UCLA looks very beatable

[DJ Spanky]

I watched a good part of their game against Indiana. First off, as I suspected, these west coast teams cannot stand up to the bruising level of line play that we have in the Big 10. This was their first conference game, and they already looked overmatched at times. What will happen after they've played a few games like this in a row? I remember our first few seasons it was the same with us, well, more than our first few as Ash took our recruiting backwards. We'd play okay in the beginning of the season, but by the time we got past the midway point our lack of quality depth in the lines meant we stumbled to the end of the season. I project the same thing for UCLA and, at least, Washington. Second, Indiana doesn't have a RB at Monangai's level: they're serviceable, but don't have the patience, eye and explosiveness he possesses. Hell, they only racked up 127 yards on the ground. Their top rusher had 47 yards on 10 carries. KM, SB and AR should be able to pound UCLA. Third, their OL looks pedestrian at best. I think B10 teams are gonna feast on them.

 

[shields]

Kyle is going to pound them.

 

[Knight Shift]

I watched a good part of their game against Indiana. First off, as I suspected, these west coast teams cannot stand up to the bruising level of line play that we have in the Big 10. This was their first conference game, and they already looked overmatched at times. What will happen after they've played a few games like this in a row? I remember our first few seasons it was the same with us, well, more than our first few as Ash took our recruiting backwards. We'd play okay in the beginning of the season, but by the time we got past the midway point our lack of quality depth in the lines meant we stumbled to the end of the season. I project the same thing for UCLA and, at least, Washington. Second, Indiana doesn't have a RB at Monangai's level: they're serviceable, but don't have the patience, eye and explosiveness he possesses. Hell, they only racked up 127 yards on the ground. Their top rusher had 47 yards on 10 carries. KM, SB and AR should be able to pound UCLA. Third, their OL looks pedestrian at best. I think B10 teams are gonna feast on them.

In their first 2 games, they gave up a lot of yards in the air:
Hawaii- 25/42 227 yds
Indiana: 25/33 307 yds

But not so much on the ground:
Hawaii: 51 yds
Indiana: 123 yds

I did not focus on their line play. Their QB had 2 INTs against Hawaii, and 1 last night.

Each game/matchup is different.

 

[cubuffsdoug]

In their first 2 games, they gave up a lot of yards in the air:
Hawaii- 25/42 227 yds
Indiana: 25/33 307 yds

But not so much on the ground:
Hawaii: 51 yds
Indiana: 123 yds

I did not focus on their line play. Their QB had 2 INTs against Hawaii, and 1 last night.

Each game/matchup is different.

Keep in mind Hawaii and Indiana are pass first offenses. UCLA couldn't stop a nose bleed if their life depended on it it

 

[ClassOf02]

UCLA is the worst team in the league this year, and by quite a bit.

 

[RUGuitarMan]

UCLA looks shaky. A new coaching staff and new faces. I watched a decent amount of the IU game. To me, IU looks really improved. Cignetti is a very good HC. He has had a lot of success at his prior stops. He flipped over the roster and it seems they’ve built a good chemistry there.

 

[WhichReligionIsRight]

Surprised for even thinking this - I’m glad we’re not playing Indiana this year.

 

[winfield102]

Ucla could be a two-win team this year. They got lucky to beat Hawaii.

That Indiana QB looks legit. Assuming Indiana plays Michigan this year, they're going to beat Michigan.

 

[AreYouNUTS]

They’re awful. We could run for 300 on them.

 

[AreYouNUTS]

Ucla could be a two-win team this year. They got lucky to beat Hawaii.

That Indiana QB looks legit. Assuming Indiana plays Michigan this year, they're going to beat Michigan.

Let’s slow down just a “tad” on IU they have yet to play anyone half decent.

 

[Bagarocks]

Ucla could be a two-win team this year. They got lucky to beat Hawaii.

That Indiana QB looks legit. Assuming Indiana plays Michigan this year, they're going to beat Michigan.

Indiana Offense looks legit!

 

[cubuffsdoug]

Let’s slow down just a “tad” on IU they have yet to play anyone half decent.

I did a pre-season breakdown of each B1G team and this year I've been on spot for every team so far. IU is a much better team than last year, but like you said, "Let's slow down just a 'tad' on IU..." I feel they are a competitive team, but lack B1G experience, which is big in tight conference games.

 

[rutgersguy1]

I did a pre-season breakdown of each B1G team and this year I've been on spot for every team so far. IU is a much better team than last year, but like you said, "Let's slow down just a 'tad' on IU..." I feel they are a competitive team, but lack B1G experience, which is big in tight conference games.

I think they will be a bowl team, already half way there. At least 6-7 wins to me is reasonable for them and that’s a good job in year 1 for CC. Schedule looks decent to achieve that.

 

[RUforJERSEY]

You don't say. Lol

 

[rutgersguy1]

Let’s slow down just a “tad” on IU they have yet to play anyone half decent.

Their schedule is similar to ours with OSU there instead of USC.

I think they have as much potential as we do and we’ll see if they can achieve it or not.

 

[shields]

UCLA is terrible.

 

[newwavedave1]

Washington Huskies don't exactly look like a powerhouse either.

 

[nutfromSEC117]

They will be completely worn down by Oct 19th


at Lsu
H Oregon
at rape state
H Minn
at RUTGERS

That is a brutal schedule on top of the brutal back and forth travel

 

[cubuffsdoug]

I think they will be a bowl team, already half way there. At least 6-7 wins to me is reasonable for them and that’s a good job in year 1 for CC. Schedule looks decent to achieve that.

IU is a paper tiger until they show they can run the ball consistently again better defenses. IU went from a rushing average of 300 YPG against Western Illinois and FIU to rushing for a little over 100 yards against UCLA. Do you think IU will get away without having more balance against Ohio State, Michigan, Michigan State, Nebraska, Washington, Northwestern, and even Maryland? The Physical nature of the B1G is going to a problem for kids who are use to FCS competition.

 

[rutgersguy1]

IU is a paper tiger until they show they can run the ball consistently again better defenses. IU went from a rushing average of 300 YPG against Western Illinois and FIU to rushing for a little over 100 yards against UCLA. Do you think IU will get away without having more balance against Ohio State, Michigan, Michigan State, Nebraska, Washington, Northwestern, and even Maryland? The Physical nature of the B1G is going to a problem for kids who are use to FCS competition.

I think OSU obviously will be a loss. The rest are all possibilities imo.

Michigan’s defense is still good but not as good as last year but more than that I think their offense and lack of qb (he threw 3 INTs against Ark St this weekend) is a problem and that can make it a game against IU (or frankly other teams). MSU and Nebraska look improved but one has a freshman qb (he does look the part though) and Chiles is mobile but don’t think he’s the best passer. I don’t think any of UW, NW or Maryland have looked like world beaters either.

They should get win 4 this week against Charlotte. They play Purdue so that can be win 5. So that means they just need 1-2 more out of the rest to get to 6-7 wins. That to me is plenty doable.

 

[cubuffsdoug]

I think OSU obviously will be a loss. The rest are all possibilities imo.

Michigan’s defense is still good but not as good as last year but more than that I think their offense and lack of qb (he threw 3 INTs against Ark St this weekend) is a problem and that can make it a game against IU (or frankly other teams). MSU and Nebraska look improved but one has a freshman qb (he does look the part though) and Chiles is mobile but don’t think he’s the best passer. I don’t think any of UW, NW or Maryland have looked like world beaters either.

They should get win 4 this week against Charlotte. They play Purdue so that can be win 5. So that means they just need 1-2 more out of the rest to get to 6-7 wins. That to me is plenty doable.

I do think 6 wins is possible for them, but the media is making them out to be one of the best in the B1G with such a small sample size. The reason I say it may be hard for IU is a passing team doesn't fair well in colder weather. You need a solid run game to help the passing game especially in the Midwest during late fall/early winter.

 

[rutgersguy1]

I do think 6 wins is possible for them, but the media is making them out to be one of the best in the B1G with such a small sample size. The reason I say it may be hard for IU is a passing team doesn't fair well in colder weather. You need a solid run game to help the passing game especially in the Midwest during late fall/early winter.

I don’t know if the hype is about being one of the best in the B10. It’s more about them looking like a functional team that’s not in the basement of the B10 and has a good chance to be a bowl team. I think upper bound of what I’ve seen in the media is can (emphasis on can) IU be an 8 win team but not be not seen anything from mainstream CFB media about one of the best in the B10.

I think 8 might be pushing it but 6-7 is doable imo.

I can also take the rushing totals from 300 to 123 (while throwing for 300+) in a different way. Maybe that’s a good sign that they can be effective offensively in different ways and they’re not 1 dimensional. 🤷‍♂️

 

[cubuffsdoug]

I don’t know if the hype is about being one of the best in the B10. It’s more about them looking like a functional team that’s not in the basement of the B10 and has a good chance to be a bowl team. I think upper bound of what I’ve seen in the media is can (emphasis on can) IU be an 8 win team but not be not seen anything from mainstream CFB media about one of the best in the B10.

I think 8 might be pushing it but 6-7 is doable imo.

I can also take the rushing totals from 300 to 123 (while throwing for 300+) in a different way. Maybe that’s a good sign that they can be effective offensively in different ways and they’re not 1 dimensional. 🤷‍♂️

Well, BTN is hyping IU. lol

I do a preview of each B1G team the last few years for personal reasons. When looking at all the info on IU, I like what I see but they still lack enough depth and experience to survive the B1G. They will experience bumps and bruises like all teams, but will they be able to overcome those setbacks without a break in conference play? IU will experience what Rutgers went through last year when you race out to a great first half record, then struggle on the back half of the schedule because of who you play in closing out the season.

IU running for 123 yards wasn't by accident. Better defense will make it even harder for IU.

 

[TM94goRU]

This weekend while not good for the BIG10 gave me hope for Rutgers having a great year. The UCLA Bruins look very beatable and Charmin soft. Virginia Tech struggled until late with Old Dominion. Although played in Norfolk, the Hokies looked like another SBC Conference team. They scored garbage time points late. It was 20 to 14 in the third.

 

[RUSK97]

To be fair, they were left in a tough spot with Chip ditching them for the Bucks.

 

[AreYouNUTS]

I did a pre-season breakdown of each B1G team and this year I've been on spot for every team so far. IU is a much better team than last year, but like you said, "Let's slow down just a 'tad' on IU..." I feel they are a competitive team, but lack B1G experience, which is big in tight conference games.

He brought something like 13 starters with him from JMU. I'm assuming a bunch on O and it shows. As B1G teams get more film, they'll realize there is a freakin' "safety valve" on EVERY single pass play, wide open for the QB to check down and hit for an easy 5-10 yards. UCLA must've been burned by it 10 times Saturday night.

 

[bigmatt718]

To be fair, they were left in a tough spot with Chip ditching them for the Bucks.

UCLA's fatal mistake was giving Foster the full time job and not just keeping him as an interim and doing a full search after this season. We've seen that mistake before with Flood.

 

[bigmatt718]

I do think 6 wins is possible for them, but the media is making them out to be one of the best in the B1G with such a small sample size. The reason I say it may be hard for IU is a passing team doesn't fair well in colder weather. You need a solid run game to help the passing game especially in the Midwest during late fall/early winter.

That is what makes Wisconsin going to a potential Air Raid offense an asinine move and a main reason why they've regressed. Going away from their identity which had worked for 30+ years (big, punishing OL and running game, rugged defense) was such a dumb move. I feel like Rutgers is trying to emulate those old Wisconsin teams which is a smart strategy.

 

[BigEastPhil]

UCLA is awful. Anything worse than a beat down is a failure.

 

[LeapinLou]

I don't think there is any question that UCLA is the easiest game left on our schedule. But they can't be taken for granted.

 

[RUSK97]

UCLA is awful. Anything worse than a beat down is a failure.

Sure hope so. I call it the Jalen Berger effect. Whatever team he goes to has a bad event or goes down the toilet. Joined Wisconsin, they ditch Chryst. Plays for Spartans, ummmm…Tucker loses his mind and the whole program. Goes to UCLA…they look like they’re struggling. Damn we dodged a bullet.

 

[rutgersguy1]

That is what makes Wisconsin going to a potential Air Raid offense an asinine move and a main reason why they've regressed. Going away from their identity which had worked for 30+ years (big, punishing OL and running game, rugged defense) was such a dumb move. I feel like Rutgers is trying to emulate those old Wisconsin teams which is a smart strategy.

Wide open offensive teams can run the ball. It’s a misperception that they dont or can’t. Longo had offenses at UNC that were in the top 20 in rushing a couple times. I want to say they may have had 2 1000 yd rushers even in 1 year but I’m not sure. Briles’ Baylor teams ran in top 15 in the country. Heupel’s teams as well over the years. I think they’re #3 currently.

I don’t think Wisconsin has any identity and things haven’t clicked offensively but I couldn’t tell you why. I do always wonder about the friction between a defensive HC or former OL HC and a more wide open OC and how that affects things philosophically.

 

[mdk01]

Wide open offensive teams can run the ball. It’s a misperception that they dont or can’t. Longo had offenses at UNC that were in the top 20 in rushing a couple times. I want to say they may have had 2 1000 yd rushers even in 1 year but I’m not sure. Briles’ Baylor teams ran in top 15 in the country. Heupel’s teams as well over the years. I think they’re #3 currently.

I don’t think Wisconsin has any identity and things haven’t clicked offensively but I couldn’t tell you why. I do always wonder about the friction between a defensive HC or former OL HC and a more wide open OC and how that affects things philosophically.

Wisconsin's identity was powerful OL and a great RB. If things haven't worked I'd look there.

 

[rutgersguy1]

Wisconsin's identity was powerful OL and a great RB. If things haven't worked I'd look there.

I do think the new clock rules that don’t stop the clock after first down until the final two mins of halves helps that kind of style of play, as opposed to just a couple years ago. Games can be shortened.

 

[RUforlife]

UCLA is awful. Anything worse than a beat down is a failure.

Thanks for the laugh!!