UCLA opens its home schedule on Saturday as heavy favorite again, this time preparing to host a Memphis team that hasn’t had a winning season since 2007. John Martin, a columnist and producer for 92.9 FM ESPN, took the time to answer five questions about the Tigers.

1. How do Memphis fans feel about Justin Fuente’s tenure so far? He hasn’t had a winning season yet, but has the program noticeably improved since he arrived?

I think that most Memphis fans are as cautiously optimistic about Fuente as they’ll allow themselves to be. There is a sense of fatalism with the Memphis program, you know. If there’s a football coach here who’s left on his own terms, I can’t think of him. Line ‘em up, knock ‘em down; it’s hard to succeed at Memphis. That history is documented.

With Fuente, it feels different. Since he got the job, I’ve always had the sense he knows football. Like, he’s a real football coach. When Larry Porter, the last guy, was hired, you knew within 30 seconds of his opening press conference that he was in way over his head. Fuente played football at the highest level as a quarterback, which I think gives him an increased understanding of the game.

Beyond that, he’s majorly responsible for the development of Andy Dalton at TCU. Dalton, of course, just signed a $115 million contract. So he has real credibility in that arena, which most Memphis coaches in the past did not come to Memphis with.

As far as the program itself, I know a 3-9 record last season was worse than Fuente’s first year. But it was an awkward situation with senior quarterback and Texas Tech transfer Jacob Karam sitting on the bench behind redshirt freshman Paxton Lynch. In many ways, the locker room was split. And I think some of the upperclassmen who have now exited the program had a lot to do with how the team finished last season.

So, in summary: Memphis fans feel good about Justin Fuente. The goal is a bowl this year, and I think most fans think that’s a reasonable one. Fuente has made smart hires (Barry Odom, defensive coordinator) and he runs a tight ship. The practices are quick, crisp, and organized, which is a far cry from the past regime. There’s hope here.

2. Could any concrete conclusions be made about this year’s Tigers off their 63-0 demolition of Austin Peay?

Not really. I mean, look: If you’re a Memphis fan, you are ecstatic to finally see your team exact that type of beatdown on another team, regardless of who it is. The team tied or got close to all kinds of positive school records last weekend. That is a night that has escaped this football program for a decade, and that was so much fun.

That said: Austin Peay is god-awful. It’s an FCS team that went winless last season and, judging by last weekend, may try for that kind of year again. They’re too small, too slow, too short on numbers; it was not in any way an accurate gauge of where Memphis stands as a football program. It was never going to be.

Memphis took care of business and ran away with it. That’s about the only concrete conclusion to take away.

3. What’s wrong with Martin Ifedi? How does Memphis’ defense look if its star defensive end can’t play?

Martin Ifedi got hurt in the third quarter last weekend, but he was able to put weight on his left leg and walk back to the locker room on his own power. It’s funny, Fuente was asked after the game about it and he refused to answer. At his Monday press conference, he was asked three times and declined to answer each time.

Fuente, ever the gamesman, isn’t revealing much. Everything I’ve heard suggests he won’t be ready Saturday. And if that’s the case, it’s a blow to Memphis’ upset chances it really can’t afford. Memphis needs to be at full strength and then some to be able to pull off this upset in LA.

Not to disparage the Tigers’ defense, because if there’s a hallmark of this team the last three years, it’s that side. But without Ifedi there to disrupt Brett Hundley’s rhythm, I can’t see the Tigers stealing one.

4. The Tigers ranked 120th nationally on third downs last season, barely converting 30 percent. What went wrong?

It was a number of things, as it usually is; shoddy offensive line play, inconsistent play from a first-year quarterback, lack of weapons on the perimeter.

I can’t emphasize enough how little Lynch’s receivers helped him last year. Even when he did put the ball on target, his receivers so often dropped the pass that it just ruined his confidence. The only consistent receiver was freshman Sam Craft, who also doubles as a running back. Not one receiver on the roster had more than 400 yards receiving last year, if that gives you an idea.

Growing pains, drops, and a mediocre offensive line all played a part in the Tigers’ inefficiency.

5. How much does the offense rest on Paxton Lynch’s performance, and how has he developed since last season?

That’s an interesting question, because Memphis doesn’t run the Air Raid. And they’re not trying to be Baylor and score 70 points. I think Lynch, at this stage in his career, is more a game-manager than a play-maker.

I know how frustrating that label is, but I just think it’s true. Lynch, in most cases, isn’t gonna be asked to take downfield shots 25 times a game. Part of that is because the Tigers have so many talented running backs and have shown an ability to really run the ball, with Brandon Hayes and Doroland Dorceus and talented true freshman Jarvis Cooper.

As far as the development aspect of it goes, I think we’ll have our answer Saturday. It’s easy to look comfortable in the pocket against a small Austin Peay team that’s incapable of generating a pass rush (Lynch wasn’t sacked once last weekend).

What happens when Eddie Vanderdoes and Owa Odighizuwa are bearing down on the pocket? Will he be able to get the ball out quick enough?

I realize that’s a bit of a non-answer, but it’s an honest one. Let’s see what happens when Lynch and the Tigers play a team with actual talent.