No. 12 Oregon Ducks vs. No. 18 UCLA Bruins: Three things to watch
Jim Mora would like you to know that the 18th-ranked UCLA Bruins are capable of winning high-profile games. So why not No. 12 Oregon?
A year ago, after falling to Oregon on the road, the UCLA head coach pounded his fist on the podium and emphatically said that it's, "Time for UCLA to turn the frickin' page." Yes, the Bruins have marquee wins under Mora, but a win against Oregon on Saturday at the Rose Bowl (12:30 p.m. PST on FOX) not only would put them back in playoff contention, but also put them in the upper echelon of college football programs.
It would turn the page.
Here are three things to watch for when the Bruins attempt their first win over Oregon in seven years.
1. Heisman hopeful vs. Heisman hopeful
UCLA QB Brett Hundley largely has been counted out in the Heisman Trophy race, but as the old adage goes: It's not how you start, it's how you finish. Should Hundley orchestrate a skilled attack against the Ducks, it could put him back into the conversation.
On the other side of the field is Marcus Mariota. And in case you aren't familiar with college football, the Duks QB is essentially the sport's poster boy.
"Marcus Mariota, it's really hard to duplicate what he brings to the game," Mora said. "This kid is so special, I have so much admiration for him. I love the way he plays the game, I love the toughness that he brings to the field. I love his mind-set. He's just so dynamic. He can make the throws, he keeps his eyes down the field, he can run with the ball.
Breakdown: No. 12 Oregon at No. 18 UCLA, Saturday, 12:30 p.m. on FOX
"There's a reason that maybe he's recognized as maybe the greatest college football player of this year."
2. Edge containment
Oregon's track star running backs can run it right down your throat, but it's out at the edges where the Bruins defense will need to be the most diligent. And when pressured, it's his options on the outside that Mariota goes to the most.
"You don't see a lot of teams pressure him," Mora said. "You see a lot of teams run some stunts and things to get there, but you don't see a lot of teams pressuring him because then you leave those guys in a lot of one-on-one and they've got some ability out on the edge. And when you start pressuring a guy and playing man and you've got (your) back to him and he breaks through and he runs, he makes big plays."
Most of the time, those big plays are to Mariota's left, which is his preferred direction to roll out to, putting linebackers Deon Hollins and Myles Jack on high alert.
"What doesn't worry me about Mariota?" defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich said. "Situational awareness is a big part of it, understanding when it's run, understanding when it's pass. With a guy like Marcus Mariota it's understanding that he's exceptional, especially when he's rolling to his left, so whoever that left end is has got to be a great contain guy."
3. The offensive lines
Another week, another issue with the offensive line. Except this time, it's an issue for both teams.
Injuries to Oregon's offensive line have kept the Ducks from establishing their running game in the dominant manner they typically do. Mariota's protection has changed, as his left tackle for 26 straight games tore an ACL in camp. The rest of the vets on the line continued to follow suit, and the Ducks rank 11th in the Pac-12 in sacks allowed.
The Bruins are much worse, on pace to allow 57 sacks this season. Utah sacked Hundley 10 times last week, and he shouldered most of the blame, but the line was outworked.
UCLA working through issues as Oregon comes to town
"It's a combination of a number of different things, not just us. But when you talk about sacks, everybody associates it with the offensive line," line coach Adrian Klemm said. "Sometimes when guys don't have success, things snowball a little bit and it's hard to come out of that."
