UCLA Game Report

Well, the first game is in the books.  We aren't built to compete with a team like UCLA and more or less we didn't. There were moments and certain phases where I thought we were OK and then there were certain parts where we simply didn't get anything done.  We finished right about where the point spread was.  How this projects to the future is hard to tell.

BG started out hot with a blocked punt TD in the game's first two minutes.  A couple series later UCLA threw a bad pick, which BG failed to capitalize on.  Then, UCLA fumbled a punt and BG started on the 11 but only got a FG and lead 10-7 mid-first but with a functioning offense could have been up 21-7.  Late in the first, BG got a 4th down stop on its own 27 and put together its only sustained drive of the game, ending in a TD for a 17-7 lead.

That was as good as it got.  UCLA came back with a 10-play drive for a FG, got a three and out, ran an 8-play TD drive to tie the game, got another 3 and out and a short punt and followed with a 52-yard TD pass to lead 24-17 at the half.  They scored 3 second-half TDs to get the score to 45-17.

There was one last point in the game where it was still in touch.  About 11 left in the second, BG driving inside the UCLA 40, down two scores but maybe can cut it to one.  On 3rd and 2, the snap went over McDonald's head and UCLA recovered.

Starting with the positive, coach said the defense "played their hearts out."  I would agree.  The overall numbers are terrible, but the offense didn't give them any help and at the end of the day they were trying to play the nation's #12 scoring offense from last year.  We also used a lot of players due to the heat.  I thought we had guys make their share of plays.  We got some pressure on the QB, though we had to blitz to do it. There were missed tackles, to be sure, a couple of long runs through traffic that you hate to see.  UCLA was clearly stronger than us...there were several times they pushed the pile--even with just their backs.  

But I felt like the defense stood in there against a better team.

The offense is another story.  Same disclaimers apply, but I feel like the offense failed to punch above its weight at any time.  Yes, the Robinson waiver did not come through.  But we are supposed to be competitive this year, which means that one guy isn't the whole thing.  And, BG knew the waiver might not come through yet and didn't seem to have a plan B--which Coach admitted to in the presser.  (FWIW, Coach also said that the issue is "an error that no one could control.")  Anyway, it was Zimmerly back at C.

Coach said that there were too many 3 and outs, we couldn't run and we couldn't pass protect.  All of which is true. BG had 8 3-and-outs in 14 drives and only one drive over 40 yards. BG had 9 first downs.  We ran 61 plays and UCLA ran 92.

There is no doubt about the running game.  BG ran 1.5 yards per carry, overall.  That can be a little misleading.  It includes 11 yards in sacks and 22 yards lost on the high snap. Jamal Johnson averaged 4.5 yards per carry and Nick Mosely 5.3, on only 3 carries. So, the featured backs were not bad. Patterson, Hilaire, Wimberly and Keith all combined on 8 carries for 9 net yards.

The passing game was very ineffective.  According to PFF, McDonald was pressured on 28% of his overall attempts, which is a little less than last year at 31%.  I think lack of confidence on protection impacts BG's play calling, though.  We tried most of our passes on quick drops, which keeps the pressure number lower but seriously impacts the offense.

Overall, McDonald was 17 of 34 for 125 yards and a TD.  That's just a mess.  Not all of it was on McDonald, but it didn't seem to me that he played a great game. He missed a WIDE-OPEN Levi Gazarek for a TD and a few times threw behind receivers running across the middle who were open. He was also batted down a lot.  PFF has it four times.  He was the only QB in the nation batted down 4 times in week one.  Maybe it's pressure or maybe it is his delivery or maybe it is some of both.

(He was batted down 26 times last year.  The next highest number was 18).

Austin Osborne is out on an extended absence.  I don't know that any of the WRs really had much of a chance to shine. More will need to be seen.

Mason Lawler did well at K, though it was XP and a 24 yard FG.  Sir struggled on the punt, with 34.3 net, which was 106th in the nation.

One thing....wow....those cramps.  Coach conceded after the game that BG needs to do better.  Yes, it was hot, but it wasn't SwampGainesville hot (Note based on comments, this is what Loeffler said).  He said we need to rethink that.  He's right. Also, it shouldn't have happened in the first place.  It was pretty embarrassing.  The acclimatized thing doesn't even make sense to me--it was that hot during training camp here.  I'm also remembering issues with the heat in Atlanta a couple years ago.

Lastly, coach said something like "it's nice not to have to lie about our effort at these pressers."  He felt we finally played hard. Woof.

Ultimately, if we had seen BG play UCLA really tough, we'd think, hey OK, this might be something.  Instead, we did what we often do under difficult circumstances, which is perform as expected.  This can still happen.  Next week is going to be key.  EKU is no joke.  A loss Saturday and I think we know where this whole thing is headed.