UCLA, Colorado open Pac-12 play on different paths
The bye week arrived at an opportune time for a UCLA team ravaged by injuries and struggling to find its first win under first-year coach Chip Kelly.
After a 38-14 home loss to Fresno State on Sept. 15, the Bruins (0-3) could not return from their off-week on a more opposite trajectory than their Friday opponent, Colorado. The Buffs (3-0) routed New Hampshire to finish their non-conference slate.
And yet, with Friday’s game at Colorado’s Folsom Field marking the Pac-12 Conference opener for both teams, the South division counterparts arrive on somewhat equal footing. Despite their polar-opposite records, the loser is left looking up at the winner in the league standings.
Still, three losses totaling 61 points casts a much harsher light on the Bruins at the start of the Pac-12 schedule. To wit, freshman quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson’s father took to social media following the Fresno State, referring to a “million dollar coach who (bears) no responsibility.”
“I have no response,” Kelly said of the criticism. “Everyone’s entitled to their opinion, and that’s the great thing about sports. When you win, people say good things, and when you don’t win, people don’t say good things.”
Certainly getting in the win column — which UCLA has not done away from the Rose Bowl since September 2016 — could help curtail criticism. The Bruins return some key figures to aid in that goal on Friday, including pass-rush specialist Jaelan Phillips on defense, and center Boss Tagaloa to an offensive line in desperate need of support.
UCLA goes into Boulder having allowed 23 tackles for loss on the season, while Colorado’s defense has racked up 23.
UCLA may also return quarterback Wilton Speight. The Michigan transfer aggravated a back injury in the second quarter of the opener, but his return to practice could lead to a decision between the veteran and the youngster Thompson-Robinson.
Colorado has no quarterback controversy, which is just one reason the Buffs kick off conference competition with more reason for optimism. Steven Montez completed almost 74 percent of his pass attempts through the 3-0 start, scoring eight touchdowns and distributing the ball among a variety of targets.
Receivers Jay MacIntyre, K.D. Nixon and Juwann Winfree all have at least one touchdown reception, but the emerging star of the rotation is Laviska Shenault Jr. Shenault’s 151.7 yards per game receiving average leads the nation.
“You see a lot in the National Football League, (defensive coordinators) have one (defender) shadow a guy, but then they line up (the receiver) all over the place,” Kelly said of Colorado’s use of Shenault in a variety of different looks. “It tells you the type of player he is, because not everybody can do that.”