There was a time, after Nico Iamaleava transferred from Tennessee to UCLA football in the spring, where the USC-UCLA rivalry game looked like it could be an epic offensive spectacle.
Those thoughts were temporarily revived when a new-look Bruins offense under interim offensive coordinator Jerry Neuheisel won three games in a row against Penn State, Michigan State and Maryland.
But now, the Bruins have lost 4 games in a row again and haven’t scored more than 21 points in any of those losses. Nico Iamaleava has been in and out of the lineup, and even when he’s in, the Bruins offense looks uninspired.
But that doesn’t mean USC can skip the scouting report this week. Far from it; the last thing the Trojans want to do is underestimate their opponent in a rivalry game, especially in the aftermath of a big loss like USC’s Oregon defeat this past weekend.
So what are the Bruins’ strengths and weaknesses? Let’s break them down, and what could be a good game plan for USC.
Nico Iamaleava injury update
Nico Iamaleava has been dealing with injuries ever since UCLA’s game vs Nebraska back on November 8.
He exited that contest with a concussion, and then missed UCLA’s subsequent game vs Ohio State. He returned to the lineup for the Bruins’ most recent game against Washington, then exited the game against the Huskies again with neck spasms.
UCLA interim head coach Tim Skipper said this week that Iamaleava is “day to day”, meaning his status is in doubt for the rivalry game but he certainly could return to the lineup.
If Iamaleava is in the lineup
Nico Iamaleava is clearly UCLA’s best offensive player. Which isn’t saying much considering how little success UCLA has had this year and that Iamaleava has thrown for over 200 yards only twice this season, but it’s still important.
Iamaleava is a true dual threat. He leads the Bruins in both passing and rushing yards this season. He’s lead UCLA in both categories in 5 different games, and is the only Bruin to record 100+ yards rushing in a game this year.
If Iamaleava plays, the USC gameplan will center around limiting his effectiveness.
If Iamaleava is out
UCLA’s backup quarterback is Luke Duncan. Duncan profiles as a more prototypical pocket passer. He stands at 6’6” and stood out in high school for his accuracy and ability to withstand defensive pressure.
Duncan has played clean football when he’s had to step in for Iamaleava, throwing for 235 yards and 2 touchdowns with no interceptions. But the UCLA staff clearly doesn’t trust him to run a very complex offense, which is why his impact on the scoreboard has been limited.
UCLA’s rushing attack
At this point in the season, everyone in UCLA’s running back room is getting touches, and none of them are doing much with them.
It doesn’t matter who is back there, UCLA’s offensive line doesn’t do a very good job at opening up running lanes for them.
Jalen Berger, Jaivian Thomas, Anthony Woods and Anthony Frias II could all see touches in this game. None of them have over 300 rushing yards on the season.
Frias II is the most dangerous because he averages over 8 yards a carry, but UCLA gives him the ball the least out of that group.
UCLA’s passing attack
Much like their rushing attack, UCLA’s passing attack doesn’t have a true go-to receiver. Kwazi Gilmer has the most receiving yards for the Bruin offense, but he doesn’t have a game over 100 yards this season.
Rico Flores Jr has been UCLA’s leading pass catcher in 3 of the Bruins’ last 4 games. But expect the Bruins to share the wealth. They are likely trying to explore what each player has to put them in the best position to succeed next season.
How does USC approach the Bruins?
With USC’s chances at the College Football Playoff squashed, the Trojans can serve to learn something from the Bruins in this game: it’s time to see what your younger players have for next season.
It’s also senior day, so USC shouldn’t play younger players at the cost of giving the seniors a proper sendoff. But given that the Bruins don’t have many stars to worry about, USC should tap into its roster depth as much as it can, especially if the Trojans are up big early.
USC should approach this game with a measured confidence. The Trojans are a better football team than the Bruins in every phase. So they can afford to play some of their younger players, as long as they make sure those young players are properly prepared and motivated to play in a rivalry game that still does mean a lot to the fanbase.
This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: Football scouting report: UCLA offense, key matchups vs USC defense
Reporting by Ethan Inman, Trojans Wire / Trojans Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
