Will UCLA's defense be able to step up against Maryland in Week 4?
· Yahoo Sports
It’s only Week 4 and there’s already a lot on the line for the UCLA Bruins. Not only will UCLA have a chance to move to 4-0 ahead of their bye week, Saturday’s game against Maryland will show us what the Bruin defense is really made of.
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UCLA’s defense has gotten by thanks to creating turnovers. Through three games, the Bruins have forced seven turnovers. Even with the turnovers, UCLA has still allowed 24.0 points-per-game, which is the third-highest total in the Big Ten Conference.
In defense of Colin Hitschler’s unit, UCLA had two tough nonconference opponents to begin the season before facing a capable Purdue offense. The Bruin defense looked terrific against San Diego State but was torn to pieces through the air against Cal and Purdue.
If the turnovers keep coming for the UCLA defense, then the unit should be just fine in Westwood, but if those turnovers slow down? Well it could force Nico Iamaleava and the offense to compete in shootouts, where things might not end well for an offense that’s throwing for only 203.7 yards per game.
Maryland has averaged 330 yards through the air per game but the Terrapins have faced just one Power Four Conference opponent so far this season. If Maryland QB Malik Washington can move the ball through the air against the UCLA secondary, it’ll be a tall ask for Iamaleava to compete, as the Bruins are already down several receivers for Saturday’s game.
Perhaps Mother Nature will be on UCLA’s side, with rain expected in College Park, Maryland for Saturday’s game. A wet playing field could help the Bruins slow down the Terrapins’ passing attack while placing more of an emphasis on the ground game, where UCLA has been elite so far this season, topping the Big Ten with 286.7 rushing yards per game.
This article originally appeared on UCLA Wire: Will UCLA's defense be able to step up against Maryland in Week 4?