UCLA Football: Insider Objects To Chip Kelly's Second-Half Coaching Against Utes
Failure to launch on offense ultimately doomed UCLA to a conference loss against the Utah Utes last weekend.
Chip Kelly's coaching decisions reign chief among these shortcomings from Week 4's loss in what one writer described as a disappointing showing.
At the end of the third quarter, UCLA had a chance to score. But a poor play call on the coaching side resulted in the third rushing play in a row, an option on which Moore kept the ball that would prove to be his team’s demise. Within just 10 yards of the goal line, the wrong play separated UCLA from chopping the lead from 14 to seven and gave the ball back to Utah. The defense came to the Bruins’ rescue just moments later, not allowing the Utes to get down the field, but it didn’t matter. The third quarter was already over and UCLA’s comeback chances were significantly decreased. In order for UCLA’s offense to score consistently, it must put itself in positions to succeed, and repeatedly running similar unsuccessful plays will not accomplish that goal. Placing the ball in the hands of a pocket-passing quarterback to run into the end zone against a strongly run defense like Utah was a recipe for disaster.
Kelly surely must've thought that he was back at Oregon with Marcus Mariota at the controls for his offense.
Even as his defense only gave up one touchdown of their own, dropped passes, lack of blocking and poor execution ultimately ended the Bruins' chances at an undefeated month of September.
On bye before their next game to open October, the mental reset will surely help QB Dante Moore recompose himself after his worst game of the year thus far.
Whether or not Kelly follows suit remains to be seen after many are now questioning just how good of a leader he is for this transitional season at the university.
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