Should Justyn Martin Get The Nod At QB For UCLA Bruins Against Minnesota Gophers?

The good news Bruin Nation is that the gauntlet is over. An unprecedented run for the UCLA Bruins of four consecutive games against top 20 competition with a combined 20-1 record has finally, and mercifully, come to an end.

The bad news Bruin Nation is that this 1-4 UCLA squad is hosting a deeply physical, well-coached, innately disciplined 3-3 Minnesota Golden Gophers unit that is coming off one of their program’s biggest victories in recent years, a 24-17 triumph over then #11 USC.

As the UCLA Bruins look to turn the page on the remainder of the schedule that currently has no more ranked competition, here are three primary questions most fans, alumni, and boosters are currently asking. 

Who Should Start At Quarterback For The UCLA Bruins?

NCAA Football: UCLA Bruins at Penn State | QB Justyn Martin
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Justyn Martin did a fabulous job last week against Penn State, considering his first career start was in one of college football’s five most daunting venues.

Going 22/30 for 167 yards and one touchdown doesn’t do his performance justice as he was disarmingly poised, demonstrated multiple arm angles, and displayed a long-stride athleticism that could evolve to elite in two years.

However, for all the good, Martin was also the beneficiary of a revamped offensive line that saw Sam Yoon start at center with Josh Carlin slide to right guard, methodical play calling from Eric Bieniemy that consisted almost exclusively of three-step drops and two-read throws, as well as a transformed pass rush led by Femi Oladejo that enabled the Bruins to stay in the game defensively allowing such play calling to still be relevant in the game’s second half.

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It would be premature to shift to Martin without giving senior signal caller Ethan Garbers those same parameters to be set up for success and witness what he does with that platform.

Expect Garbers to start, but if choppy waters ensue consistently over the course of the game, don’t be surprised if a change is made in live-action or the following week.

DeShaun Foster has said, this is Ethan Garbers’ team. I agree, the only phrase I would add to the end of that sentence is “for now.”  

Will Defensive Front Seven Hold Up?

Minnesota pounded the Trojans into second-half submission last week, led by star running back Darius Taylor to the tune of 25 carries for 144 yards. For all the conversation this season about the lack of Bruin pass rush prior to Oladejo’s inspired performance last week, what’s been just as concerning is the front seven wearing down and wilting away in the second half of physical contests.

Look no further than LSU, where a 17-17 halftime score devolved into a 17-0 second half courtesy of two consecutive run-heavy 90+ yard drives by the Tigers.

Or just last week, as a surprisingly competitive 14-3 first-half score degenerated into a methodical 13-0 second-half for Penn State prior to the Bruins garbage touchdown with less than a minute to play.   

The Golden Gophers aim to repeatedly run the football deep into the second half, with the intent of turning three- and four-yard first-half runs into 15- and 30-yard scampers in the 3rd and 4th quarters at the expense of a worn-out front.

The evidence from the UCLA Bruins 2024 season suggests Minnesota will be able to do so, thus, it will be imperative for Ikaika Malloe to dial up defensive disguise and variety to keep these Bruins fresh for a second-half bar fight.

When Will Bruin Playmakers Get Involved?

NCAA Football: Coastal Carolina at UCLA Bruins
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The underutilization of offensive talent on this UCLA team has been perplexing at best and negligent at worst. J. Michael Sturdivant is arguably the Bruins most prized NFL prospect this side of Jay Toia and he has five catches for 62 yards…on the season.

For all the fuss and emphasis about getting Keegan Jones to return after his flirtation with UCONN in the transfer portal last spring, he has yet to have a game with 10+ touches.

Rico Flores Jr. only has 85 yards receiving combined over the past four games after his breakout 102-yard and one-touchdown performance in the season opener against Hawaii.

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Sure, UCLA has done an admirable job in getting freshman phenom Kwazi Gilmer touches over the past three games, but the above three veteran stalwarts have a repeated track record of being game-breakers. 

The Bruins must get this trio much more involved in the offense with the intention of generating explosive plays to get the Rose Bowl crowd involved and also force Minnesota into a compromised position of needing to repeatedly throw the football to stay in the game. If these three remain bottled up, the Golden Gophers will be able to play the game at their snail-speed pace.

Make no mistake, this is a must-win for the Bruins – an opportunity to right the ship at home and begin a run for a 5-2 finish and bowl eligibility, an absolute imperative for the Foster era to be more than just a social media punchline come 2025.

The new season starts Saturday for the Bruins, and let’s hope this new season has much brighter days ahead. Fours Up.