Rosen’s return should bolster Bruins’ offense
Orlando Sentinel college insider Matt Murschel ranked all 130 Football Bowl Subdivision teams in the country entering the 2017 season. The Sentinel staff takes a closer look at a new team daily, counting backward from No. 130 to our projected No. 1 team.
UCLA Jim Mora (41-24, entering sixth season; 41-24 overall)
4-8, 2-7 in Pac-12 Conference, tied for fourth in South Division
If UCLA was hoping to bounce back from a somewhat disappointing eight-win season in 2015, those hopes were dashed after a devastating injury to starting QB Josh Rosen. Inconsistent play on both sides of the football saw the Bruins tumble to their worst record under Jim Mora and the worst season since 2010.
8 injury, the team struggled with backup Mike Fafaul behind center and finished 1-5 the rest of the way. Mora shook up the staff, replacing Kennedy Polamalu with former Michigan offensive coordinator Jedd Fisch. Rosen’s return coupled with other key playmakers means good things for the offense.
The Bruins are led up front by first team all-conference selection Scott Quessenberry, who anchors an offensive line that features three full-time starters back from last season.
Tom Bradley’s first season as defensive coordinator was somewhat of a success, with the Bruins finishing middle of the pack in the Pac-12 in total defense. The defense produced three all-conference selections in Tak McKinley, Jayon Brown and Kenny Young. Two of them went were selected in this year’s NFL draft, with Young serving as the team’s leading returning tackler (90). The defensive front is young and needs to develop quickly. The middle of the group is anchored by Young, but it has some fresh faces in Josh Woods and Krys Barnes as well.
After back-to-back seasons with 1,000-yard rusher Paul Perkins in 2014 and 2015, UCLA struggled to find a suitable replacement in 2016. Sophomore Soso Jamabo wound up as the team’s top rusher with just 321 yards. The Bruins earned 84 yards per game on the ground last season, the program’s lowest average since 2008.
The offensive coordinator position has been a bit unstable, with the Bruins adjusting to their third offensive coordinator in as many years. Rosen arrived with a lot of buzz in 2015, but the shoulder injury last season was a setback. His return is good news for the offense, which should be much improved. The defense, however, is another story. The group lost a lot of talent and will be tested early and often.