UCLA opened the season with a healthy spread of targets, but there are still a few Bruins who need a bigger slice of the offense in Week Two.
The first place to look is at tight end. UCLA used both Phifer and Loftin for nearly the same workload against Cal - Phifer played 34 snaps and Loftin 32 - yet neither was involved as a receiver.
That leaves room for Nico Iamaleava to lean on them more than he did in Week One, especially if UCLA wants two tight ends who can do more than just handle blocking duties. With the Bruins expected to lean on the run game this season, getting both tight ends involved as pass-catchers could make the offense harder to key on.
Brian Rowe Jr. also feels like a player whose role should grow. He looked dangerous early against Cal, including a 20-yard rush, and seemed poised to be a major factor in the offense before going quiet after halftime. Once the run game took over in the second half, Rowe’s touches dried up, but his first-half impact was enough to suggest UCLA should keep finding ways to get him the ball.
On the other side of the ball, Martin’s limited usage stood out. He is viewed as a leader in the secondary, yet he was on the field for just 11 snaps all night.
Malik Hartford and Tao Johnson got the start, and Martin apparently did not even see action at nickel, despite speculation that he might line up there. That makes his Week One role a real mystery, and it will be worth watching how much more he plays when UCLA hosts San Diego State in the home opener.
For the Bruins, the opener showed plenty of useful depth and a rotation that helped deliver a strong start in a difficult road setting. The next question is simple: which of those pieces will Chesney trust more in Week Two?
In Other News...
UCLA Has One Lingering Injury Concern Entering San Diego State
UCLA came out of its Week One win over Cal with a few bumps and bruises, but the overall injury picture looks manageable as the Bruins turn their attention to San Diego State. Starting quarterback Iamaleava was hurt during the game, though postgame updates indicated he has been cleared to keep going, and receiver Mizell is also set to be back for the next matchup.
The one situation the Bruins are still watching closely is Tao Johnson, whose recovery remains a little murkier as the staff monitors how he responds in the coming days. If Johnson is unable to go, TaShawn James is the next man up, giving UCLA a ready fallback even as the final call on Johnson hangs over the lead-up to kickoff. [Read more 🡒]
UCLA Faces A Run Defense Test Bruins Fans Can't Ignore
UCLA got the season off to a clean start by beating Cal, but the next test looks a lot more grounded. San Diego State comes to Week Two with an offense built around the run, and that means the Bruins defense will have to be sharper at the point of attack if it wants to keep building early momentum under coach Bob Chesney.
The matchup is especially tricky because the Aztecs have leaned hard into the ground game to open the year, making this the kind of assignment that can expose any missed fits or weak tackling. For UCLA, the task is less about chasing splash plays and more about proving it can control a physical opponent for four quarters, the sort of challenge Bruins fans will be watching closely. [Read more 🡒]
UCLA Fans Will Be Watching One Thing In Chesneys Home Debut
Bob Chesneys home debut at UCLA comes with the usual first-game curiosity that follows a new coach, but there is already one obvious thing Bruins fans will be tracking when San Diego State arrives. Quarterback Nico Iamaleava, who was injured during the Week 1 game, is expected to be available, and that matters because UCLAs offense showed plenty of life on the ground in the opener and now gets a chance to build on it in front of a home crowd.
San Diego State brings a defense under new coordinator Demetrius Sumler, which adds another layer to a matchup that already feels like an early read on where this Bruins team is headed in the Big Ten era. If UCLA can keep its run game rolling and stay steady at quarterback, Chesneys first home game could tell a lot about how quickly this group is settling in. [Read more 🡒]