Report Card: UCLA vs. Colorado

Quarterbacks: C+

By at least trying to bring back the run game Thursday, the Bruins took some pressure off of Mike Fafaul, only asking him to drop back 34 times. He finished 15-for-29 with a touchdown and an interception in what was another respectable performance for the redshirt senior.

Fafaul’s 39-yard touchdown to redshirt junior wide receiver Darren Andrews in the first quarter was his only completion over 20 yards throughout the whole game, but it’s hard to hold that against Fafaul.

Colorado’s secondary is formidable, and the Buffaloes gave up very few open looks throughout the night.

Rather than forcing the ball into tight windows against talented defensive backs, Fafaul often tried to buy time by rolling out of the pocket and waiting for a receiver to find an opening. When that didn’t happen, Fafaul dutifully threw the ball away.

If this were sophomore quarterback Josh Rosen, perhaps fans could be disappointed that he didn’t produce more big plays.

Rosen, with his NFL-level arm strength, would be more justified in throwing into some of the small windows presented by the Buffaloes, but Fafaul just doesn’t have the same arm talent.

Entering the game, I surmised that Fafaul would have trouble keeping the ball away from the Colorado defense, so the fact that Fafaul only turned the ball over once is a major positive.

Running backs: D+

Sophomore Soso Jamabo got the start and nearly all of the carries Thursday, and he ran the way he generally has this year, looking slippery but not exactly decisive and grueling enough to pound out yards consistently.

Jamabo generated 66 yards on 23 rushes, just under three yards per carry.

This play is a pretty decent microcosm of the UCLA rushing attack from Thursday night. Jamabo is met by a defender right at the line, then after bouncing away from him, tries to snake his way laterally for a big play only to end up being brought down right near the line.

Jamabo was also responsible for one of the sacks on Fafaul, when he whiffed horribly in pass protection on a key third down late in the fourth quarter.

Wide receivers and tight ends: D

Fafaul’s difficulties were largely a result of a receiving corps that was overmatched against the excellent Colorado secondary.

Nobody was really able to consistently get open, though Andrews did continue his fairly reliable play, hauling in another six catches for 88 yards and the 39-yard touchdown from Fafaul.

Most worryingly, the receivers dropped four of their 28 targets, according to Pro Football Focus, including this crucial drop in the end zone from redshirt junior wideout Eldridge Massington.

Offensive line: D

The line held up decently in pass protection, keeping Fafaul clean on over 80 percent of his dropbacks, but the struggles in the run game continued.

Right from the start, it was clear the Bruins were going to have trouble paving holes for Jamabo. Here, he is taken down by an unblocked weakside defender, largely because the left side of the line couldn’t create a proper running lane for him to explode into up the middle.

By the second half, the Bruins mostly gave up running the ball. Though some of the blame can be pinned on Jamabo, plenty should be heaped on the line and its continued inability to open holes.

Defensive line: B+

Senior defensive end Takkarist McKinley didn’t have his best day in the run game, but he continued to be ridiculously dominant as a pass rusher, picking up two sacks and an absurd eight hurries on 30 total puss-rush snaps.

On one of his sacks, he jarred the ball loose and after it fell into senior linebacker Jayon Brown’s arms, McKinley turned on the jets and unleashed a great block while Brown returned the ball.

What’s been so impressive about McKinley’s development throughout his time at UCLA is the way the former standout sprinter has evolved beyond being purely a speed rusher, displaying an excellent dose of power as well. Watch him embarrass Colorado right tackle Sam Kronshage with a bull-rush.

The rest of the defensive line looked strong as well, an encouraging sign considering the difficulties last time out against Utah.

Redshirt senior tackle Eli Ankou seems to be getting more comfortable playing with the brace he started wearing against Arizona State. He was in the backfield repeatedly on Thursday.

Linebackers: A-

Brown has been a force in the run game all year long, but his play was particularly strong Thursday. According to Pro Football Focus, Brown produced a stop on 16.7 percent of the Buffaloes’ run snaps.

He’s played his way to NFL prospect territory by making plays like this, getting downhill and knifing his way through gaps to take down ballcarriers at the line.

Defensive backs: A

Nearly all of the success the Colorado passing game achieved was through the screen game, as the Bruin secondary locked down a decently skilled group of Buffalo wideouts.

No defensive back allowed more than 40 yards in coverage, according to Pro Football Focus, and all told, Colorado produced less than 50 yards after the catch.

One of the more exciting players for the Bruins this season has been redshirt sophomore Adarius Pickett, who has cemented his role in the secondary with a physical, ball-hawking style that he brings to both the safety and nickel positions.

This play ends positively for Colorado, as the Buffaloes get nine yards, but Pickett keeps it from being a bigger play by reading quarterback Sefo Liufau’s eyes and breaking off his coverage in time to track down the ball.

Special teams: F

As bad as the offense looked, the defense played well enough to keep UCLA in the game. The difference, as Colorado coach Mike MacIntyre pointed out, came on special teams, where the Buffaloes produced a heavy advantage over the Bruins.

Second-half punt returns of 42 and 68 yards – the former setting up a field goal, and the latter being returned for a touchdown – were significant plays for Colorado, and UCLA compounded the issue by missing three of its four field goals.