UCLA’s offense did exactly what it needed to do in Bob Chesney’s first game leading the Bruins, rolling up 277 rushing yards and six touchdowns in a 45-24 win over Cal.
After the game, Pro Football Focus went back through the film and issued its initial grades on UCLA’s performance. PFF, which uses a staff of 300-plus experts to review game tape from around the country, notes that those grades are only the first pass and can still change later in the week after another review.
That’s part of why the numbers should be treated carefully. PFF says its process is built to weigh every snap, not just the moments that stand out on a highlight reel, and it aims to keep preconceived notions out of the equation.
As PFF puts it: "Taking every play into consideration allows for a larger sample size of data to tell the proper story rather than just a highlight reel of plays that we tend to remember, for better or worse," Pro Football Focus defines about its grading process. "We also work to eliminate bias by not caring about the level of player who is being graded, so whether it's the best tackle in the league missing a block or one of the worst, the same grade is given.
Preconceived level of ability has no impact on the grading system. This style has worked well in unlocking undervalued gems through the years, while also not being swayed by player hype if it is undeserved."
In Other News...
Nico Iamaleava Addressed The UCLA Injury Scare Fans Feared
A late scare in UCLAs road win at Cal had Bruins fans holding their breath when Nico Iamaleava went down after a run in the fourth quarter. The quarterback briefly left the game, then came back, and head coach Bob Chesney later said the issue was a calf cramp caused by being cleated, adding that Iamaleava should be fine moving forward.
Iamaleava also spoke about the moment after the game, calling it painful but saying he recovered after a short spell on the sideline. For UCLA, the encouraging part is less about the hit itself than the fact that its quarterback was able to return and help close out a road victory, even if the aftermath still left a few questions about how hell look as the week moves on. [Read more 🡒]
UCLA's Secondary Just Got A Boost And A New Camp Question
Scooter Jackson is back in the mix for UCLA at a time when the Bruins can use all the help they can get in the secondary. After dealing with academic eligibility issues earlier in the year, Jackson has been cleared to play this season, and he was back on the field for fall camp after missing part of spring practice. His versatility gives UCLA some welcome flexibility, since he has experience at multiple spots in the defensive backfield and has already shown he can be a useful piece for this defense.
The timing matters, too, with Week 1 against Cal approaching and Jackson expected to be available. For a unit that always has to be ready to shuffle pieces around, getting a player like that back in the rotation can change how the Bruins approach the early part of the season. The open question now is how quickly he settles back in after the interrupted offseason and what role he ultimately claims once the games start counting. [Read more 🡒]
UCLAs Win Over Cal Created A Bigger Bruins Question Than Expected
UCLAs season opened with a convincing 45-24 win over Cal, the kind of result that usually lets a program exhale for a week. Instead, the Bruins walked away with a more intriguing question than they expected, because the opener showed real progress on both sides of the ball and gave them plenty to build on before they turn to San Diego State.
Mikey Matthews was a steady target with 88 yards on four catches, and the offense looked sharper overall than it had for much of last season. On defense, Sammy Omosigho set the tone at linebacker, while Wayne Knight gave the ground game a burst of life that could make the backfield conversation harder to sort out as the schedule tightens. [Read more 🡒]