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Was it a step forward or a step further to nowhere? It depends on one’s perspective.
Some might see UCLA Loss 34-17 On Saturday, the team’s loss to No. 16 Louisiana State came as a reprieve, a setback that felt like a sign that something better was to come. The team showed sustained fight a week after being defeated. The offense scored multiple touchdowns for the first time this season. A shorthanded defense kept things competitive despite failing to mount any semblance of a pass rush.
Others might question whether incremental improvement is enough in an era when coaches earn millions, some players pocket the chief executive’s money and fans are asked to keep funding the entire operation, win or lose. University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) He was shut out in the second half by one of the weakest defenses he could face this season and is averaging 15.3 points per game, ranking 124th out of 133 major college teams.
At some point, it’s indisputable that the Bruins (1-2) are going to need a breakthrough beyond moral victories to have something to sell to recruits and build donor support for the name, image and likeness funds needed to import high-level transfers.
Here are four lessons from a loss that gave hope to some and plunged others deeper into despair:
Garbers is a player
With his jersey stained with grass and even a hint of purple from the LSU defenders who kept crashing into him, Ethan Garbers never wavered under pressure.
The UCLA quarterback’s finest moment came late in the first half, when he eluded early pressure by driving forward and throwing a touchdown pass to Logan Loya just as he was taking a massive hit.
Garbers’ spectacular play was the main reason the Bruins were able to tie it at halftime, but the fact that he’s forced to play hero in an offense without a running game also has its downsides. Throwing so many passes under pressure will lead to inevitable mistakes.
Read more: UCLA misses chance to change narrative about start of DeShaun Foster era in loss to LSU
The efficiency numbers are the worst of his career. Garbers has completed 56.7 percent of his passes and has recorded more interceptions (four) than touchdowns (three). He has also lost two fumbles and had another against the Tigers that ended in a 19-yard loss in the third quarter after right tackle Garrett DiGiorgio pounced on the ball.
Garbers has said his main goal this season is to play every game, but that might not happen if he doesn’t get better protection. He’s been sacked eight times in three games and rushed another 10 times.
“It’s just the will, you have to want to get in there and keep that guy away from our quarterback,” UCLA coach DeShaun Foster said of the blocking, “so after watching this tape and really analyzing what was going on there, we should be able to fix this.”
In need of a hurry
One reason Garbers may have looked so good in practices since the spring is that he didn’t face much pass pressure.
Since recording five sacks in the opener against Hawaii, UCLA hasn’t had any in its past two games against stronger offensive lines. The Bruins moved linebacker Oluwafemi Oladejo to edge rusher against LSU and it paid off (Oladejo contributed one of the team’s three quarterback pressures), but it did little to change the bigger picture.
UCLA’s lack of pressure was a big reason the Tigers were able to sustain drives of 96 and 92 yards in the second half to end the Bruins’ chances at an upset. LSU also converted 10 of 15 third downs, continuing a troubling trend for a UCLA defense that has allowed opponents to convert 23 of 41 opportunities (56.1%) in those situations, worst in the nation.
More of that, please.
There is hope in the ground game. His name is Jalen Berger.
The Michigan State transfer showed some explosion on all three of his carries Saturday, including one for 13 yards. A bigger role could be just what the Bruins need to get going on the field after Berger has fully regained form following the season-ending injury in his final year with the Spartans.
UCLA has averaged 60.3 rushing yards per game, ranking 131st in the country. Starter TJ Harden has averaged 2.6 yards per carry and backup Keegan Jones a more robust 5.2 yards on just nine carries. But it appears Garbers has gotten some help moving the ball.
“A good running game,” Garbers said, “is a quarterback’s best friend.”
Youth movement
Some baby Bruins are growing up.
Rookie Kwazi Gilmer made the catch of the day when he juggled a pass from Garbers and hauled it in for a 32-yard reception at the LSU three-yard line late in the second quarter. Gilmer finished with two receptions for a team-high 61 yards.
Redshirt freshman Carter Shaw started UCLA’s final touchdown drive with a nine-yard reverse run.
“Two freshmen come in here and can play in front of 100,000 people,” Foster said, referring to the crowd at Tiger Stadium. “I’m excited to see what they can do over the rest of the season.”
Not to be outdone, sophomore Brody Richter averaged 49.2 yards on his four punts, including a 61-yarder. He also corralled the Tigers inside their 10-yard line three times.
This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
