UCLA Bruins operating again Zach Charbonnet (24) and quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson (1) have fun after scoring in opposition to Utah on the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, CA, on Saturday, Oct. 8, 2022. Laura Seitz, Deseret Information
Utah dropped its first Pac-12 recreation of the season, shedding 42-32 to UCLA on the Rose Bowl.
It received’t be a fairly movie session for the Utes on Monday.
Listed here are three issues Utah soccer can enhance on after the loss to UCLA.
Protection
Utah’s protection allowed 42 factors and 511 whole yards in opposition to UCLA.
Bruins quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson threw for 299 yards and 4 touchdowns and in addition rushed for a rating in a masterful efficiency. He was 18-for-23 and solely had one mistake all recreation — a pick-six with 50 seconds left and the sport wrapped up in a state of affairs the place UCLA ought to have been operating.
Utah additionally allowed UCLA operating again Zach Charbonnet to hurry for 198 yards — a profession excessive for the senior — and a landing.
On the bottom or by means of the air, UCLA principally acquired what it wished, particularly within the second half, when the Bruins scored 4 touchdowns on their first 4 possessions of the second half — the one possession with no landing was the aforementioned pick-six on the finish of the sport.
Utah missed a couple of tackles, appeared blended up in protection a couple of instances and gave up too many huge performs — together with a 49-yard cross, a 49-yard run and a 44-yard run.
“We missed too many tackles and we had a couple of breakdowns. They'd a bunch of huge performs each within the receiving recreation and the dashing recreation. That basically is what did us in was their big-play functionality,” Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham stated.
Penalties at key moments
Total, Utah didn’t have too many penalties — 4 for 29 yards — however one in all them got here when the Utes had the Bruins stopped and prolonged the drive at a key second.
UCLA was main 21-18 with 3:47 left within the third quarter and Utah appeared to pressure a three-and-out after Thompson-Robinson’s cross was incomplete on third-and-6. Utah was going to get the ball again with the possibility to take the lead.
As an alternative, Utah linebacker Karene Reid was known as for roughing the passer, giving UCLA a primary down. The Bruins would rating a landing on the drive and lead 28-18.
Utah can’t have that mistake when the protection was going to get off the sphere.
“The cease we did have (within the second half), we acquired roughing the passer, in order that was actually our probability to get proper again in it and take the lead. We made that mistake and didn’t appear to recuperate from that. We couldn’t get a cease the remainder of the best way,” Whittingham stated.
Kickoff protection and particular groups
Utah’s particular group has been shaky at instances this season, particularly on kickoff protection.
The Utes allowed 103 yards on kickoff returns as UCLA returner Kazmeir Allen had kick returns of 43, 33 and 27 yards.
These returns arrange a brief subject for the Bruins, who scored touchdowns after two of his returns.
Jordan Noyes was 1-for-2 on subject purpose makes an attempt, lacking a 43-yarder to finish the primary half. Noyes additionally wasn’t in a position to kick the ball out of the top zone, giving UCLA alternatives to return the ball.