The soundtrack for UCLA football practices this week has included a remixed version of “The Sopranos” theme song, Bon Jovi and Bruce Springsteen – all music associated with New Jersey.
The Bruins are making their longest road trip of the season to play unranked Rutgers at 9 a.m. PT Saturday and are also willing to go the distance to achieve their first win as a member of the Big Ten Conference.
“The mentality is speed, being physical, attacking everything,” Bruins defensive lineman Jay Toia said. “Just trying to punish the guys just because they’re on the other team. We just want to win.”
In its first game against Rutgers, UCLA will head into Piscataway, New Jersey, for the Scarlet Knights’ 90th annual homecoming game. Rutgers is 11-3 in homecoming games under head coach Greg Schiano.
The Bruins will look to cut down on their penalties after receiving 10 penalties for a loss of 105 yards in its last outing against Minnesota. This game is also another opportunity to continue to develop the offense.
“They’re seeing (their potential) in spurts,” UCLA head coach DeShaun Foster said. “If we can find a way to truly put a four-quarter game together, then you can really see the potential. The offense is still trying to operate as a high-powered offense and I have confidence in that.”
The coaching staff has reconfigured the offensive line, moving Josh Carlin to right guard and bringing Sam Yoon in at center. Carlin is still making calls at right guard and continues to be a leader on the line.
The changes on the line have correlated with production in the rest of the offense. Receiver and deep threat J.Michael Sturdivant had his best game of the season against Minnesota with seven receptions for 107 yards, including a 42-yard touchdown.
“I love to stretch the field,” Sturdivant said. “So when the big-play opportunities come, we’ve got to make them happen for us to win some games. We’re gonna keep focusing on doing our part and helping the team win games by catching the ball and making our blocks.”
Sturdivant said the travel of the Big Ten schedule doesn’t bother him – h lives in Texas, so he’s comfortable with air travel. The distance traveled doesn’t seem to be as important as the satisfaction of achieving the first conference win.
“We’ll let other people complain about travel,” Foster said. “We play ball.”
When Rutgers has the ball
The Knights lean on their rushing attack, which is led by running back Kyle Monangai. His 123.2 rushing yards per game rank seventh in the nation and he has accumulated 2,681 career rushing yards. Rutgers lost some depth at the position when Schiano announced earlier this week that backup running back Samuel Brown will be out for the rest of the season due to a lower-body injury.
“You gotta wrap him up,” Fosters said of Monangai. “I always say when you’re playing against good running backs, you gotta grab their legs and put them above their head. You have to stop him from running.”
UCLA’s run defense is giving up 92.5 yards per game. The Bruins have found success in their linebacking corps, paced by Carson Schwesinger’s Big Ten-leading 62 total tackles and 6.5 tackles for loss. Kain Medrano is next with 33 tackles and five tackles for loss.
When UCLA has the ball
Quarterback Ethan Garbers is coming off a career-high 293 passing yards in the Minnesota game and completed 25 of 36 passes. In addition to getting Sturdivant involved, the Bruins’ offense has utilized running back T.J. Harden out of the backfield. He had 59 and 57 receiving yards, respectively, in the previous two games and leads the team in receiving yards with 204.
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Rico Flores Jr. has averaged 46.8 receiving yards this season but did not play last week against Minnesota. He was an active participant in practice this week but Foster did not say if the sophomore wide receiver would play Saturday.
Eight Rutgers players have registered a quarterback sack this season. The Scarlet Knights give up just 175 passing yards per game. Defensive back Shaquan Loyal, who has recorded two interceptions and five pass breakups, leads an aggressive secondary.
UCLA (1-5 overall, 0-4 Big Ten) at Rutgers (4-2, 1-2)
When: 9 a.m. Saturday
Where: SHI Stadium, Piscataway, New Jersey
TV/radio: FS1/AM 570