In a game where the UCLA Bruins defense made several key stops and even produced a touchdown, the offensive struggles were too much to overcome in the Bruins’ 34-13 loss to Oregon at the Rose Bowl.
The defeat left head coach DeShaun Foster reflecting on missed opportunities, particularly on the offensive side of the ball.
UCLA Bruins Defense Shows Heart In Loss To Oregon
Addison’s Spark Before Halftime
UCLA’s defensive back Bryan Addison provided the Bruins’ lone touchdown of the game with a huge play just before halftime. Addison intercepted a pass from Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel and returned it 96 yards for a touchdown, cutting into the Ducks’ lead and giving UCLA a much-needed boost going into the locker room.
“It gives us a lot of momentum going into the half,” said linebacker Carson Schwesinger, one of the Bruins’ defensive leaders. “But we’ve got to be able to keep it as a defense for the rest of that second half and be able to get stops”.
Despite the defense’s efforts, Oregon’s offense regained control in the second half, and UCLA’s inability to string together successful offensive drives prevented them from closing the gap.
Defensive Effort In Vain
Foster praised the resilience of his defense, particularly when facing an explosive Oregon offense. “The defense played well, but we did not do enough offensively to help them out,” Foster said. “With a high-powered offense like that, they’re going to be able to make some plays. I’m just glad that my guys on defense kept fighting. They are some resilient dudes”.
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Schwesinger, who finished as UCLA’s leading tackler with 12 total tackles, highlighted the defensive unit’s approach in the second half. “We came out in that third quarter and were doing what we wanted to do,” Schwesinger said. “Our goal every quarter is to come out and play with discipline, respect, and enthusiasm, and we were able to do that for one quarter, but we’ve got to string it together for all four”.
Offensive Line Struggles
While the defense kept the UCLA Bruins within striking distance, the offense struggled to gain traction, largely due to poor play along the offensive line. Oregon’s defense was in the backfield for much of the game, limiting UCLA to just 47 rushing yards and forcing quarterback Ethan Garbers into uncomfortable situations.
“We need to keep him up, and we failed at that. Miserably,” said offensive lineman Josh Carlin, speaking about the offensive line’s inability to protect Garbers. “As a leader of the offensive line, we need to figure this out. We need to take more pride and not let him get touched so he can operate this offense”.
Carlin emphasized the need for improvement in technique, something the Bruins worked on in practice with offensive line coach Juan Castillo, but execution in games has been lacking.
“I think Coach Castillo is doing the best with the guys that he has and the technique he’s giving us,” Carlin said. “But we just need to continue to get better and figure out how to protect Garbs”.
Ethan Garbers Battles Through Pressure
Despite the pressure he faced throughout the game, Garbers stayed in, fighting to help the UCLA Bruins claw back. Foster acknowledged Garbers’ toughness, saying, “Well, if you know Ethan, you know he was fighting to stay out there. When you have a player who is begging to stay out there and wants to keep playing, you let him play”.
Garbers threw two interceptions and struggled to find time in the pocket as Oregon’s defense disrupted the Bruins’ offensive rhythm. Through four games this season, Garbers has thrown six interceptions compared to just three touchdowns, a trend that Foster is aware needs correcting.
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“The guys up front have to protect him and keep him from getting hit,” Foster said. “It’s hard to play quarterback when you are not upright. He’s a tough kid, but we’ve got to do better”.
Looking Ahead
Despite the loss, Foster remains optimistic about the team’s ability to improve as they prepare for a tough matchup against Penn State next week.
“We just need to go to Penn State and continue to build on this. We will learn from these losses. I know I see it, I know that you all see it, but some of you choose not to. They’re improving, and we are just going to continue to improve and keep working hard”.
With key issues to address on the offensive line and in the passing game, the UCLA Bruins must find a way to capitalize on their defensive effort and turn the corner if they hope to be competitive in the Big Ten.