This pre-season, the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Bruins ranked number eight in both the Associated Press and Coaches’ polls. That is a nine spot jump from their number 16 ranking at the end of last season. The Bruins have not been ranked in the pre-season top 10 since 1998. Head coach Jim Mora is 19-8 in the last two years. The battle-tested team must tune out the hype and, as Coach Mora said, ‘focus on their team and that weekend’s opponent.’
College football fans have seen several teams ranked in the top-10 of pre-season polls fall flat on their faces during the season. Arizona ranked number 4 in 1999, but finished the year 6-6. In 2001, Sports Illustrated ranked Oregon State as their pre-season number one team, but the Beavers finished the year 5-6. USC was ranked number one in 2012, but finished with a 7-6 record. Florida ranked 10th in 2013, but the Gators finished 4-8.
The Bruins return 18 starters this year (eight on offense, eight on defense, a kicker and a punter — the most in ESPN’s top-25) from a 10-3 team (they’re actually 6-3 in the Pac 12 South). UCLA will get back their top four rushers, five of their top six receivers and 10 of their top 14 tacklers, including the entire secondary. Quarterback Brett Hundley is a true Heisman Trophy candidate who anchors the UCLA offense… his arms and legs have accounted for 73 touchdowns in the last two years.
The offensive line returns five juniors or sophomores who have seen a lot playing time. The Bruins boost a defense that is deep and talented on all levels. The team is stout up front in their hybrid 3-4/4-2-5 defense with defensive linemen Eddie Vanderdoes, Ellis McCarthy, Owamagbe Odighizuma and sophomore Kenny Clark.
At linebacker the Bruins will start Eric Kendricks, Myles Jack (sensational in 2013, winning both Pac-12 Offensive and Defensive Freshmen of the Year honors) and Zach Whitley (rated the number six middle linebacker recruit in the country). UCLA’s talented secondary is led by cornerbacks Ishmael Adams and Fabian Moreau; and Anthony Jefferson, Randall Goforth and Tahaan Goodman at safey.
The University’s defense is more talented from top to bottom than their offense. Benefiting from the return of QB Brett Hundley and a top defense, high aspirations are understandable. In other words, they’re looking for playoffs, a Pac-12 title, a Rose Bowl and a National Championship.
Issues that could derail UCLA’s goals are a tough schecule and the lack of a few important elements: a dominant running game, a true number one wide receiver and sacks. One would think that the return of the Bruins’ four starters to the offensive line would be a plus but it has allowed 88 sacks the past two seasons. In Stanford’s victory over UCLA last year, the Cardinal defense hurried Hundley nine times and sacked him four times.
The Pac-12 has five of the six toughest schedules in the nation. UCLA has the toughest schedule in the Pac-12. The three toughest games for the Bruins are against Oregon, Stanford and USC. Fortunately all three of those roadblocks will be at home.
Prediction: 11-1