UC Los Angeles Football Offensive Preview

The second best UC school has fielded the second best football team in Los Angeles. Is there anything at which they excel?

The Southern Branch of the University of California. Try as they might, all the angry Twitter comments in the world won’t shake their status as the second best UC school. They want the academic prestige without corresponding academic challenge. Of course, it’s far easier to work the ref than to work on yourself. How else do you explain why a marketing department would run inane ads like this?:

I shouldn’t even need to explain why this ad is bogus.

No one has more succinctly explained the differences between the two schools than RexVolcano:

Of course, now that UCLA is even semi-decent at football, they are defecting to the Big Ten in 2024. They are just so desperate and eager to disappoint the flagship, like a teenage daughter that just announced to their father that they are getting their high school boyfriend’s name tattooed on their lower back.

This is exactly how I’d feel if I had only been admitted into my safety school as well.

Because ostensibly this is a football article, I am contractually obligated to tell you that UCLA averages 40.0 points per game, 3rd most in the conference (behind USC and Oregon). They have the top rushing offense in the conference, with 236.8 yards per game. Like the school’s coursework, UCLA’s out of conference schedule was a cakewalk (Bowling Green, Alabama State, South Alabama). UCLA currently holds a 5-3 conference record, and a 2-game losing streak. It turns out that things are more difficult when you’re not adequately prepared by your weak-ass schooling OOC matchups. Who could have guessed?

Quarterback

Dorian Thompson-Robinson (henceforth referred to as “DTR”) is starting his 5th season this year (thanks to 2020 not counting towards eligibility). That is to say, DTR has played in almost every UCLA game since starting as a true freshman in 2018. He (and UCLA) is having the best season of his career this year, and he’s mainly improved by virtue of reducing the awful boneheaded plays (running backwards, forcing throws, mishandling snaps, unforced fumbles, etc) he was so apt to do in the past. Despite being more experienced than pretty much any quarterback in college football, he’s still fairly raw as a passer, which leads me to believe that this is just who he is. He’s a phenomenal athlete and a threat any time he runs the ball, and although he has the arm strength, his intermediate- and deep-passing accuracy are severely lacking. I suspect his athleticism alone will get him drafted in the NFL, but he would be the project of all projects if a team drafted him to be a starting QB.

DTR is a competitor. He’s been playing this season with a giant chip on his shoulder, as if every tackler has just whispered in his ear his girlfriend’s phone number. He’s offended that anyone would dare to tackle him:

Dorian Thompson-Robinson is always looking to talk trash to anyone that dare attempt to tackle him. Another common theme: the guy he trash talks (often a DB, and in this case, Bennett Williams) usually ends up getting the better of him.

I could take a clip of something like this from pretty much any game:

Dorian Thompson-Robinson trash talks DE Van Fillinger, who laughs it off because he knows he could shotput DTR into the stands if he so desired

I’m no psychologist, but playing with such an attitude seems like something that could backfire if it were to put you on tilt.

“Get off the f***ing field! Get off the field! Goodbye!”

I’m sure this is the type of attitude a fawning announcer would spin positively, because DTR’s competitive fire has him doing things like this:

QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson throws a lead block for RB Zach Charbonnet

This isn’t just a one-off example either; DTR will quite often try to block for his running back, for seemingly no reason other than his desire to hit someone. Of course, this will win you points in the locker room, but… this is your super-senior quarterback we’re talking about. The engine that drives this offense should not be putting himself in harm’s way so often. The flipside of this sort of attitude is that it leads to plays like this:

QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson again initiates contact on a run and hurts himself on the hit. Note the USC coach patting him on the head before the play as DTR ran to the USC sideline.

A UCLA apologist would say that a lot of DTR’s struggles could be attributed to him playing hurt. In the above clip, you can see that DTR’s wrist and index finger on his throwing hand are already taped up, which is less than ideal for your quarterback. An NFL coach might be able to clean up DTR’s throwing mechanics, but I’m going to guess that the constant injuries he has to play through aren’t helping his accuracy either.

I think the desire to talk trash to basically anyone who looks at him funny is an attempt to keep his motivation and focus high. As such an emotional player, when he starts to lose confidence in himself, his play noticeably suffers:

QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson falls behind and loses confidence in himself, and his accuracy suffers as a result

Normally I would start this section with highlights of a quarterback’s throws, but… I don’t have any DTR passing highlights from this season. I think that’s a function of the way that Chip Kelly and the UCLA offense will scheme receivers open; using misdirection or tricky plays to get receivers (or running backs) lost in coverage, so that DTR can find the open man. Or, alternatively, DTR just throwing it up and letting his receiver haul it in, in which case I usually credit the receiver for the completion.

So to start with the positives, let’s look at DTR’s running ability and mobility in the pocket.

If DTR weren’t a quarterback, he’d still make a fantastic running back. I mean, this is a nicer cut than most running backs make:

QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson makes a nice cut to get into the endzone on the keeper

DTR is extremely elusive in the pocket, and a homerun threat just running the ball (which is something I wouldn’t say about 90% of the RBs I watch):

QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson evades the sack and runs for a 68 yard TD

DTR loves seeing tacklers go low because he always wants to hurdle defenders, something I’m fearful of ever since I saw Jahvid Best do it in 2009. Is the defense focused on stopping the UCLA receivers and no one is open? No matter, DTR can handle it:

QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson incredibly slippery run for 34 yards both hurdling a defender and making a nice cut to make another miss

DTR has good pocket awareness and does a great job of escaping sacks, even when defenses bring pressure:

QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson escapes pressure and runs it himself for the 14 yard TD

DTR runs the Run Pass Option (RPO) offense better than anyone in the Pac-12. DTR makes good reads in the RPO, and can punish opposing defenses more than any other QB running the ball:

QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson on the keeper to the outside for a 19 yard run

Because UCLA also has a stellar running back who similarly commands the defense’s attention, DTR will find opportunities to run into open space for big gains:

QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson keeper for 28 yards

Even ignoring his shiftiness as a runner, he has straight-line speed:

QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson beats LB Karene Reid to the edge for the 9 yard rushing TD

DTR is also great at improv, when the play breaks down for any reason. This looks like a busted play, but three USC defenders knew what he was about to do and still couldn’t stop him:

QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson fumbles the snap but recovers to run for a first down through contact

For the most part—without highlighting any part of the passing game—that’s been enough for UCLA this season. UCLA has won a ton of games on their rushing ability alone, especially with such a great runner at QB.

On the other hand, when defenses can really force DTR into passing situations, UCLA is vulnerable. He’s often making either very poor reads or very poor throws (I can’t tell if DTR didn’t see someone/didn’t read the defense correctly, or he did read the defense correctly and made a terrible throw anyway).

In the following play, DTR has predetermined where he wants to throw this ball, and probably doesn’t see that a linebacker that was showing blitz has dropped back into coverage:

QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson doesn’t see LB Shane Lee drop back into coverage after showing blitz for an INT

In the following play—with UCLA behind—DTR works some magic with his feet to escape a sack, but just lofts a dumb pass up into a sea of white jerseys (he’s trusting his top receiver, Jake Bobo, to make this play, and although Bobo is really good… this looks like DTR thought he was throwing to Calvin Johnson):

QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson escapes a sack but launches a dumb throw into quadruple (?) coverage

UCLA has a very strong offensive line, but if an opposing defense is able to get pressure on DTR, his throwing mechanics tend to break down:

QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson throwing mechanics break down when he feels the pressure

I’m not sure if DTR was psyched out by Stanford’s 4D chess move here (Why is my receiver this wide open? Is this a trap?), but here DTR has no pressure, a wide open receiver, and he still manages to fire an inaccurate throw:

QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson misses the wide open TD as NB Patrick Fields slips

Poor throwing form here results in an interception:

QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson overshoots the throw on the run for an INT to S Chris Edmonds

I won’t even pretend I know what went wrong here, but this play should have worked:

QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson terrible throw behind his receiver for an INT by CB Mekhi Blackmon

And here’s another throw where I’m not sure if DTR intended to fit this throw over the linebackers or if he just had no idea that there would be linebackers sitting there:

QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson makes either a terrible read or a terrible throw for an INT, this one was intended to sail over the LBs

Probably not going to be a factor in this game, but the backup QB is a really solid passer. He’s mentally tough, because he has to play with the knowledge that he is a constant disappointment to his parents after settling for such an inferior university. I’m talking about Ethan Garbers, the brother of 2019 Big Game Hero Chase Garbers:

QB Ethan Garbers nice throw on the out route to WR Josiah Norwood for the 50 yard TD

He’s no Chase, but he still has decent pocket mobility:

QB Ethan Garbers on the QB sneak for the TD

This is one of those situations where the plan to stop UCLA is a lot easier said than done. Keep the UCLA run game contained and force DTR to throw the ball, and the UCLA offense is in big trouble. The problem is that if a team like Utah could struggle to do so, it’s hard to believe that Cal could.

Running back

UCLA is led by running back Zach Charbonnet, an absolute wrecking ball of a man. Per PFF, he has forced 46 missed tackles this season, which ties him with the absolute best running back in the conference, Jaydn Ott. (But because UCLA’s offensive line allows Charbonnet to break tackles after the line of scrimmage instead of before it, Charbonnet leads the Pac-12 in rushing yards, and Ott is in 6th). Charbonnet, a transfer from Michigan, is one of the top RB prospects in the upcoming NFL Draft. He’s got great size and strength, he’s an excellent downhill runner, and he’s way more elusive in open space than a back his size has any business being. The one real knock against him, and probably what will cap his NFL potential, is that he lacks the breakaway speed to be a homerun threat out of the backfield. However, he averages an absurd 7.3 yards per carry, which is a big part of why the UCLA offense is able to drive down the field with such consistency and efficiency.

Defenses absolutely dread trying to tackle Charbonnet in open space. He’s a receiving threat out of the backfield (as a way to stretch the defense horizontally), and he pretty much never goes down on first contact:

RB Zach Charbonnet breaks multiple tackles on the swing pass

The UCLA offensive line will provide Charbonnet plenty of opportunity to get into open space. Despite being the obvious short yardage back, he’s able to punish some weak Stanford tackling with a touchdown:

RB Zach Charbonnet just needs a yard and instead breaks tackles for a 37 yard TD

There arm tackles just aren’t going to cut it:

RB Zach Charbonnet gets a big hole and breaks weak tackles against Colorado for the TD

Charbonnet has great balance and lower body strength, and is able to keep his feet on contact:

RB Zach Charbonnet makes 3 defenders miss and hurdles another to turn a TFL into a first down

One thing I like about Charbonnet is that he has really good patience and vision. He knows when to let blocks to develop and when to attack an open lane (even if it’s not the one drawn up in the play call):

RB Zach Charbonnet seemingly nowhere to go before he runs it up the middle and stopped right at the goal line

RB Zach Charbonnet gets a seam for a 36 yard run

Charbonnet is just really polished as a running back. He has excellent moves in open space:

RB Zach Charbonnet big hole and stutter steps for a 35 yard TD

While defenders in the open field are internally panicking about how they’re going to wrap him up, Charbonnet will just make them whiff completely:

RB Zach Charbonnet gets a hole and jukes S Jeremy Mack Jr out of his shoes for the 46 yards TD

I’m always fond of running backs that can create their own yards. Here his first read is not there, but he stays patient and makes a really nice cut to pick up the first down:

RB Zach Charbonnet makes a nice jump cut to create his own yards after the play is blown up

Prior to this year, UCLA had some ridiculous stat line about being undefeated when Charbonnet rushes for at least 100 yards (there are two exceptions this year: Oregon and Arizona, whose high-powered offenses were able to capitalize on the few defensive stops they were able to get on UCLA). Otherwise, the only way to stop UCLA was to stop Charbonnet, which is a really tall order.

Behind Charbonnet, UCLA has a variety of different running backs. There’s Keegan Jones, a good receiving target with some speed and good vision:

RB Keegan Jones on the swing pass, makes a nice cut and gets a block downfield for the 52 yard TD

He’s not known for his elusiveness, but he can make a defender miss:

RB Keegan Jones nice spin move to pick up the first down

In recent games, the RB/WR Kazmeir Allen has received a lot more touches. Kazmeir (“Kaz”) Allen was recruited to UCLA as a running back in 2018 (the same year as DTR), but he was primarily known for his speed, as the California state champion in the 100m dash. After his freshman year, with a crowded running back room, Chip Kelly converted Allen to wide receiver, where he could use his speed to get separation from defensive backs. UCLA has a strong defensive line, so Allen is just the type of running back that can hurt a defense if he gets room to accelerate:

RB Kazmeir Allen gets a seam for a 34 yard run

And if he gets a full head of steam, you can say goodbye:

RB Kazmeir Allen with the 75 yard TD

Like DTR, Allen is also a homerun threat:

RB Kazmeir Allen runs for 72 yard TD with S Kendall Williamson out of position

The most interesting back is the former Washington quarterback, Colson Yankoff. With Charbonnet out with an injury, UCLA turned to the linebacker-sized Colson Yankoff in short yardage situations:

RB Colson Yankoff up the middle for 6 yards

I’m always suspicious whenever a former QB is playing RB, because they always have that double pass play in their back pocket.

Cal will need to do their best to contain Charbonnet on the ground.

Receivers

UCLA’s best receiver is the 6’5” Duke transfer, Jake Bobo. Bobo is another UCLA player with NFL Draft potential, and while he won’t be a #1 receiver, he definitely has the skills to still be a solid contributor at the next level. Bobo shows good hands, and is a primary reason why DTR’s passing stats are as good as they are this year:

WR Jake Bobo highpoints the football on the rollout by QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson

Here’s another pass showing his nice catch radius:

WR Jake Bobo makes a one-handed catch on a pass that sailed a little high

Bobo has some sharp route-running ability for a receiver of his size:

WR Jake Bobo runs a nice route to get open in the endzone for the TD

Here’s that same route again, but this time against much stronger competition:

WR Jake Bobo nice route to get open against star CB Clark Phillips III for the TD

Cal has historically struggled against big pass-catching tight ends. The former walk-on, TE Hudson Habermehl, is a solid receiving threat. The following play looks just like something (former UCLA TE) Greg Dulcich would do to Cal:

TE Hudson Habermehl absorbs the hits to run for the 51 yard TD

On the other hand, this guy wears sunglasses at night. I’d tell you we’re not dealing with the best and brightest here, but that was implied when you opened this article about UCLA.

TE Hudson Habermehl wears sunglasses at night.

The other tight end, Michael Ezeike, is typically used for pass-blocking purposes, but he’s shown some nice yards after the catch ability as well:

TE Michael Ezeike breaks tackles for the first down plus defensive holding and a late hit

So many defenders go low against big offensive players to avoid targeting these days, but it results in a lot more plays like this:

TE Michael Ezeike hurdles a defender on the quick out by QB Ethan Garbers

Another versatile player I already covered was the RB/WR Kazmeir Allen, the #2 receiver behind Bobo. Most often lined up as a slot receiver, UCLA will definitely use his running ability there as well:

WR Kazmeir Allen follows his blockers on the screen pass for the 20 yard TD

Allen uses his speed to get separation:

WR Kazmeir Allen turns the safety Calen Bullock around for the 55 yard TD

Lined up out wide is Kam Brown, a solid contested catch option:

WR Kam Brown makes a contested catch over S Jeremy Mack Jr

Having a breakout year this year is Logan Loya, who does a good job of finding open space:

WR Logan Loya on the slant for 39 yards

There’s another talented young receiver in Titus Mokiao-Atimalala, who I always note due to the difficulty of qucikly typing his name into my notes when I am watching games:

WR Titus Mokiao-Atimalala makes a nice catch in a tight window on the throw from Dorian Thompson-Robinson

The general theme here is that the UCLA receivers are generally pretty good at getting open and making tough catches, which has really helped elevate the passing stats game of DTR.

Conclusion

Cal’s success will entirely depend on their ability to slow the UCLA run game. Both their quarterback and running back are superb running the ball, and their RPO-offense is about as difficult to defend as the triple option. UCLA will probably win the game, but they also probably struggle with an inner voice that fills them with doubt. It’s probably debilitating to know that your inner pessimist is right, so if you see your local UCLA fan, please take pity on them.

Go Bears.

You can find my full clips here.