Utah front seven ready for UCLA's rushing attack

Stopping Kelley the key to Utah winning

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL/GAME BREAKDOWN

Scouting the rush defense: Utah will enter the contest with the Pac-12’s best rush defense while UCLA will enter with the Pac-12’s best rush offense. This battle will be simple as whoever is most physical will win, and in most cases, the Utes have been the team that’s emerged victorious from these types of battles.

Utah enters the game giving up 13.5 points and 51.5 rushing yards per game in conference matchups, while the Bruins are averaging 37 points and 217.17 rushing yards per game in Pac-12 play.

.@LekiFotu is one of 20 semi finalists for the Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year! pic.twitter.com/oy4oIt91gl

— Utah Football (@Utah_Football) November 13, 2019

“We are doing better defensively in the run game, better than anyone in the country right now, but we have a challenge this week because they are running the ball so well,” Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham said. “But that is something that is very important for us.”

Everything UCLA wants to do on offense when it comes to running the ball, Utah has the perfect counter, so getting creative is a must for UCLA head coach Chip Kelly.

The Bruins are expected to feed workhorse Joshua Kelley, the Pac-12’s leading rusher in conference games at 126.17 yards and nine touchdowns. Not exactly a homerun threat when he touches the ball, Kelley and his offensive line like to wear down opponents throughout the course of the game, and then dominate in the fourth quarter when it matters most.

This strategy has paid off as of late as UCLA has won three in a row, all with Kelley averaging 155.3 yards per game during the win streak.

“He’s got size to him, he’s got good quickness, good vision, but I think the offensive line is starting to get some guys who weren’t very experienced on the o-line with nine games of experience,” Whittingham said. “I think their o-line is functioning better and him starting to, first of all, get more carries. He’s a good back.”

Utah counters with defensive tackle Levi Fotu and defensive end Bradlee Anae, two players up for all-American consideration, and recent Pac-12 player of the week in defensive tackle John Penisini.

With Fotu and Pensini clogging up the middle of the trench, Anae typically faces one-on-one coverage on the outside and lives in the backfield. Combined, these three make life brutal for opposing running backs and offensive linemen.

“We want to be 1-0 at the end of the week every week. That’s all we’re focused on,” he said. “If you ask any of the guys if they care about it, they’ll say no. They’ll say the same thing.”

Oct 26, 2019; Pasadena, CA, USA; UCLA Bruins quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson (1) runs while Arizona State Sun Devils linebacker Merlin Robertson (8) defends during the first half at Rose Bowl. Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports

But according to Whittingham, Kelley isn’t the most dangerous threat running the ball. That honor belongs to UCLA quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson, a sophomore who is really coming into his own in second-year head coach Chip Kelly’s offensive scheme.

“It comes down to the quarterback, just being able to take him out of the game because he’s a killer, especially on his feet,” safety Julian Blackmon said of Thompson-Robinson. “Just knowing that they have that extra runner in that quarterback is really what we have to stop.”

Keeping Thompson-Robinson in the pocket is going to fall on strong safety Terrell Burgess, who likes to play at the line of scrimmage, and linebackers Devin Lloyd (team-high 58 tackles) and Francis Bernard (55 tackles). All three of them possess above-average athleticism at their positions, so keeping Thompson-Robinson contained and forcing him to be a pocket thrower is Utah’s road to success.

Aug 29, 2019; Provo, UT, USA; Utah Utes linebacker Francis Bernard (13) reacts after a tackle against the Brigham Young Cougars at LaVell Edwards Stadium.Jeff Swinger-USA TODAY Sports

“He’s a guy who can really extend the play,” Whittingham said of Thompson-Robinson. “He makes things happen, he’s dynamic and he’s making good decisions throwing the ball. They are a run first team. … All good spread offenses are run first teams. Almost always. That’s just how it is.”