass, to split end Sean LaChapelle, late in the third quarter against Arizona State Oct. 26.

Since then, eight of his passes have been intercepted.

Unlike last year, when Maddox was relatively unknown, rival teams are gearing their defenses to stop him.

Tennessee put constant pressure on him. Stanford attacked UCLA with a nine-man front, daring Maddox to throw deep, which he did, failing to make connections with his wide receivers by the slightest of margins.

Maddox burned Oregon with 332 yards passing and three touchdowns last year in a 28-24 defeat at Eugene, Ore.

The Ducks adjusted their defense last Saturday night at the Rose Bowl to control Maddox, which they did.

He completed only 16 of 29 passes for 166 yards with two interceptions.

“(Oregon) went into the game intent on stopping the passing game because we threw on them a lot last year,” Maddox said. “But if they do that, it will open up the running game (which it did).

Asked if Maddox is trying to do too much this season, perhaps pressing, UCLA Coach Terry Donahue said: “I’m concerned that we’ve dropped a number of balls on him (notably Michael Moore), that we haven’t protected him well, and that he has thrown into double coverage to Sean LaChapelle when only eagles would dare fly in such space.

“I’m concerned about the turnovers. But I don’t think it’s the result of his trying to do too much.”

Asked to assess Maddox this year, offensive coordinator Homer Smith said: “He is disappointed, I know, that long balls haven’t been completed with the percentage he hoped they would. But he has continued to improve and he posseses more weapons than he did a year ago. And he’s on his way to becoming an outstanding quarterback.”

Nonetheless, Maddox hasn’t progressed to the extent that he thought he would, or, perhaps, some at UCLA hoped.

Smith acknowledged that defensive pressure has been a factor.

“He is not surprising anyone with his ability anymore, and teams set defenses against his throwing arm,” Smith said. “It will be like that for the rest of his life, however.”

UCLA’s best offensive weapon, other than the running of tailback Kevin Williams, is the Maddox-LaChapelle connection.

LaChapelle has caught 63 passes for 893 yards and 11 touchdowns. By comparison, receivers Paul Richardson, Bryan Adams and Moore have a combined 53 receptions for two touchdowns.

Smith only smiled when it was suggested that, perhaps, Maddox is too conscious of throwing to LaChapelle.

“Some of the interceptions have come trying to get the ball to LaChapelle,” Smith said. “But that’s the other side of a good thing. Sean has made some fabulous catches for Tommy.”

Smith added that he is disappointed in the low completion percentage in UCLA’s long passes.

“We hope that will be corrected against USC (today),” he said.

Notes

At the 42nd Rotary luncheon Friday, coaches Larry Smith and Terry Donahue each had some fun at the podium. Said Smith, whose team is 3-7: “I was talking to Terry before I got up here, and he said this was his 16th luncheon. He told me I had a lot of these ahead of me. I hope.” Donahue said he was impressed by an earlier speech by Steven Sample, USC’s new president hired from the state of New York, but he had one objection. “In his speech, Dr. Sample said that the USC-UCLA game promotes friendship,” Donahue said. “He is from Buffalo.”