UCLA defense faces tough challenge in slowing down diverse USC offense

USC’s offense will be simultaneously familiar and completely new to UCLA’s defense this Saturday.

The Bruins have played against teams with similar spread offenses. They’ve faced teams that run a pro-style offense.

But playing against an offense that fuses the two together is foreign to UCLA.

“(USC is) extremely diverse. Kinda the best of the pro-style stuff that we’ve seen, the best of the spread stuff that we’ve seen,” said defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich. “We haven’t seen (a hybrid offense like USC’s). I don’t know if it exists anywhere else.”

At the center of the Trojans’ offense making everything tick is running back Javorius “Buck” Allen. Leading the Pac-12 in rushing with 1,184 yards, Allen has had just two games all season in which he hasn’t eclipsed 100 yards rushing.

The 6-foot-1-inch, 220-pound running back brings a combination of size, power, speed and agility unparalleled in the conference. The Bruins have some experience against him, having faced Allen last year but they struggled to limit him, as Allen ran for 123 yards and a touchdown against UCLA.

“Last year, he broke two of my tackles, and I take that very seriously because I don’t like to get tackles broken,” said redshirt senior inside linebacker Eric Kendricks. “But he’s a great running back and he runs hard and he runs with his legs and that’s always hard when you’re trying to tackle him.”

Sophomore outside linebacker Myles Jack said the key to stopping Allen is to try to gang tackle him, as simple arm tackles aren’t enough to bring him down.

Beyond limiting rushing yards, stopping Allen will be key for the Bruins in slowing down the Trojans’ passing game. Ulbrich said that USC’s tendency to run play action means unless UCLA can slow down the run, its pass rush won’t be as effective.

With USC’s quarterback Cody Kessler playing as well as he has this year, getting pressure on him will be critical. Kessler has passed for 2,919 yards and 29 touchdowns while throwing just three interceptions this year.

Ulbrich noted Kessler’s ability to read opposing defenses and quickly progress through his reads. While many college quarterbacks lock in on just their first option, Kessler often cycles through his receivers and finds his third option, Ulbrich said.

Although Ulbrich said USC’s third receiver option is much more talented than most teams’ third targets, the Bruins would likely be pleased to see the ball thrown anywhere but at the Trojans’ first option.

Wide receiver Nelson Agholor has emerged as one of the Pac-12’s – and the nation’s – best receivers, following in a long line of elite Trojan wideouts.

“Explosive, fast, fast, fast,” said junior cornerback Ishmael Adams, listing off Agholor’s traits. “He’s elusive, he’s a good player. Kinda like (former USC wide receiver) Marqise Lee,you can put him in that category.”

Agholor seems to have gotten better as the season has progressed. After failing to cross 100 receiving yards in his first six games and catching just four touchdowns during that stretch, Agholor has surpassed 100 yards in each of his last four games and scored six touchdowns. He crossed the 200-yard mark in his last two games as well.

For a Bruin defense that has also stepped up its play in recent weeks, UCLA may be faced with their toughest offensive opponent since Oregon.

“I’m excited for our defense to accept this challenge,” Ulbrich said. “Plus (they have) a lot of talented players behind the scheme. It’s gonna be a fun one.”