3 things Utah football can improve on after loss to UCLA
Utah dropped its first Pac-12 game of the season, losing 42-32 to UCLA at the Rose Bowl. Here are three things Utah football can improve on after the loss to UCLA.
View Comments
Share
UCLA Bruins running back Zach Charbonnet (24) and quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson (1) celebrate after scoring against Utah at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, CA, on Saturday, Oct. 8, 2022. Laura Seitz, Deseret News
Utah dropped its first Pac-12 game of the season, losing 42-32 to UCLA at the Rose Bowl.
It won’t be a pretty film session for the Utes on Monday.
Here are three things Utah football can improve on after the loss to UCLA.
Defense
Utah’s defense allowed 42 points and 511 total yards against UCLA.
Bruins quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson threw for 299 yards and four touchdowns and also rushed for a score in a masterful performance. He was 18-for-23 and only had one mistake all game — a pick-six with 50 seconds left and the game wrapped up in a situation where UCLA should have been running.
Utah also allowed UCLA running back Zach Charbonnet to rush for 198 yards — a career high for the senior — and a touchdown.
On the ground or through the air, UCLA mostly got what it wanted, especially in the second half, when the Bruins scored four touchdowns on their first four possessions of the second half — the only possession without a touchdown was the aforementioned pick-six at the end of the game.
Utah missed a few tackles, looked mixed up in coverage a few times and gave up too many big plays — including a 49-yard pass, a 49-yard run and a 44-yard run.
“We missed too many tackles and we had a few breakdowns. They had a bunch of big plays both in the receiving game and the rushing game. That really is what did us in was their big-play capability,” Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham said.
Overall, Utah didn’t have too many penalties — four for 29 yards — but one of them came when the Utes had the Bruins stopped and extended the drive at a key moment.
UCLA was leading 21-18 with 3:47 left in the third quarter and Utah appeared to force a three-and-out after Thompson-Robinson’s pass was incomplete on third-and-6. Utah was going to get the ball back with the chance to take the lead.
Instead, Utah linebacker Karene Reid was called for roughing the passer, giving UCLA a first down. The Bruins would score a touchdown on the drive and lead 28-18.
Utah can’t have that mistake when the defense was going to get off the field.
“The stop we did have (in the second half), we got roughing the passer, so that was really our chance to get right back in it and take the lead. We made that mistake and didn’t seem to recover from that. We couldn’t get a stop the rest of the way,” Whittingham said.
1 of 22
Utah Utes wide receiver Devaughn Vele (17) gets knocked down by UCLA Bruins defensive back Jaylin Davies (24) as Utah Utes head football coach Kyle Whittingham watches at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, CA, on Saturday, Oct. 8, 2022. | Laura Seitz, Deseret News
2 of 22
Utah Utes quarterback Cameron Rising hands the ball to running back Tavion Thomas during the game against UCLA at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, CA, on Saturday, Oct. 8, 2022. | Laura Seitz, Deseret News
3 of 22
Utah Utes wide receiver Devaughn Vele (17) runs past UCLA Bruins linebacker Darius Muasau (53) and defensive back William Nimmo Jr. (32) at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, CA, on Saturday, Oct. 8, 2022. | Laura Seitz, Deseret News
4 of 22
UCLA Bruins running back Keegan Jones (22) runs past Utah Utes safety R.J. Hubert (11) at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, CA, on Saturday, Oct. 8, 2022. | Laura Seitz, Deseret News
5 of 22
Utah Utes running back Tavion Thomas (9) warms up before the game against UCLA at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, CA, on Saturday, Oct. 8, 2022. | Laura Seitz, Deseret News
6 of 22
Utah Utes quarterback Cameron Rising (7) warms up before the game against UCLA at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, CA, on Saturday, Oct. 8, 2022. | Laura Seitz, Deseret News
7 of 22
Utah Utes quarterback Cameron Rising (7) speaks with a UCLA team employee before the game against UCLA at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, CA, on Saturday, Oct. 8, 2022. | Laura Seitz, Deseret News
8 of 22
Utes quarterback Cameron Rising warms up before the game against UCLA at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, CA, on Saturday, Oct. 8, 2022. | Laura Seitz, Deseret News
9 of 22
Utes quarterback Bryson Barnes (16) and offensive lineman Johnny Maea (53) get ready for the game against UCLA at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, CA, on Saturday, Oct. 8, 2022. | Laura Seitz, Deseret News
10 of 22
Utah Utes wide receiver Devaughn Vele (17) warms up before the game against UCLA at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, CA, on Saturday, Oct. 8, 2022. | Laura Seitz, Deseret News
11 of 22
Utah Utes safety R.J. Hubert (11) sacks UCLA Bruins quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson (1) at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, CA, on Saturday, Oct. 8, 2022. | Laura Seitz, Deseret News
12 of 22
UCLA Bruins linebacker Darius Muasau (53) intercepts a pass intended for Utah Utes tight end Thomas Yassmin (87) at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, CA, on Saturday, Oct. 8, 2022. | Laura Seitz, Deseret News
13 of 22
Utah Utes quarterback Cameron Rising (7) runs past UCLA Bruins linebacker Laiatu Latu (15) at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, CA, on Saturday, Oct. 8, 2022. | Laura Seitz, Deseret News
14 of 22
Utah Utes tight end Dalton Kincaid (86) gets tackled by UCLA Bruins defensive back William Nimmo Jr. (32) at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, CA, on Saturday, Oct. 8, 2022. | Laura Seitz, Deseret News
15 of 22
Utah Utes cornerback JaTravis Broughton (4) scowls as UCLA celebrates a touchdown by Bruins wide receiver Jake Bobo (9) at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, CA, on Saturday, Oct. 8, 2022. | Laura Seitz, Deseret News
16 of 22
Utah Utes quarterback Cameron Rising (7) gets up after getting sacked in the game against UCLA at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, CA, on Saturday, Oct. 8, 2022. | Laura Seitz, Deseret News
17 of 22
Utah Utes quarterback Cameron Rising (7) runs into the endzone to score against UCLA at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, CA, on Saturday, Oct. 8, 2022. | Laura Seitz, Deseret News
18 of 22
Utah Utes quarterback Cameron Rising (7) runs into the endzone to score against UCLA at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, CA, on Saturday, Oct. 8, 2022. | Laura Seitz, Deseret News
19 of 22
Utah Utes running back Micah Bernard (2) runs past UCLA Bruins defensive back Kenny Churchwell III (23) at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, CA, on Saturday, Oct. 8, 2022. | Laura Seitz, Deseret News
20 of 22
UCLA Bruins running back Zach Charbonnet (24) and quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson (1) celebrate after scoring against Utah at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, CA, on Saturday, Oct. 8, 2022. | Laura Seitz, Deseret News
21 of 22
UCLA coach Chip Kelly and Utah coach Kyle Whittingham shake hands after Utah’s loss at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, CA, on Saturday, Oct. 8, 2022. | Laura Seitz, Deseret News
22 of 22
Utah coach Kyle Whittingham walks away after shaking hands with UCLA coach Chip Kelly after Utah’s loss at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, CA, on Saturday, Oct. 8, 2022. | Laura Seitz, Deseret News
Kickoff coverage and special teams
View Comments
Utah’s special team has been shaky at times this season, especially on kickoff coverage.
The Utes allowed 103 yards on kickoff returns as UCLA returner Kazmeir Allen had kick returns of 43, 33 and 27 yards.
Those returns set up a short field for the Bruins, who scored touchdowns after two of his returns.
Jordan Noyes was 1-for-2 on field goal attempts, missing a 43-yarder to end the first half. Noyes also wasn’t able to kick the ball out of the end zone, giving UCLA opportunities to return the ball.
Join the Conversation
Looking for comments?
Find comments in their new home! Click the buttons at the top or within the article to view them — or use the button below for quick access.