New quarterback, same troubles for UCLA offense

PULLMAN, WASH. — When quarterback Mike Fafaul went 3 for 11 for 44 yards and two interceptions against Arizona State last, head coach Jim Mora said the quarterback struggled in part because he didn’t get enough help from his teammates and coaches. As the redshirt senior made his first career start on Saturday against Washington State, his teammates on offense didn’t do him many favors at the beginning of the game either.

With starting quarterback Josh Rosen (shoulder and hip) sidelined, running back Nate Starks was dropped for a 4-yard loss on the first play from scrimmage. Fafaul’s first completed pass was on third-and-12 and picked up a first down, but was called back for a chop block. When he finally got a pass that counted on the stat sheet, receiver Kenneth Walker III made a move around a defender and fumbled it. WSU linebacker Peyton Pelluer recovered at the Cougars’ 47-yard line. Freshman punter Austin Kent had a punt that went minus-1 yard as he kicked it almost vertically.

On his third drive, Fafaul nearly threw two interceptions, but both were dropped by WSU defenders.

It was a new quarterback, but the same problems for the UCLA offense. The offensive line struggled to block while the running backs kept moving backward. The Bruins lost yardage on a rushing attempt at least once during each of their first four drives.

The one redeeming quality about UCLA’s offense was always its golden-armed quarterback. But on Saturday, Rosen wore a headset on the sideline with an oversized blue rain jacket draped over his shoulder pads.

Offensive coordinator Kennedy Polamalu said he designed much of his offense with Rosen in mind, however, it’s become apparent that it takes much more than just a talented quarterback to make a system.

On a wet and rainy night in Pullman, both teams struggled to handle the ball. The defenses shined early, especially UCLA’s. The Bruins forced a turnover on downs on WSU’s first possession and held the Cougars to just a field goal in the red zone on the next drive after Walker’s fumble. When WSU threatened again, Jayon Brown shut down the drive with an interception in the end zone.

Each time the defense made a stop, the offense reciprocated with a punt. The defense finally broke in the second quarter on an 18-play, 91-yard drive that ended with a 1-yard rushing touchdown from Gerard Wicks.

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