UCLA quarterback Josh Rosen gives opponents, and teammates, a different look

UCLA’s offense has a different way of doing business with freshman Josh Rosen at quarterback instead of Brett Hundley, the team’s starter the previous three seasons.

It’s subtle, but significant.

“Brett looked to make plays with his legs. Josh is looking to make plays with his arm,” wide receiver Devin Fuller said.

That has altered the way UCLA receivers react.

“A lot of times last year when Brett escaped the pocket, he was looking to run, so we turned into blockers,” Fuller said. “Now, we look to reset our routes.”

Fuller said there comes a point when it’s time to ad-lib.

“Every time he escapes the pocket and makes eye contact, you have to get open any way possible,” Fuller said. “It becomes backyard football.”

Rosen’s style has changed things in the backfield as well. He has run the ball four times this season, and three were scrambles.

While defenses can worry less about who has the ball on zone-read options, they also have to deal with running back Paul Perkins more. Perkins had 219 yards rushing against Brigham Young Saturday night and ranks seventh nationally with 429 yards this season.

“I definitely want the load back there,” Perkins said.

Ground control

The Bruins had Perkins on the bench for their game-winning touchdown drive Saturday.

Sophomore Nate Starks had 60 yards in four carries during the drive, which ended with his three-yard touchdown run.

“I stayed up all night watching that moment,” Starks said. “It was exciting to go out there and make plays for the team. I knew we needed a score. I ran hard and it worked out in our favor.”

Starks has a fan in the player he backs up.

“He’s a different back,” Perkins said. “He sees holes I don’t see. He makes runs I can’t make. He’s like a better version of me.”

Mom says

Perkins answers to a head coach, an offensive coordinator, a running backs coach and, above all, his mother.

“She tells what I’m doing right and what I’m doing wrong,” Perkins said.

As much as anything, Ore Perkins is concerned about keeping her son out of harm’s way.

“She’s always asking, ‘Why do you run up middle?’” Perkins said. “She’d rather have me run to the outside or catch the ball. She thinks she should be the [offensive coordinator].”

Up the charts

Perkins moved into 11th place on UCLA’s career rushing list with 2,577 yards, passing Maurice Jones-Drew and pulling to within six yards of Kevin Nelson.

Receiver Jordan Payton has 12 receptions this season, moving him into ninth on UCLA’s career list. He needs three catches to pass Taylor Embree.

Adams update

Ishmael Adams will not face felony charges for robbery.

Adams was to appear in court Tuesday, but the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office referred the case to the city attorney’s office for misdemeanor filing consideration instead, according to Frank Mateljan, a spokesman for the city attorney’s office.

Adams was arrested in the early morning Aug. 30 for allegedly using force to take a cellphone from an Uber driver. He was suspended indefinitely from UCLA’s football program by Coach Jim Mora.

“We should receive it in the next 24 hours and we will begin due process,” Mateljan said, adding that the city attorney would “review the facts and do what follow-ups are necessary.”

There is no timetable for when a decision will be reached.

Adams, a junior cornerback, started 26 consecutive games in 2013 and 2014. He had two interceptions last season, and returned both for touchdowns. He also returned a kickoff for a touchdown and was the only UCLA player named to the All-Pac-12 Conference first team.

Marcus Rios replaced Adams as a starting cornerback during training camp. However, Adams was expected to figure prominently in UCLA’s pass defense packages.

chris.foster@latimes.com

Twitter: @cfosterlatimes