LA Sports Hub
Fansided

UCLA Bruins: Drop game in the Desert, beaten by Wildcats

By Jamaal Artis

PULLMAN, WASHINGTON - SEPTEMBER 21: Head coach Chip Kelly of the UCLA Bruins looks on in the first half against the Washington State Cougars at Martin Stadium on September 21, 2019 in Pullman, Washington. (Photo by William Mancebo/Getty Images)
PULLMAN, WASHINGTON - SEPTEMBER 21: Head coach Chip Kelly of the UCLA Bruins looks on in the first half against the Washington State Cougars at Martin Stadium on September 21, 2019 in Pullman, Washington. (Photo by William Mancebo/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

https://lasportshub.com/ucla-bruins/The UCLA Bruins eroded any of the good feelings from their historic comeback against the Washington State Cougars by reverting to their true selves getting beat by the Arizona Wildcats 20-17.

The UCLA Bruins playing another night game on the road was always going to be a difficult game for the Bruins especially with all of their struggles to begin the season. A few hours before the game was to start the Bruins were seemingly given a lifeline when the Wildcats starting quarterback Khalil Tate was ruled out for the game.

On top of Tate being out the Wildcats starting running back JJ Taylor was also ruled out, all the advantages pointed to a good game for the Bruins. Instead, the Bruins reverted to form on offense and defense and left Tucson with a loss and more questions about the rest of the season.

Pass Defense need not apply

A week after allowing a quarterback to throw nine touchdowns, the Bruins didn’t let it get that bad again but they weren’t exactly stalwarts when it came to pass defense.

They allowed true freshman quarterback Grant Gunnell to throw for 352 and a touchdown, most egregious the Bruins allowed Gunnell to go 7 of 11 on third down throws and he averaged 12.1 yards per completion.

Whether it was their defensive scheme or lack of execution the Bruins have yet to figure out a way to stop the pass, if this continues then teams will continue to pick them apart in the air.

Bad DTR returns

Dorian Thompson-Robinson won the Offensive Player of the Week after torching the Cougars in the air and the ground. Saturday night against the Wildcats he was again pedestrian, failing to break 200 yards in the air (180) and killing a promising drive with another interception.

Thompson-Robinson didn’t last until the end of the game getting looking to hurt his foot or ankle and was visibly limping after the game. If Thompson-Robinson is out long term then the Bruins might be in for a long season.

JJ not Dyno-mite

Despite an anemic offensive performance the Bruins still had a chance to tie the game but kicker JJ Molson missed a 39-yard field goal wide right. For the year Molson is 2-5 on field goals making just 40 percent of his attempts.

Against the Cougars when the Bruins could have tied the game late with a field goal, coach Chip Kelly opted to go for it on fourth down instead. After Saturday night’s miss Kelly may never go for three again. Molson has to get better especially as the Bruins continue to struggle to get into the endzone.

Moving forward

The UCLA Bruins return home against an equally bad Oregon State Beavers team. A loss to them and the Bruins could be looking at a worse year than last.

Home/UCLA