UCLA Bruins defensive coordinator Ikaika Malloe has seen his defense get shredded in back-to-back games. The most recent disappointment came against the UNLV Rebels last Saturday. The Bruins couldn’t quite complete a 23-point comeback and lost 30-23.
On Tuesday, Malloe spoke with the media about how he hopes to see a similar turnaround he and the Bruins’ defense found after a slow start last year.
“I feel like we’re finding the pieces to put in better ways,” Malloe said on Tuesday. “The first half and the second half was obviously different last game so we got to continue from the second half and actually start faster.”
Better starts are needed for the UCLA defense, allowing 20-point deficits in first halves is a recipe for disaster. UCLA has struggled to get off the field on third and fourth downs but in Saturday’s loss, the Bruins’ defense also lacked discipline, extending Rebels’ drives with costly mistakes.
“We are finding the right pieces, in terms of how we can protect people, but ultimately it came down to execution. We just got to execute,” Malloe said. “Much like last year, we fell into a very specific type of defense again. Where certain guys can only do certain things. So as you look forward to this week, that’s what you’re actually going to see, a little bit more changes so we can protect some guys and probably put them in better positions to make plays.”
It sounds like the Bruins’ defense is still evolving but Malloe, head coach DeShaun Foster and the entire UCLA Bruins’ program needs better results from their defense.
This article originally appeared on UCLA Wire: UCLA defensive coordinator Ikaika Malloe expects more changes from Bruins’ defense
Reporting by Dylan McNeill, UCLA Wire / UCLA Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
