UCLA vs. USC football preview: Bruins look to regroup and execute

It’s been an unusual week for the UCLA football program. The Bruins entered rivalry week against USC coming off back-to-back losses to the Pac-12 teams from Arizona, which has also raised questions about the job status of head coach Chip Kelly.

They’ve been great.” Kelly said when asked how the players responded following a second consecutive loss. “They’ve got great resiliency to them and they balance really well. … I think the opponent helps, you got a game that everybody’s always focused on.”

Kelly wasn’t willing to let the outside noise about his employment impact the team’s ability to compete this week.

“My concern is playing USC,” Kelly said. “We always focus on being the most prepared and the least distracted, so anything that isn’t the upcoming opponent is just distracting us from our job.”

With several impact players having missed time in recent weeks due to injury, Kelly held short practices this week to help aid in the recovery of his players.

“We’re really big on recovery,” Bruins wide receiver Josiah Norwood said. “We have a great medical staff down there that’s helped us recover after every practice because we are still working really hard out here.”

With both teams coming in with a lack of success and momentum, there are other factors that may keep a big crowd from forming Saturday at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

Rain showers are expected in the early morning. The weather already had an impact in Westwood, as the annual Beat ’SC Rally was canceled Wednesday. The ongoing repair efforts to fix damage caused by a fire underneath the 10 Freeway might also cause some travel issues.

When UCLA has the ball

UCLA has been held scoreless in the first quarter in each of its past three games. That will have to change this week if the Bruins want to match the pace of USC’s offense.

“I think we just have to be better at executing,” Norwood said. “Every week we have a game plan and we have to go out there and really stress just doing your job. As receivers, we have our specific job, but we can go out there and affect the game in any way we can. Every time we run a route, we need to get open. Every time we get a ball thrown (at us), we need to catch it.”

The receivers have struggled to stay consistent. It is vital to get the ball to impact players like J.Michael Sturdivant to serve as a much-needed vertical threat.

The Bruins have spent most of the past two seasons injury-free, but that’s started to change in recent weeks with injuries at quarterback.

Redshirt junior Collin Schlee started last week’s game against Arizona State, but his availability against the Trojans appears unlikely after not participating in practice earlier in the week.

Freshman Dante Moore and redshirt junior Ethan Garbers, who have also been dealing with injuries, went through warmups last week and participated in practice this week. Each is listed as questionable for Saturday’s game.

Schlee has led the team in rushing in each of the last two games with a combined 97 yards. Kelly must establish the run with running backs Carson Steele and TJ Harden early. Each has been held to less than 50 yards in each of the past two weeks.

When USC has the ball

UCLA edge rusher Laiatu Latu’s pursuit for 15 sacks continues this week at the Coliseum against USC star quarterback Caleb Williams.

Latu has produced 11 sacks, which ranks fourth in the nation, and had recorded a sack in five consecutive games before last week’s loss to Arizona State.

At Pac-12 Media Day in July, Latu had expressed his excitement of playing against the Pac-12’s several talented quarterbacks such as Williams and stated that he will have to bring his “A-game.”

The defensive unit will as well in order to limit Williams’ options as a playmaker.

Latu and the Bruins must also be aware of trick plays USC coach Lincoln Riley may use after watching what plagued the Bruins against the Sun Devils last week.

Alex Johnson and the secondary will also be tested early by Williams and his talented group of receivers led by Tahj Washington.

Unlike the offense, the defense has been fairly healthy this season, but unsportsmanlike penalties have proved costly. Kelly has continued to preach “play with emotion, but don’t let emotion play with you” ahead of the rivalry game.

UCLA (6-4 overall, 3-4 Pac-12) at USC (7-4, 5-3)

When: 12:30 p.m. Saturday

Where: Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum

TV/radio: ABC/570 AM