Next Man Up
Come on down, Justyn Martin? It was increasingly looking that way as UCLA finalized preparations for what’s going to be a difficult challenge no matter who takes the first snap at quarterback. Barring a gutsy comeback from Ethan Garbers, his understudy will make his first college start Saturday against No. 7 Penn State at Beaver Stadium.
Garbers remained confined to an exercise bike midweek after being knocked out of the Bruins’ loss to Oregon last weekend with an unspecified injury, leaving his status in doubt for the game against the Nittany Lions. Martin, a redshirt sophomore, took first-string snaps in practice, every repetition coveted by a player who has thrown all of five passes in college.
Could Martin guide the Bruins to an epic upset if he gets the nod as expected?
Running in Place
UCLA running back T.J. Harden ran for 53 yards against Oregon.
UCLA’s quarterback will need significant help from an underperforming part of the offense. The Bruins have not topped 100 yards in a game on the ground this season, a big reason their offense is among the least productive in major college football. But there were some signs of progress last weekend against Oregon. T.J. Harden broke off 18- and 21-yard runs as part of a season-high 53 yards. Meanwhile, Keegan Jones (5.5 yards per carry on the season) and Jalen Berger (5.1) continue to make a case for more carries. Something needs to change. The Bruins are averaging 57 yards rushing per game, leading only Akron (54.6) among Football Bowl Subdivision teams.
Just Stop It
Ikaika Malloe is taking a two-pronged approach to fixing UCLA’s defense.
“I need to do a better job in terms of freeing up the guys that can make plays,” said Malloe, the Bruins defensive coordinator, “and putting guys on the field who I do believe can generate plays. I think you guys have seen just a touch of what they can do.” Malloe said he wanted to help defensive tackle Jay Toia make a bigger impact after Oregon used a tight end as part of double teams to neutralize the Bruins’ best defensive player. But UCLA will need playmakers across the board to stop a balanced Penn State offense that is averaging 251 yards per game on the ground and 245.8 yards per game through the air. The Bruins are seeking their first sack since they notched five in their season opener against Hawaii.
Start Me Up
UCLA’s energy level in practice has vacillated wildly the last few weeks, with seemingly little correlation to results. After several listless practices going into the game against Louisiana State, the Bruins responded with their best half of the season. A week later, after showing a jolt of energy in practices before Oregon, UCLA quickly found itself in a 28-3 hole against the Ducks. The vibe was once again subdued this week, the silence early in practice Wednesday broken by a coach yelling an expletive as part of his efforts to revitalize players. Assessing the mindset of his team after the Oregon game, Foster said it’s what’s done, not what’s said, that counts. “Actions speak louder than words,” Foster said. “We’ve got to change our actions out there on the field, and hopefully that will fix some stuff.”
Conclusion
The Bruins face a daunting task against the Nittany Lions, and the performance of their quarterback will be crucial. With an underperforming running game and a struggling defense, UCLA will need to find ways to overcome these issues if they hope to pull off an upset. Despite the challenges ahead, the team is looking to turn things around and start winning.
FAQs
Q: Who is expected to start at quarterback for UCLA against Penn State?
A: Justyn Martin is expected to make his first college start after Ethan Garbers remained confined to an exercise bike due to an unspecified injury.
Q: How has UCLA’s running game performed this season?
A: The Bruins have not topped 100 yards in a game on the ground this season, averaging 57 yards rushing per game.
Q: What is the Bruins’ record against Penn State?
A: This is the first meeting between UCLA and Penn State in football.
