Different defense
UCLA should be getting some healthy bodies back this week and coach Rick Neuheisel said changes on the offensive side would be coming, which I wrote about this week.
However, one other thing Neuheisel spoke about was a change in BYU's defensive philosophy against the Bruins. After playing no nickel defense in the first two games of the season, the Cougars played plenty of it against UCLA, daring the Bruins to try and run the ball.
"They were in a position to back up (defensively) because of the score,'' Neuheisel said. "This was the first time this year they ran nickel defense. They put five DBs in the game for the first time during the season. But, I think I attribute it, No. 1, I think we've got some nice wide receivers and then, No. 2, the score."
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About Inside UCLA
This is Brian Dohn's sixth season covering UCLA after spending 4 1/2 years covering the Dodgers for the Daily News and other Los Angeles Newspaper Group papers. He graduated from Rutgers, where the first college football game was played in 1869. Sure, the Scarlet Knights suffered for a long time, but now RU is doing what Jerseyans always thought was possible. Winning at Rutgers also proves winning is possible everywhere else in the nation, so underachieving coaches better be careful. Now, if only men's hoops can turn it around.
Still, even if they prepared for a different defense and that surprised them, they should be able to make in-game adjustments. Our running game is horrid.
This doesn't sound good. This sounds like RN and his staff were caught completely off guard. So what you're saying is that the greatest College Offensive mind can't scheme against the Nickel? Please.