Know Your Opponent: UCLA Football vs. UNLV Rebels

Sep 3, 2016; College Station, TX, USA; UCLA Bruins head coach Jim Mora urges a call against the Texas A&M Aggies during overtime at Kyle Field. Texas A&M won in overtime 31-24. Mandatory Credit: Ray Carlin-USA TODAY Sports

After a heartbreaking loss in College Station, the UCLA Football team returns home to face an emerging UNLV Rebels squad that looks to improve on three wins from last season.

Last year, the UCLA Football team and their fans ventured into the Nevada desert for a party, of sorts, in one of the more entertaining games on their 2015 schedule.

It was definitely entertaining for the Bruin fans as UCLA came away from Las Vegas with a 37-3 victory. The storyline is different this season.

The UCLA Football team, unlike last year, is 0-1 going into their game against UNLV. Though it should be an exuberant affair returning to the Rose Bowl, there is some rigidity with this return home.

The UCLA Football team and their fans will be going into this game looking for a win (or demanding it, based on who you talk to). The Bruins will be looking to right the wrongs of the previous week’s foleys and get back on track to winning.

Unfortunately, there is going to be a tenacious squad from UNLV that is looking to hold off a victory in the Bruin’s home opener.

Next: UNLV Offense

Sep 1, 2016; Las Vegas, NV, USA; UNLV Rebels defensive back Torry McTyer (4) reacts after scoring a touchdown off an interception against the Jackson State Tigers during the third quarter at Sam Boyd Stadium. UNLV Rebels won 63-13. The Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports

UNLV Offense

Last year UNLV made several improvements under first year coach Tony Sanchez. Despite only winning three games, the Rebels made a lot of progress in different facets of their game.

Despite a 4th place finish in the West Division of the Mountain West, the Rebels had the 4th best total offense and were the 4th best passing team in the conference.

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They continued that trend in their first game of the 2016 season. The Rebels played an FCS team, but it was still quite impressive as they put up 503 yards on Jackson State in a 63-13 beating. On top of that they had a pretty balanced attack with 280 yards on the ground and 223 yards through the air.

UNLV distributed the ball evenly with their three backs Charles Williams, Lexington Thomas and Xzaviar Campbell. Williams had a team-high 12 carries for 96 yards, 1 TD and averaged 8.0 yards per carry. Thomas had 68 yards on 11 carries with 2 touchdowns. Campbell added 10 more carries for 52 yards. The passing game also looks competitive for the Rebels in 2016.

UNLV’s quarterback Johnny Stanton, who is a transfer from Nebraska via junior college, had a very impressive first outing with the Rebels. He threw for 217 yards on 10-for-12 passes and was able to connect three times with wide receiver Devonte Boyd for three touchdowns.

Boyd himself only caught 4 passes that added up to 135 yards (an average of 33.8 yards per catch).

So how does that stack up against UCLA?

The Bruins had a few hiccups on defense against the Aggies, but for the most part they should be able to contain UNLV. They will have to put more coverage on Boyd and limit the passing game. If this forces UNLV to run, that would give the Bruins the advantage, though that does not guarantee a win.

UNLV Defense

The Rebels run a 4-3 base defense. Last season they improved their defense in both rushing and passing yards allowed, though they were still in the bottom half of the Mountain West in passing, rushing and scoring defense.

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Though they allowed 77 less yards per game than in 2014, they did not have the most potent pass rush as they only had nine sacks, the lowest in the FBS.

But how will they do this year? So far so good as the Rebels did a fine job of limiting Jackson State to 252 total yards.

UNLV held up Jackson State’s ground game, only allowing 108 rushing yards. The Rebels also did a fantastic job of protecting the sky as they only gave up 144 passing yards.

The Rebels have a couple of experienced defensive linemen in Jeremiah Valoaga and Mike Hughes who are still growing into their positions but will be key factors for the Rebel defense. They will be aided by LB Tau Lotulelei and S Troy Hawthorne who are decent tacklers in the open field.

That is all well and good, but UNLV has a different team to plan for that is not  Jackson State. What UNLV has to be worried about is the Bruin’s getting their act together. Josh Rosen and his crew will be motivated to play better than they did against Texas A&M and unfortunately for the Rebels, they will be the first team to take the brunt of that frustration on Saturday.

Prediction

With the Bruins retuning to the Rose Bowl for their first game of the season after a loss, the energy should be in UCLA’s favor.

UCLA was able to get their offense together late in the fourth quarter against Texas A&M and that is what we should see starting the game on Saturday. The Bruins have the ability to move down the field with ease and should be able to do that all game long, especially since UNLV will not have the pass rush attack of Texas A&M’s front line.

As for UCLA’s defense, they will be tested against a potent Rebel offense, which could exploit a few of the Bruins flaws throughout the game, but it will be nothing like the Aggies.

The Bruins will focus on limiting Boyd and the passing game, and it is possible they shut them down all together. UCLA cruises to an easy victory over the Rebels.

UNLV 7 – UCLA 42

Go Bruins!

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