Bruins are looking for improvement in historic game vs. Alabama State
Respect all, fear none. That's the mindset UCLA is taking into a game in which it is favored to win by nearly 50 points, as Alabama State — the first FCS opponent the Bruins will face in program history — visits the Rose Bowl today. It also marks the first time UCLA will play an HBCU.
The mantra, relayed by head coach Chip Kelly, is a reflection of the team's overarching approach.
“You get ready to play a football team,” Kelly said. “Honestly, though, we're playing against ourselves every week. It's us versus us.”
WHEN UCLA HAS THE BALL » The Bruins are coming off a 45-17 season-opening win over Bowling Green last Saturday, though the final score belied a mistake-riddled first quarter. UCLA trailed 17-7 before railing off 38 straight points.
One week in, with film to watch and tangible items to work on, Kelly is hoping the adage of the biggest improvement in a team coming in between Week One and Week Two comes to fruition.
“We've played a live game in front of officials, with ramifications if we make mistakes — and we did make some mistakes,” Kelly said. “So how do we improve upon that as we move forward?”
UCLA will look to get off to a better start today. Last week's first quarter featured a blocked punt returned for a touchdown, an interception, a turnover on downs and the start of an eight-play, 73-yard Bowling Green drive that ended in a touchdown.
But the Bruins settled down, with quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson dicing up the Bowling Green defense to finish with nearly 400 yards of total offense and the defense holding the Falcons scoreless in the second half.
“I think we did OK,” UCLA running back Zach Charbonnet said. “It was obviously the first game, so we made a lot of mistakes. But once we clean those up, I think it's going to be a lot more productive.”
Charbonnet, who had 21 carries for 111 yards and a touchdown, doesn't think respecting the opponent will be an issue.
“I don't think it's really that hard,” Charbonnet said. “We're always going to come with the same mentality, no matter who we're playing.”
WHEN ALABAMA STATE HAS THE BALL » Alabama State is off to its first 2-0 start since 2010, with a 23-13 win over Howard in the
MEAC/SWAC Challenge, followed by a 21-13 victory at home over Miles College. The Hornets enter the game in the Top 10 in the HBCU coaches and media polls.
Dematrius Davis, a second-year transfer from Auburn who was third on the Tigers' depth chart last year, is listed as the starting quarterback on Alabama State's depth chart. Davis left last week's game in the first quarter with a right shoulder injury. Myles Crawley entered in relief and completed 9 of 18 passes for 162 yards and a touchdown.
Alabama State coach Eddie Robinson Jr. said Davis, a four-star recruit out of high school, will be a game-time decision.
UCLA linebacker Darius Muasau called Davis a playmaker.
“We'll look into containing his playmaking abilities, because he's able to make plays with his feet and he has a good arm also,” Muasau said. “We're just trying to game-plan and stop him as much as we can.”
UCLA will prepare for both quarterbacks, though Kelly noted that the Alabama State offense generally runs the same plays no matter who is under center.
“They're both skilled,” Kelly said. “They're both dual-threat kids that can hurt you.”
Alabama State runs a 4-2-5 nickel scheme on defense, with Kelly noting their defense coordinates well between the linemen and secondary. Defensive end Brandon Gaddy led the Hornets last week with a career-high 10 tackles, two sacks and a forced fumble.
UCLA will also be the first opponent Alabama State plays from the state of California, and Robinson said his team is excited. Robinson, an Alabama
State alum who had an 11-year NFL career as a linebacker, said he dreamed as a kid of playing in the Rose Bowl.
“It's a huge opportunity for us to play well (in front of) a national audience,” said Robinson, who is not related to late Grambling State coaching legend Eddie Robinson. “We just want to represent the conference well, and go out there and be competitive.”
Robinson said the goal for Alabama State is to limit Charbonnet and the run game, or else “it's going to be a long day” given UCLA's talent. But he's not worried about motivation, which is inherent given the opponent and location.
“When you're playing a team like UCLA and you're going to the Rose Bowl, that in itself is going to keep you on that sharp edge of working hard,” Robinson said.
UCLA players were likewise excited to play an HBCU, with ThompsonRobinson happy “for the culture.
“To get a school like that out on the West Coast is gonna be a great opportunity for both teams,” Thompson-Robinson said. “We're excited to give them the opportunity and we're also excited to get the opportunity to play them.” FROM HEAT TO RAIN? » UCLA practiced with wet footballs during the week as today's game features the potential for rain.
A week after temperatures reached more than 100 degrees at the Rose Bowl in an opener that saw record-low attendance, there is precipitation and possible thunderstorms in the forecast for today.
Regardless of conditions or how much of a test Alabama State will actually be, Kelly expects his team to improve in all facets of the game.
“There's nothing where you can say, `We did this in the opener. We're good,'” Kelly said. “It's about constant improvement.”
Today: Alabama St. at UCLA, 2 p.m., Pac-12 Network