PASADENA — Through his first eight games, No. 7 UCLA coach Bob Chesney has established the Bruins’ identity on both sides of the ball.
Led by Wayne Knight, the college football world is already familiar with how talented UCLA’s run game is. However, Chesney’s transformation of the Bruins’ defense has been nothing short of remarkable.
After jumping out to an exciting start to the year, the Bruins have only gotten better as the season matures. Especially on the defensive side of the ball.
UCLA allowed only 32 points against their four opponents in October. That includes holding Oregon to 15 points and Wisconsin to seven points.
In their 27-0 win over Nevada on Halloween, the Bruins’ defense shined brighter than ever by pitching their first shutout of the season.
The Bruins forced four turnovers in a dominant effort. Every level of the defense found success against the Wolf Pack.
The defensive line, led by JMU transfer Sahir West, was pressuring Nevada’s backfield all game long. The junior finished with a team-high nine tackles and added one and a half sacks.
Not too far behind West was fellow JMU transfer Aiden Gobaira. He tallied seven tackles, one and a half sacks, and three TFLs.
“We were only able to play well due to our linebackers and back end playing elite coverage and making sure we were free to make plays,” Gobaira said. “It was good to see our plan worked and (I’m) looking forward to doing it next week.”
It was easily the best performance this season from linebacker Trent Hendrick. The fifth-year senior racked up a season-high eight tackles.
“He’s done a good job,” Chesney said. “We know who he is as a player. He led our team at JMU a year ago and was the defensive player of the year. He’s very capable. The two guys in front of him are playing some pretty good football…that’s a room that’s a real physical, dominant room. We’re blessed to have the depth we have there for sure.”
In the secondary, the Bruins had four different players record an interception. During the Wolf Pack’s first three possessions of the game, UCLA reeled in an interception on each drive.
Fifth-year senior Scooter Jackson got the turnover party started with an interception on the opening play of the game.
On the ensuing drive, linebacker Jalen Woods read a tipped pass to perfection and hauled in his second interception of the season.
Senior defensive back Derrick Barksdale gave the Bruins their first touchdown of the game when he made a great break on the ball for a 26-yard pick-six. It was Barksdale’s first interception as a Bruin.
“It’s a blessing to be able to have cover guys back there in the secondary. We all work hard. We all teach each other as well. If we see something in each other’s technique, we’re quick to change it or quick to help each other. It’s definitely a blessing to play with a talented group like that and we’re going to keep it going,” Barksdale said.
During its final drive of the game, Nevada was looking to break the shutout. The Wolf Pack forced a ball into coverage and senior Ty Lee came down with his first interception of his career.
Despite the success on the defensive end, Chesney knows that the Bruins have to play better as a collective in order to finish the season how they want to.
“These next four games are going to be very physical and what we put out there in moments isn’t going to work,” Chesney said. “We understand that and will be right back to the drawing board.”
UCLA will have its biggest challenges of the season in November with games against Minnesota, Illinois, Michigan, and USC lined up.
If the Bruins’ defense can play as they have been throughout the course of the season, it could secure them a spot in the 12-team College Football Playoff.