Toledo Goes on the Offensive

Coach Bob Toledo, having run out of players to blame for UCLA’s overwhelmed and still-faltering defense, Monday conceded that blame for the Bruins’ frequent misalignment and apparent confusion falls on first-year defensive coordinator Nick Aliotti and the other assistants.

“I want them to realize that I’m not pleased with them as well,” Toledo said. “And I’ve told them. I’m not saying anything I haven’t told them. I think we need to do a better coaching job. It’s easy to continue to blame it on the players, but I think we’ve got to take a good hard look at ourselves and say, ‘Hey, we need to do a better job so that the players will do a better job.’

“When you do too many things and you’re not fundamentally or technically sound, that’s what happens. We’re not playing very good fundamental football. I know Nick’s disappointed, the coaches are disappointed, I’m disappointed, and I think the players are concerned.”

Toledo’s comments were prompted by the Bruins allowing 34 points and 491 yards in total offense to Oregon State, a team that went into last Saturday’s game in Corvallis averaging 23.1 and 345.9, respectively.

So upset was Toledo that when he singled out Cade McNown on offense and Cheyane Caldwell on special teams for their play against the Beavers, he refused to name a defensive player of the week.

An Oregon State team that was getting 76 plays a game against its first nine opponents had 82 against the Bruins, the equivalent of about one additional drive in a game that was decided in the final minute. That not only gave the Beavers added opportunity, it kept the potent UCLA offense off the field.

That brought the issue to a head. Toledo chose not to rework his secondary again. Nor would he rip players, again, for failing to line up properly or for not knowing they were supposed to be on the field and charging on just before before a play.

He called out his coaches.

“Coach is probably right,” Aliotti said. “It appears we need to get a little more simpler so we can play fast. . . . I’m going to go with the party line. I don’t believe it 100%, but obviously I’ve got to take a hard look at myself. I’m very embarrassed, and it’s not the I-type of thing.

“Hurt. Angry. All those adjectives that you don’t want to have to describe yourself.”

The blame did not fall entirely on Aliotti, since the defensive line, the responsibility of Terry Tumey, has struggled all season. But enough did to turn the heat up even more on Aliotti, the first-year defensive coordinator, who has the misfortune of inheriting a very young squad a year after Rocky Long’s unconventional blitzing unit was so successful.

“We can say that we’re inexperienced, but I won’t buy that,” Toledo said. “You have to show progress and, defensively, I don’t think we have. [Opponents] are getting too many snaps, they’re running too many plays, they’re making too many big plays.

“We need to regroup and we need to get better fast.”