UCLA is ready for a rough-and-tumble game against BYU

UCLA’s offense will likely get the test it needs Saturday, when the Bruins play Brigham Young.

The Cougars bring a physical team into the Rose Bowl. In fact, BYU was so physical in a victory over Boise State that offensive lineman Ului Lapuaho was caught on tape punching a Boise State player, uh, below the belt.

Coach Bronco Mendenhall’s disciplinary actions did not include suspending Lapuaho for the game.

“It’s been a long time since I faced BYU, so what I know is based on what I see on film,” UCLA offensive coordinator Noel Mazzone said. “But as to how they carry themselves and their swagger during games, I don’t know because I haven’t played against them. What I see on film are guys who play hard, a physical group.”

That has been a problems at times for the Bruins.

UCLA was manhandled by Stanford last season. It was the seventh consecutive loss to the Cardinal since a beefed-up program began under former Coach Jim Harbaugh. David Shaw, his successor, has continued those bump-and-grind ways.

The Bruins also lost to Utah, another meat-and-potatoes team, last season.

So the Cougars present a particular challenge.

“Obviously, we haven’t had a whole lot of success against these kind of fronts,” Mazzone said. “This is a good barometer to me to see where we are as a team right now.”

The Bruins, though, can counter with their most talented and experienced offensive line in maybe two decades. The group of players has 100 starts between them, provided center Jake Brendel (foot) plays.

Brendel, who has started 41 of 42 games since 2012, went through a full practice Tuesday and is expected to play.

“We got some maturity up there,” Mazzone said. “It’s not just some young guys. They’re guys who have played awhile.

“Football comes down to a couple of things. You got to run the football, and you got to stop the run. We’re all right at running the ball.”

UCLA had 273 yards rushing against UNLV on Saturday. Paul Perkins had 151 yards rushing in that game.

As for BYU’s reputation for taking the physical play beyond the whistle, Perkins said, “Every team does that. They always get caught. The extracurricular stuff is not really a big thing to me.”

Asked what has happened to him during games, Perkins said: “I don’t think I should say it. My mom might see it.”

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