LOS ANGELES — UCLA’s defense was “un-unified” in the second half of last weekend’s game against Arizona, as linebacker Oluwafemi Oladejo termed it.
The execution was not up to the standard set by the defense this season, and the ineffectiveness on the field had apparently flooded onto the Bruins’ sideline as well.
“There’s stuff going on the sideline, that stuff can’t happen,” defensive lineman Jake Heimlicher said Tuesday during media availability.
“Football is a very physical sport where emotions can run high,” he continued. “At the end of the day, there’s a bunch of alpha males on one team. There’s gonna be butting heads no matter where you are, whatever team you’re on.”
This week has been dedicated to re-unifying the defense mentally and recovering from a lackluster performance physically ahead of Saturday’s 6 p.m. game against Arizona State at the Rose Bowl.
In the 27-10 loss to Arizona, the Bruins’ defense gave up 129 yards on the ground to Arizona – the second-most rushing yards it has allowed in a Pac-12 game this season behind the 133 allowed against Oregon State.
Arizona also scored five out of five times in the red zone and converted on third down 11 out of 16 times in the game.
“I think it was part of our lack of finishing,” Oladejo said. “We didn’t finish well. They were 11 of 16. That’s not like us. So I think it’s a lack of finishing and making the plays we need to make.”
Defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn showed a portion of a film involving Ray Lewis to the entire defense during a meeting after that game. Lynn was the safeties coach for the Baltimore Ravens prior to joining UCLA and his choice of video inspired the Bruins.
“We can’t control the fans, we can’t control the game,” Bruins defensive back Will Nimmo said of the message taken from the video. “Make sure we execute and get stops and just be a hard-hitting unit communicating and just really being alphas on the field. That’s something that was emphasized. We are that unit to win games.”
Heimlicher said vocal leaders like linebacker Darius Muasau, edge rusher Laiatu Latu and Oladejo have been helping stabilize the defense so far this week. Oladejo said Monday that he’s made an effort to lift his teammates and has been engaging in positive self-talk.
“I would say he’s the most positive guy on the team,” Heimlicher said of Oladejo. “He’s always wanting to have conversations, deep conversations.”
MOORE, GARBERS RETURN
UCLA quarterbacks Dante Moore and Ethan Garbers were seen participating in practice Tuesday morning during the media viewing period, one day after they were absent Monday.
Today's view of the UCLA quarterbacks. Dante Moore and Ethan Garbers are out there, but Garbers doesn't look too nimble. pic.twitter.com/iTTCtojG86
— Haley Sawyer (@haleymsawyer) November 7, 2023
Moore appeared to be making throws without physical limitations, but Garbers was walking gingerly and did not seem to be very mobile.
The redshirt junior left Saturday’s game against Arizona in the fourth quarter and could not put weight on his left foot. Moore replaced him, but the true freshman endured a hit that forced him from the game with 6:04 left.
Coach Chip Kelly has previously said that he and the coaching staff make the decision as to who starts at quarterback on Fridays.
UCLA-USC GAME TIME
The Pac-12 released its Week 12 schedule Monday morning, but the game time for UCLA at USC has yet to be announced.
“Our game time vs. USC on November 18 will be announced no later than Sunday, Nov. 12,” the UCLA football account said in a post on X on Monday.
Other Pac-12 games that weekend include Colorado at Washington State on Friday at 7:30 p.m. (FS1) and Saturday games with Cal at Stanford at 3:30 p.m. (Pac-12 Network) and Washington at Oregon State at 4:30 p.m. (ABC).
