UCLA Football: 5 reasons why the Bruins will struggle in 2017

2. Defense can’t get off the field

The Bruins defense allowed 172 yards per game on the ground a year ago. Opposing offenses averaged 4.1 yards per carry. UCLA didn’t have an answer for running backs that can cut up the middle of the field and deliver a blow. Unfortunately for them they have a couple hard-nosed runners on the schedule including Washington’s Myles Gaskin, Oregon’s Royce Freeman and USC’s Ronald Jones.

Four UCLA players were selected in the NFL Draft, including two key pieces of the defensive line, Takkarist McKinley and Eddie Vanderdoes. That’s more attrition on a defensive line that was already porous.

Getting off the field was a struggle for the Bruins a year ago. That, combined with a struggling offense, resulted in a tired defense and little left in the tank in the second half. The success of their opponents on the ground created a significant time of possession problem for the Bruins that will continue this year. UCLA averaged 24:40 minutes of possession time in conference games last season, dead last in the PAC-12.

The Bruins finished 117th in the nation in time of possession in 2016. The lack of consistency on offense created a never-ending cycle that resulted in a defense that had absolutely nothing left in the tank as the season drug on. The defense will make some plays here and there, but standing tall throughout the full length of the PAC-12 season seems almost unthinkable.