UCLA’s trip to Maryland in Week 4 brings a few pressure points that could swing the game in a hurry.
The biggest one might be Maryland receiver Chris Durr Jr. Durr is coming off back-to-back 100-yard games, and he has the kind of speed that can stress a secondary if he gets loose early.
If he manages to do what Purdue’s Xavier Townsend did to UCLA’s defense last week, the Bruins could be in trouble. Scooter Jackson is expected to handle most of the coverage work, with Rodrick Pleasant also likely involved.
And if Durr starts piling up catches in the first half, Bob Chesney’s halftime adjustments will become a major part of the story.
UCLA’s defense has made a habit of taking the football away, and that edge will be tested against Maryland quarterback Malik Washington. Sammy Omosigho has already forced four fumbles, while the rest of the Bruins defense has added four interceptions.
Washington, though, has been clean all season. He has thrown six touchdown passes and no interceptions, and UCLA has picked off every quarterback it has faced so far.
That clash between turnover-hungry defense and a mistake-free quarterback could end up tilting the game.
The other big concern for UCLA is pass protection. Maryland enters Week 4 leading the Big Ten with 11 sacks, and Nico Iamaleava has already absorbed plenty of hits this season, some of which have forced him out of games at times.
UCLA will need him upright if it wants to win on the road. Iamaleava can move enough to escape trouble, but if Maryland gets into the backfield, the Bruins need him getting the ball out quickly.
There’s plenty in the way of a 4-0 start for UCLA, but the Bruins have the talent and coaching to get it done and leave College Park with their second road win of the season.
In Other News...
UCLAs Fast Start Suddenly Feels Bigger After This Road Statement
What looked like a solid early-season win turned into something more meaningful on the road, where UCLA rolled past Maryland 54-3 and delivered its largest road conference victory since 1955. Under Bob Chesney, the Bruins leaned into a run-heavy approach that kept Maryland on its heels, using direct snaps to create a steady stream of chunk plays and scoring chances.
Wayne Knight, Anthony Woods and Jaivian Thomas all found the end zone on those direct-snap looks, while the defense kept tightening the screws. UCLA intercepted Marylands quarterback four times, a kind of turnover pressure that can change the feel of a game and, just as important for the Bruins, start to change the conversation around how real this fast start might be. [Read more 🡒]
Nico Iamaleava Faces A Big UCLA Test With Undefeated Start At Stake
Leland Smiths recent surge gives UCLA another reason to feel better about the offense heading into its meeting with Maryland, but the bigger spotlight still falls on Nico Iamaleava. The Bruins have leaned on the idea that their quarterback can settle in quickly and keep the unit moving, and this matchup offers a useful barometer against a Terrapins defense with some issues in the secondary.
Marylands passing game brings its own concern, with Chris Durr Jr. looming as the kind of receiver UCLA cannot afford to lose track of for long stretches. The Bruins will need their defense to hold up while Iamaleava works through another important test, because an undefeated start is still intact and a bye week is waiting right after a game that could say plenty about where this team is headed. [Read more 🡒]
UCLAs Ground Game Is Taking Over At Maryland
UCLAs trip to SECU Stadium has turned into a showcase for the run game, with the Bruins finding the end zone repeatedly in the second quarter against Maryland. Wayne Knight, Anthony Woods and Jaivian Thomas each powered in rushing touchdowns as UCLA started to tilt the game its way, while Maryland settled for a field goal in the period.
For a Bruins offense looking to establish rhythm in its fourth game of the season, the balance has come from a ground attack that has kept the pressure on the Terrapins. UCLA is leading at the time of the report, and the way the second quarter unfolded suggested the visitors were in control of the matchup in College Park. [Read more 🡒]