Carter comes up big for Bruins
PASADENA -
It's not so often that a defensive coordinator doesn't want his offense to score.
But facing a Washington State Cougars team that is about as scary as two cuddling kittens and half as mean, Chuck Bullough knew his UCLA squad could get complacent.
With two relatively quick scores and more than 160 yards of total offense in the first quarter, the Bruins were feeling pretty good, just as the knot was growing in Bullough's stomach.
For good reason: UCLA allowed Washington State to creep back into the game and eventually take command, the Cougars tallying 10 plays of more than 15 yards and at one point leading 28-20 before the Bruins buckled down.
"We were banging them as a staff - 'This is a Pac-10 team, they're going to come in ready to go' - but we scored twice early, and we kind of let down," Bullough said. "Even though the coaches on the sidelines were ripping them to keep it up, I thought the players kind of said, 'All right, it's over, this is not going to be that hard.'
"Then we had to pick it back up in the second half; 'Oh, yeah, we are in a game.'"
Facing little pass rush, Washington State quarterback Jeff Tuel was able to throw accurately and with velocity, ultimately finishing 20-of-37 passing for 311 yards and two scores.
Finally, the UCLA defensive line started to create some havoc, with senior David Carter leading the way.
Carter had three sacks and five total tackles as the Bruins turned up the noise on Washington State's lapsing offensive line.
Tuel was sacked three times during the Cougars' last two series, including two straight by linebackers Sean Westgate and Akeem Ayers on the team's last drive, the latter sack resulting in a fumble, recovered by Ayers as well.
"I stressed after the last game that another defensive lineman was going to have to step up," Bullough said. "Akeem Ayers is going to be doubled all the time, but you're going to get one-on-one blocks. They're going to find where he is and double him, and somebody has to step up."
Holy s___....
Did Bullough just blame the players for the defensive crapfest that we all watched for the last 40 minutes of the game?
way to go "Nick Aliotti circa 1998" on the team there Chuck!
That may have been the worst called defensive plan I've ever seen and this douche calls out the players. Well done chief! Immediate dismissal for the sake of the program.
Chuck Bullogh needs to go!!!
It's interesting how these negative comments were posted right after U$¢ LOSSED to Washington AGAIN.
He was doing his job which was preventing the defense from being complacent. And it were the coachES, not just him, that were trying to motivate the team. It worked, and we WON AGAIN.
And don't compare Bullough to 1998 Aliotti. Although I do have to give him credit for one hell of a job tonight making the correct adjustments in the 2nd half to beat Luck.
The $UC trolls are calling for Coach Chuck's head. LOL. They should be looking at their own inept head coach. What a tool he is. All in all, we responded positively against a well-prepared and talented Cougar team. Next week, I'm sure the defensive scheme will be much more aggressive and less transparent.
Scary, but the ability to battle back is not an easy skill to acquire, so maybe, just maybe, that may help one day.
honestly, the D was pretty sad today... the secondary was giving up WAY too much. aaron hester was continually punked (not sheldon price so much, unlike last year). either way, jonathan franklin and derrick coleman were the stars of the day. brehaut actually looked okay IMO.
JG: is there any status update on nelson rosario? he looked good on the first drive.. no drops at least.
There were plenty of Bruins calling for Bullough's head during the game-day chat. I'm not so reactionary myself, but I was frustrated with the defensive play-calling, especially before the half and then right after. Lack of pressure on the QB kept resulting in big gains downfield.
So, Bullough doesn't pass rush and then turns around and throws the kids under the bus because they kept getting beat. Did they under-perform? Absolutely. But to ignore his own role is ridiculous and insulting...
Everyone knew that this game could be a letdown but we manage to get a victory. So the people who call for Cooach CB head are the same who said he called a great game last week? Give me a break and stop complaining. The players took this game lightly and it almost cost them. And Akeem Ayers was hurt so was not effective. So don't be so judmental.
The best thing about USC loss is the smurk on the faces of Hello Kitty and Mass Barf-ley were wiped off their face. What a bunch of asses. Hopefully, the education at University of Stupid Cheaters will teach some manners and etiquettes in humanity.
yah, its likely its a troll who knows about Aliotti's ineptness in 1998. Who are you kidding? Simply because UCLA's defense was out of position for 3 quarters of the game (READ... not UCLA poor play or players with inferior skill or desire, but in a prevent defense and consistently rushing 3 or 4 while not covering the flats or the middle and showing zero aggression), with a fairly one-dimensional defensive scheme. bend don't break! Yah, it worked today, thanks WSU. About 100 FBS schools it won't work against.
sure, there's no way its an alum from the class of 1999, a dude who lived on Landfair and was apart of the first times of taking ones clothes off and running Westwood in the middle of the night who has seen too many times a Bruin team lose games this way (no, I wasn't in south bend for the ND debacle or anything).
You're right, anybody who criticizes a UCLA effort must SURELY be a Trojan looking to grief your ass
Relax folks. In addition to it being a good win for the Bruins a lot of guys got some playing time.
Fwiw, considering that Aliotti coached very successful defensive units both before and after his one year stint at UCLA ineptness is not likely to be the primary reason for the defensive failures of 1998.
you are right... it may not be Aliotti. It may be Marquess Anderson and his tackling abilities... 50-50. I'll go with Aliotti and his "learning with UCLA and screwing the pooch only to get canned so he can succeed with a decade at Oregon" pacifist beliefs.
K. think I got it all out. just pissed when douche's call out any criticism as "trolls" instead of actual knowlegable insight, even though I may still be super-hyped WE WON the friggin game.
Definitely a good win.
UCLA has a history of coming up flat against Washington State ...
2005, had to come back from 21 points down and win in OT
2004, got ran over and had to beat Oregon in Autzen to become bowl-eligible
2001, Deshaun fumbled and our once top 10 team's season collapses
1997, Season opener lost a heartbreaker sending Wazzu to the Rose Bowl
1988, #1 UCLA led by Troy Aikman craps the bed at home against the Cougs
@That's rich, Yah you're right, etc: Good grief, did someone hit a nerve that shot right down to where your fragile ego is located? Get over it. Aliotti scheme's were complicated and he was instructed to simplify it for the players but claiming you know about Aliotti's ineptness in 98 is wrong. You need to take your blinders off and look at the whole picture before throwing defensive coordinators under the bus. UCLA was undefeated heading into the game versus Miami in 98 with "inept" Aliotti at the helm. Open your mind and inquire if there was another factor involved in the losses at the end of the 98 season, especially for the Miami game. Whenever you're ready, search: UCLA Toledo Miami for the complete picture. If you'd paid more attention during lectures and less time streaking you would of figured it out now, 12 YEARS LATER.
So I really want to make this nickname stick and I'm gonna push it hard. If Franklin is Jet-ski then Coleman can be Boat.Jet-ski and Boat, enough of the thunder and lightning stuff. We need an original nickname.
I agree with Matt A. Sometimes, games appear too easy and 9 times out of 10 UCLA craps the bed and loses this game. The ability to regroup and close out the game should not be taken lightly.
Getting beat on those long passes wasn't an aberration though...teams are starting to hone in on UCLA's dirty little secret. (A. Hester) He needs to step it up, or the coaches need to reconsider how they will play that side of the field.
was that someone other than Aliotti that gave up 689 yards in Miami? Yeah, you're right, it was the PLAYERS.
Wait, did Aliotti give up 340 points in pac-10 play as the DC in 98? uhhh, yep, he did. no wait, it was chuck. No wait, it was the players. its always the players. no wait, its the SCHEME. IT WAS TOO COMPLICATED!!! Rich.
Here's a quote from Tony Dye after the game.
"I think it was a mental breakdown throughout," safety Tony Dye said. "We got lackadaisical. I was very disappointed for most of the game."
If the players are blaming themsleves, then it's on them, not the coaches.
The DBs really let us down yesterday, they seemed extremely flat and uninspired, but the Bruins somehow regrouped in the fourth quarter and showed how nasty they can be when they feel cornered.
I spoke with Datone Jones yesterday after game and he told me he's getting his foot X-Rayed on Tueday and we might see him in action in three more weeks...the defensive line will be so much better when he returns, just in time for the meat and potatoes of our schedule.
Great comeback Bruins!! and props to Richard Brehaut, he finally got his chance to shine and he seized the opportunity.
Win On!!
Jon,
I knew there was potential trouble when I heard coach warn during the week before the game that Wazzu should be taken seriously. Why even raise a letdown as being a possibility? CAN YOU PLEASE REMIND COACH THAT COACH WOODEN'S PHILOSOPHY OF ALWAYS WORKING TO THE BEST OF EACH PLAYER'S ABILITY, REGARDLESS OF THE OPPONENT, IS THE WAY TO APPROACH EACH GAME (AND PRACTICE)? THAT WAY, THERE CAN BE NO LETDOWN. IN A SENSE, THE PLAYERS ARE COMPETING AGAINST THEIR OWN STANDARDS. This is how a team like (like this year's Oregon team) consistently gets huge wins regardless of the opponent.
Thanks.
Jon,
I knew there was potential trouble when I heard coach warn during the week before the game that Wazzu should be taken seriously. Why even raise a letdown as being a possibility? CAN YOU PLEASE REMIND COACH THAT COACH WOODEN'S PHILOSOPHY OF ALWAYS WORKING TO THE BEST OF EACH PLAYER'S ABILITY, REGARDLESS OF THE OPPONENT, IS THE WAY TO APPROACH EACH GAME (AND PRACTICE)? THAT WAY, THERE CAN BE NO LETDOWN. IN A SENSE, THE PLAYERS ARE COMPETING AGAINST THEIR OWN STANDARDS. This is how a team like (like this year's Oregon team) consistently gets huge wins regardless of the opponent.
Thanks.