UCLA faces another dual-threat quarterback in Arizona’s Anu Solomon

Playing in the Pac-12 means rarely playing a bad quarterback, but UCLA’s defense has received a bit of a break the last two weeks. Not because California and Colorado don’t have good quarterbacks — they do — but because Jared Goff and Sefo Liufau aren’t necessarily dual-threat players.

Defending a quarterback who is a threat to run has been one of the Bruins’ biggest weaknesses this year. Both of their losses have come against teams with a signal caller who fits that mold.

Utah’s Kendal Thompson ran for 83 yards and completed 77-percent of his passes. Oregon’s Marcus Mariota combined for four touchdowns while throwing for 210 yards and running for 75.

On Saturday, UCLA will go back to trying to defend a mobile quarterback, this time with Arizona redshirt freshman Anu Soloman.

Solomon is fifth in the country in passing yards per game, 347, and has thrown 20 touchdowns with just four interceptions this season. He’s totaled just 191 rushing yards this season with no touchdowns, but is very mobile and rarely stays in the pocket on passing attempts.

“His ability to throw the ball on the run, that makes that offense go,” UCLA Coach Jim Mora said. “The way [Arizona Coach] Rich Rodriguez has always designed his offenses is for a quarterback that can put your defense in conflict. This guy can do it. If he has a guy in the pocket that really isn’t a run threat, his offense isn’t as good as it is now. He’s got the pieces. He’s done an amazing job at getting the pieces that he needs to operate the way he wants to operate.”

Arizona’s offense is dangerous in general if only because of their offensive whiz of a head coach, Rich Rodriguez, but it all starts with Soloman.

“Every play they really have three options, sometimes four,” Mora said. “They’ve got their handoff, he can pull it and run, he can pull it and throw it to a slant, he can pull it and throw it to a wheel. They are the epitome of a team that makes you defend the entire field every single play. They’re balanced 50-50 run and pass. They don’t give you tendencies. I think it’s about playing great technique.”;;

For more Bruin observations, follow Everett Cook on Twitter @everettcook