UCLA football needs poise in hopes of a better start at LSU

LOS ANGELES — Slow starts have hampered the UCLA football team in its first two games of the season.

The Bruins were able to overcome a first-half deficit in their season opener against Hawai’i, but weren’t as fortunate against Indiana on Saturday.

Quarterback Ethan Garbers fumbled the ball on the first offensive possession of the day, leading to an Indiana touchdown three plays later.

The next possession ended on a missed 41-yard field goal attempt by Mateen Bhaghani, and the Bruins quickly found themselves down 21-0.

Getting off to a fast start has been a prominent subject at practice this week, as UCLA works to counteract the suboptimal beginnings it’s had in its first two games.

Offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy reiterated after Wednesday’s practice what head coach DeShuan Foster said Monday: The team needs to stop pressing and play within themselves, which will equate to improved play out of the gate.

“I know offensively for us we have to get off to a better start. Play one got to start off a little bit better,” Bieniemy said. “But just relaxing, understanding your job and your duty. We got great kids who are very, very good football players. These guys can play, but they need to eliminate the distractions, be poised under pressure and just do what they’ve been taught to do.”

Penalties and a lack of execution have also contributed to the shortage of scoring opportunities.

T.J. Harden’s 29-yard touchdown run in the third quarter against Indiana was negated because of a holding penalty.

Red-zone opportunities have routinely ended in field-goal attempts instead of touchdowns.

Bieniemy said he’s seen growth over the past few weeks and expects the offense to start executing the play calls at a higher level. He said he’s seen it at practice every day, and it’s his job to make sure it translates to game day.

A point of emphasis for Bieniemy is to teach the players how to be accountable and do their jobs. What’s more, he wants them to continue to develop as a team and focus on their play, not beating themselves on the field.

“Sometimes without any bad luck, you wouldn’t have any good luck at all. Sometimes that bad luck stings a little bit, but you have to go through this growing phase and the most important thing is that they grow together and not apart,” he said. “When it’s all said and done with, we got to line up and start playing against the opponent rather than fighting ourselves and not executing our job.”

The Bruins will head to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, this week to take on No. 16 LSU at Tiger Stadium, one of the most hostile road environments in college football.

A fast start and establishing the run game early will be key for UCLA. Harden believes if he can get going on the ground quickly, it will open up the entire offense.

“For myself, definitely disappointed with how things started with me. I got to just start out faster, quicker, making big plays early on in the game,” Harden said. “I feel like when I do that, we’ll all get going. I just got to start out faster and more efficient.”

“I think the run game will get going. It was unfortunate that that run got called back that he had,” Foster said of Harden. “But we’re placing hats on hats, guys were blocking the right people and it’s a work in progress. I’m just glad that we’re trending in the right direction”

Griffin Named to Allstate AFCA Good Works Team

UCLA senior quarterback Chase Griffin earned a spot on the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team and was named a semifinalist for the Allstate Wuerffel Trophy for his community service efforts.

In college football, a head coach and 22 student-athletes are honored as members of The Good Works Team for their leadership in their respective communities.

Griffin is a three-time nominee for the Wuerffel Trophy, which will be decided by a national voting committee and fan votes.