Texas @ UCLA – Preview

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Technical glitches kept me from getting this to you Saturday.  For those wanting to see  what I picked, here it is:

Pasadena, CA. – The metaphorical nuclear meltdown that imploded the 2010 Texas Longhorn football season, sent the entire program into free falling tailspin was, as much as anything, a product of attitude, a sense of entitlement, smugness, overconfidence and complacency – mostly homegrown, this crop, mostly self-administered too. Still, someone had to step in and finally depress the plunger, pull that trigger, send the poisonous attitude deep into the collective Longhorn bloodstream, fire the bullet deep, deep into the heart of an over proud Texas program. That someone was UCLA, and the scene of the crime was Austin, Texas.

Flash forward to 2011. The Longhorns, at 2-0, are a different team from the one that lined up across the Bruins last season – in makeup, in attitude. An overhauled coaching staff, a lineup that has witnessed 18 true freshmen getting significant playing time – heck, one might reasonably conclude that the taint of last year’s debacle might not be so keenly felt, so personally experienced, so much has changed on the 40 Acres. That would be wrong, of course. Witness the steely eyes, the clenched set of the jaw, the terseness with the press – Head Coach Mack Brown feels every bump and bruise, every stinging criticism of last season, and what he feels, his team feels too. These Longhorns are nothing if not a reflection of their leader. And their leader is a man determined. Expect some retribution to be dealt out in the Rose Bowl this afternoon. Expect a young, but improved, focused and hungry Longhorn squad to take care of business.

UT Offense vs UCLA Defense

A season ago, the Longhorn offense rolled up a mere 85 yards on the ground against a middling Bruin defense; it took them 23 carries to do it. Meanwhile, Garrett Gilbert tossed for 264 yards on 30-45 passing, witone TD and only one INT. Unfortunately, he fumbled twice also. Down 13-3 at halftime, the Longhorns then surrendered a long drive to UCLA in the third quarter, and never got back into the game, losing ultimately by a shocking (at the time) 34-12 count.

Gilbert is now third team, as Case McCoy and David Ash are now a two-headed QB tandem. Both have shown, through two games, a knack for picking up a Longhorn offense that had struggled with Gilbert as starter. Their clutch running, sharp passing, and level-headed leadership, coupled with star-in-the-making Malcolm Brown’s power running (154 yards rushing), have given definition and identity to a Longhorn squad that simply never had one a season ago. Add to this mix, a vastly improved, most definitely meaner o-line that has dominated in the second half this year, and you have an offense that should control UCLA’s defense today, strike quickly via the pass catches of freshman sensation Jaxon Shipley, sophomore wideout Mike Davis, or a long return by the explosive, world-class track star, D.J. Monroe. In between the bombs away aerial show, look for the o-line and RB Brown to grind the Bruin defense into submission. Do not be surprised if today’s game marks the official coming out party for Brown, who might get the ball as many as 25 times today, and runs over the 150 yard mark.

UT Defense vs UCLA Offense

A year ago, the Bruins offense had rung up a mere 77 yards of offense against a stiff Texas defense by halftime, yet still led 13-3. Taking command in the 3rd quarter, UCLA finished with 291 total yards, of which 264 came on the ground, and 119 alone, came from Johnathan Franklin. Passing? Who needed it? The Bruins attempted only nine passes last year against the ‘Horns. The Bruins of 2011 rank 15th nationally in rushing, averaging a healthy 252 yards per game on the ground, while the passing game is pitching in a not inconsiderable 233.5 yards per game. Balance would seem to be the order for the powder blue and gold. And they will need it!

This Longhorn defense has yielded but a single touchdown through the first two games, has, like its offensive brethren, taken over the game after the first half ended. Look for the ‘Horns defense to bend early, then come out and throttle the Bruin attack in what should be a long, burnt orange-dominated second half. The defensive line, today, sees the re-emergence of lineman Alex Okafor and Jackson Jeffcoat, both of whom have been a bit “quiet” thus far. The ongoing development of Tackle Ashton Dorsey, superior linebacking play, and the arrival of a new star, Quandre Diggs at the corner, will guarantee that the Bruins offense will have no choice but to take chances… and make mistakes – all leading to a strong outing from defensive coordinator Manny Diaz’s improving, already hairy-chested, stout squad.

Predicted Score

Too much power running from Malcolm Brown, paired with the lightning strike capabilities of Shipley and Monroe will be more than the Bruins can handle. This is not last year’s Texas team, by any stretch, and these Longhorns come in seeking a bit of redemption. I see a defensive TD from Diaz’s boys, and perhaps even a contribution from the special teams – blocked kick, a return to the house. The debacle of 2010 started with the UCLA Bruins. Today, it ends with the UCLA Bruins. Look for a solid game from a young Texas squad that learned it can win last week, and now comes in expecting to win this week. What a difference a year makes.

Texas 34 UCLA 16 (Point spread: Texas -3.5)


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