UCLA Defense Won’t Cherish Dubious Record

Records were made to be broken, and this one will be when the Bruins play their bowl game.

Here’s a new entry for the UCLA record book: Most points allowed, season: 347.

But use pencil for now, not ink, because the Bruins’ bowl opponent will add to that total. By 35 points, if the past few weeks are any indication.

For the Bruins, the most disturbing and disheartening aspect of Saturday’s 38-35 loss to USC was that they could not shrug it off as a bad day for the defense. Actually, it was a typical day for the defense.

Washington scored 35 the previous week, Stanford scored 35 the week before that. Only once in the last seven games have the Bruins held their opponent to fewer than 30.

As a result, the Bruins (6-5) have lost two games in which they scored 38 points and another in which they scored 35.

And so, before UCLA Coach Bob Toledo publicly chewed out his defense Saturday night, he chewed out his defense in the locker room.

“He really conveyed his disappointment in our play,” linebacker Ryan Nece said.

Nece declined to repeat exactly what Toledo said, but imagine the vent. With 1:05 to play, the Bruins tied the score at 35-35. As Toledo and the offensive coaches prepared for overtime, they watched helplessly as the Trojans marched 47 yards in 56 seconds for the winning field goal.

Yet the most glaring defensive weakness never came into play on that drive. The Trojans never were faced with third down.

Not that it would have stopped them. The Trojans converted nine of 14 third downs. The Bruins rank last in the Pacific 10 Conference in stopping opponents on third down, and over the last three games opponents have converted 25 of 47 third downs. (Oregon and Oregon State, the conference leaders in that category, allow opponents to convert one of four opportunities on third down.)

The Bruins clearly have failed to make the necessary adjustments to counter opponents armed with a basic scouting report. On third down and long, the Bruins anticipate medium and long passes to wide receivers, and so they pull a linebacker or two--usually two--and insert an extra defensive back or two.

This is a reasonable strategy, until opposing teams foil it with runs and short passes, particularly to running backs and tight ends. With one linebacker and six defensive backs, there’s more than enough room in the middle of the field for opponents to pick up enough yardage for a first down.

The most notorious example: On third and 21 against UCLA, Oregon State tailback Antonio Battle ran for 22 yards. The Beavers converted eight of 18 third downs against the Bruins, eight of 12 when they needed at least six yards for the first down, in a 44-38 victory.

So, on third and long Saturday, the Trojans knew better than to have quarterback Carson Palmer throw deep for Kareem Kelly.

On third down, a better pass rush would help, although the Bruins are playing with an inexperienced and injury-riddled defensive line. Another linebacker playing instead of Nece, or alongside him, might help, although Robert Thomas, the Bruins’ best linebacker, has limited mobility because of a foot injury.

And, odd though it sounds, the offense could play more efficiently. The Bruins managed only two drives of longer than six plays.

USC ran 82 plays to 51 for UCLA, had 29 first downs to 12 for UCLA--and, on third down, the Bruins converted four of 12.

Which UCLA team formerly held the dubious distinction of most points given up in a season? That would be the 1998 Bruins, who gave up 340 points in 12 games--and went 10-2. Cade McNown and the Bruins simply outscored opponents, scoring more than 40 points seven times.

The Bruins have scored at least 35 points in six games this season, but never 40. For all the points they have scored, they have not scored enough to overcome their own defense.