It will be speed versus strength when UCLA’s McKinley matches up against USC’s Wheeler, Banner

The thinking must have been that Takkarist McKinley couldn’t use his devastating speed if he were on the ground, so Colorado’s right tackle lunged at his legs for a cut block in the second quarter of UCLA’s game against the Buffaloes earlier this month.

McKinley wasted little movement. He used the lineman’s momentum like a matador sweeping a bull under his cape. Then McKinley kept running. A back was in pass protection, but he either missed seeing the very big man running very fast at him, or, more likely, pretended not to see him.

McKinley crunched Colorado’s quarterback just as he threw. The ball wobbled into the arms of UCLA linebacker Jayon Brown.

It was the type of play that can swing games.

It was also the type of play McKinley has made routinely this season — the type of play the USC offense has become adept at avoiding.

UCLA is clinging to a slim hope of attaining bowl eligibility largely because of its defense, which is anchored by McKinley. USC has been so potent on offense recently partially because of its ability to give quarterback Sam Darnold a clean pocket.

So, if UCLA is to pull off a big upset, or if USC is to avoid one, it will likely be because of this matchup: McKinley against USC’s offensive tackles, Zach Banner and Chad Wheeler.

“They’ve got a huge challenge,” USC Coach Clay Helton said. “Tak McKinley’s foaming at the mouth to get to us.”

All three players are expected to play in the NFL next season. McKinley is sixth in the nation with 10 sacks. He has hurried the quarterback on one of every 10 rushes.

USC has surrendered 10 sacks all season, eighth-fewest in the nation. Wheeler, an athletic pass blocker, has given up only one. Banner, almost always the biggest player on the field, has given up three — one of them taken on a busted screen pass. He gave up only one sack in 2015.

Tom Bradley, UCLA’s defensive coordinator, said USC’s offensive line is “playing extremely well right now with a lot of poise and confidence.”

But Helton said McKinley was, “without question,” the biggest challenge the Trojans have faced.

“He relates to the Alabama players, Tim Williams, Jonathan Allen,” Wheeler said. “He’s that caliber player. We’ve got to prepare like it’s a playoff game, because he’s that good.”

USC has used Oluwole Betiku Jr., a raw but talented freshman end, to simulate McKinley in practice. But it is difficult to replicate McKinley’s speed.

Despite his size — he is now listed at 6 feet 2, 265 pounds — McKinley was a sprinter for his high school track team. In videos, he resembles a Hummer rumbling through a NASCAR race. And he packs a powerful engine. He ran a 10.58-second 100-meter dash in the qualifying heat for the CIF finals as a junior. The winning time in the final was just .06 seconds faster.

Bradley has found ways to utilize that speed in UCLA’s defensive scheme. He occasionally has McKinley line up seven yards outside the opposing tackles, where he shoots in off the edge like a half-miler crashing in from an outside lane. He has also dropped back to spy the quarterback; as he did against Colorado when he diagnosed a play and closed a 10-yard gap to sack the quarterback. (Afterward, he pretended to make snow angels in the turf.)

McKinley’s strip sack against Utah reminded UCLA Coach Jim Mora of Von Miller, the Denver Broncos’ Super Bowl MVP end.

“He’s what they pay a lot of money for in the NFL,” USC offensive coordinator Tee Martin said.

But UCLA hasn’t seen an offensive line this stout, either. The Trojans’ pass protection has faltered in one game: the opener against Alabama. And the Crimson Tide have that effect on every opposing team.

Wheeler was out with a foot injury that game, and two of the three sacks USC allowed were missed assignments off the left edge, where Wheeler would have been playing. Banner was beaten once, on a speed rush.

USC gave up five sacks with Wheeler absent for the first two games. It has given up the same number over its next eight games with Wheeler back.

Darnold’s mobility has helped. He releases the ball quickly and can turn pressure into yardage with his legs. Saturday’s game will present the redshirt freshman with a rare challenge: McKinley is both bigger and faster than he is. Escaping will be more difficult.

Wheeler and Banner would prefer that he not have to.

“It’s all about being disciplined, getting off the ball,” Wheeler said. “See who the best man is.”

Staff writer Ben Bolch contributed to this article.

zach.helfand@latimes.com

Follow Zach Helfand on Twitter @zhelfand