The Chase With Jace Show: UCLA Preview
Game Preview:
In a rare out of conference matchup, the UCLA Bruins will be playing in Tiger Stadium for the first time in the program’s history to face the LSU Tigers. This is only the second time both of these schools faced each other. As part of a home and home series planned out a couple of years ago, the Tigers will look to get revenge on the Bruins after losing to them in the season opener at the Rose Bowl by a final score of 38-27 back in 2021.
Not only the #16 LSU Tigers (2-1, 1-0) will be looking for revenge, but Brian Kelly’s squad is looking to put on a complete four quarter performance, which is something that has not been shown by the Tigers this season.
Last week, the Tigers found a way to go on the road at a hostile SEC environment in South Carolina and picked up a big win against the Gamecocks, especially after digging themselves out of an early 17-0 deficit to win 36-33 for LSU’s first SEC win of the season.
“I think you have to look at it from this perspective. Their work has been so good and they know they’ve prepared so well, their concern is they haven’t played they want to play. They were still able to overcome so many mistakes against a really good football team. That really built a lot of confidence in the group this week.”
LSU Head Coach Brian Kelly on South Carolina win
The Tigers have a chance to improve and show off that confidence at home against a struggling UCLA Bruins team led by first year head coach DeShaun Foster. The Bruins head into the contest with a 1-1 record, but struggled in a 16-14 win against Hawaii while also getting blown out by Indiana 42-13.
Entering their first year of playing in the Big 10, the Bruins now have to play in one of the most intimidating atmospheres as a 22.5 point underdog to the Tigers.
Offensively, the Tigers are led by quarterback Garrett Nussmeier, who is currently tied second in touchdown passes with 10. The first year starting quarterback has completed close to 70% of his passes for 895 yards. It was an up and down first road start for Nussmeier as he finished 24-of-40 for 285 yards and two touchdowns with one interception including a couple of near pick sixes, but he showed great toughness and composure by leading the Tigers on a game winning drive.
“There’s more to it than arm talent. You have to bring some of those intangibles. He showed the resolve and leadership to keep us in there. We have a talented QB, but he knows there’s some growth there. There’s not a more committed guy on our roster.”
LSU HC Brian Kelly on QB Garrett Nussmeier
Nussmeier leads the SEC in touchdown passes while his top two targets in Kyren Lacy and Mason Taylor are having great starts to their seasons. Lacy leads the conference in touchdown catches with five while Taylor has become the program’s all-time leader in receptions by a tight end with 91 after having six catches for 58 yards and a touchdown against South Carolina.
“What’s exceptional about him is his yards after the catch. He’s got a great relationship with Nussmeier. He’s done a lot of things for us that sometimes don’t even get noticed.”
LSU HC Brian Kelly on Mason Taylor
Along with Lacy and Taylor, the Tigers have also gotten some great production from other receivers like Aaron Anderson and CJ Daniels through the first couple of games this season.
While it has been the passing attack that has paced the offense with over 300 yards passing per contest and 33 points per game, the Tigers’ running game got a boost last week from freshman Caden Durham, who gave the Tigers a spark in the 17 point comeback win as he had a breakout performance on the ground with 98 yards and two touchdowns on only 11 carries.
“He broke a ton of tackles. That’s the nature of the SEC, to make guys miss and run through tackles. He did a really good job of showing himself today and setting a standard of what we need at that running back position.”
LSU HC Brian Kelly on Caden Durham
The Tigers’ offense also got a big boost this week when it was announced that wide receiver Chris Hilton Jr. will make his return after missing the first three games of the season with an ankle injury.
Defensively, the Tigers gave up 243 yards rushing to South Carolina including two long touchdown runs of 66 yards and 75 yards, but there have been some positives to a defense that has improved from last year. What defensive coordinator Blake Baker’s group has done really well at is rushing the passer and forcing turnovers. The Tigers’ aggressive defense forced three turnovers and five sacks highlighted by a SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week performance by Bradyn Swinson, who had five tackles, seven quarterback hurries, three sacks, and a forced fumble.
“What I see is a defense that internally and especially people were thinking that defensive tackles were going to be a problem for us, they are playing fundamentally sound football for us. Swinson was named SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week. Saivion Jones is playing really well. Gabriel Reliford is a true freshman. Dashawn Womack was hurt, but we will get him back. He adds to the depth. We move Paris Shand inside to help with that. That front is doing well and we know about the talent at the linebackers. It is about continuing to build the backend of our defense, continue to contest catches, be sound in run support with our secondary, but more than anything else, just to create havoc and we did that. We got the ball out. We came up with key stops. Obviously, we talked about the bad snap, but we came up with a field goal stop there, which was huge in the game. We got the interception from Zy. We are not there yet, but we are making the progress necessary and we are getting closer.”
LSU HC Brian Kelly on the progress shown by the defense
Kelly wants to see the defense continue to improve against a Bruins offense that has been anemic this season averaging only 14 points per game led by new offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy.
Their quarterback Ethan Garbers has tallied 409 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions through three weeks. Garbers also leads the team in rushing with 68 yards on 14 carries. Rico Flores Jr. leads the Bruins in receiving with 133 yards on just five receptions, along with a touchdown.
Defensively, the Bruins will look to have the same type of success in rushing Garrett Nussmeier as the Gamecocks’ defensive front while also shutting down their running game only giving up 87 rushing yards per game and having 15 tackles for loss. They are led up front by Kain Medrano.
With the Bruins struggling to gain their footing, this is a golden opportunity for LSU to show what they are capable of and give them confidence if they can out it all together on Saturday afternoon.
What LSU Has To Do In Order To Have Complete Game:
1. Convert in the red zone. Finish drives on a high note.
2. Start as the aggressor and play with an edge early on.
3. Work on being more disciplined in defensive assignments and focus on tackling.
Final Score Prediction:
LSU 42, UCLA 10
After hearing about how flat LSU has started their games and how the Tigers got lucky in their last game against South Carolina, this can be a turning point game for LSU in having that complete game. Returning Chris Hilton Jr. is big and I believe the Tigers can take advantage of him coming back in the deep passing game. Garrett Nussmeier will get this deep receiving core a lot of looks and the offensive line will build on their positive rushing game performance against South Carolina. Defensively, against a struggling Bruins offense, expect the Tigers’ defense to continue to be aggressive and force turnovers for the Tigers.
Player Interviews:
Brian Kelly Press Conference:
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