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Swanson: UCLA’s defense is having its star turn

October 8, 2023

UCLA’s Gabriel Murphy (11) celebrates after sacking Washington State’s Cameron Ward (1) during a 25-17 Bruins victory Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023, at the Rose Bowl. (Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer)

UCLA’s Dante Moore (3) carries the ball as he tries to run the ball for two extra points during a college football game against Washington State at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023. (Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer)

UCLA’s J. Michael Sturdivant (1) celebrates with his team after scoring a touchdown that was later overturned during a college football game against Washington State at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023. (Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer)

UCLA’s Carson Steele (33) whips his hair back as he walks off the field following a 25-17 win over No. 13 Washington State in a college football game at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023. (Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer)

UCLA’s Keegan Jones (22) celebrates with his teammates after scoring a touchdown against Washington State during a college football game at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023. (Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer)

UCLA’s Dante Moore (3) fixes his helmet after taking a big hit that stopped him from scoring two-extra points against Washington State during a college football game at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023. (Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer)

UCLA’s J. Michael Sturdivant (1) celebrates with Dante Moore (3) after scoring a touchdown that was later overturned during a college football game against Washington State at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023. (Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer)

UCLA’s J. Michael Sturdivant (1) jumbles to ball on what was later ruled an incomplete pass during a college football game against Washington State at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023. (Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer)

A UCLA fan wears a bear hat as they cheer on their team during a college football game against Washington State at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023. (Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer)

Washington State’s Isaiah Hamilton falls to the ground surrounded by UCLA’s defense during the Bruins’ 25-17 Pac-12 victory Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023, at the Rose Bowl. (Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer)

UCLA’s J. Michael Sturdivant (1) reaches out to make a catch that was later ruled an incomplete pass during a college football game against Washington State at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023. (Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer)

UCLA’s T.J. Harden (25) is held up by Washington State’s Jaden Hicks (25) as he carries the ball during a college football game at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023. (Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer)

UCLA’s Dante Moore (3) fires off a pass during a college football game against Washington State at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023. (Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer)

UCLA”s Keegan Jones (22) charges through the field during a college football game against Washington State at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023. (Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer)

A young UCLA fan reacts at the end of a play during a college football game against Washington State at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023. (Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer)

UCLA’s T.J. Harden (25) is tackled by Washington State’s Devin Richardson (8) during a college football game at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023. (Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer)

UCLA’s Keegan Jones (22) shakes off a tackle by Washington State’s Kapena Gushiken (4) as he charges into the end zone during a college football game at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023. (Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer)

UCLA’s Oluwafemi Oladejo (2) tries to tackle Washington State’s Jaylen Jenkins (6) during a college football game at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023. (Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer)

UCLA’s Gary Smith III (58) celebrates with Gabriel Murphy (11) after coming up with a big stop in the first half of a college football game against Washington State at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023. (Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer)

UCLA’s Devin Kirkwood (3) and Kenny Churchwell III work together to take down Washington State’s Kyle Williams (2) during a college football game at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023. (Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer)

UCLA’s Keegan Jones (22) is shoved out of bounds by Washington State’s Buddha Al-Uqdah (18) during a college football game at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023. (Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer)

UCLA’s Carl Jones Jr. (4) chases down Washington State quarterback Cameron Ward during a 25-17 Bruins victory Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023, at the Rose Bowl. (Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer)

UCLA’s Carsen Ryan (20) tries to stay on his feet after being hit during a college football game against Washington State at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023. (Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer)

UCLA runs onto the field to take on No. 13 Washington State during a college football game at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023. (Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer)

UCLA’s Darius Muasau (53) runs onto the field for a warm-up before a college football game against Washington State at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023. (Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer)

UCLA’s T.J. Harden (25) carries the ball ahead of Dante Moore (3) during a college football game against Washington State at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023. (Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer)

UCLA’s Carsen Ryan (20) balabces the ball in one hand before coming up with a catch during a college football game against Washington State at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023. (Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer)

UCLA’s Carson Steele (33) charges through Washington State’s defense during a college football game at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023. (Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer)

UCLA’s Carson Steele (33) fights his way through Washington State’s defense during a college football game at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023. (Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer)

UCLA’s Moliki Matavao (88) tries to stay on his feet as he races across the field during a college football game against Washington State at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023. (Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer)

UCLA’s Alex Johnson (36) carries the ball after coming up with an interception against Washington State during a college football game at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023. (Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer)

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PASADENA – Funnily enough, here in Los Angeles, the on-the-field story this college football season so far isn’t the star QBs. Not reigning Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams, not UCLA’s true freshman Dante Moore, the highest-rated QB recruit in program history.

Not either of those football team’s famous coaches, Lincoln Riley or Chip Kelly.

Nah, it’s been defense driving the plot.

How poor and porous the Trojans’ has been under returning defensive coordinator Alex Grinch. And how rabid and unrelenting the Bruins has been under first-time defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn.

How USC started its Pac-12 slate winning in spite of its defense. And how UCLA is being held aloft by its defensive unit, whose suffocating prowess has helped take some of the pressure off the quarterback who’s learning on the job – including Saturday in the Bruins’ 25-17 victory over No. 13 Washington State, in which the Cougars’ heralded offense struggled more than the score would indicate.

Lynn is new around here too, but you wouldn’t know it.

His hire in February is Kelly’s best play call all year.

Just 33, Lynn arrived at UCLA (4-1, 1-1 Pac-12) after overseeing the defensive backs and safeties the previous two seasons with the Baltimore Ravens. He was a three-time All-Big Ten defensive back from Penn State, but he’d never coached at the college level.

The move to hire Lynn – the son of former Chargers coach Anthony Lynn – was something of a departure for Kelly, who’s known for bringing in coaches who have more experience, and more experience with him.

But Kelly went another way this time. The Bruins needed a defensive coordinator after Bill McGovern, their respected coach with 40 years of experience, died of cancer in May at the age of 60.

UCLA reportedly are paying Lynn $1.02 million per year, a record for an assistant holing his position. The investment is paying off.

“He just brings a whole engine energy to this team, to this defense,” senior defensive back Alex Johnson said. “He also lets us be free within our positions. We’re always able to ask questions or give feedback, give comments. So that open communication has allowed us to play more freely. I think that’s been shown on Saturdays.”

All that freedom of thought and expression has locked up the Bruins’ opponents – starting with the relative pushovers in their nonconference schedule and continuing now against the Pac-12’s much more explosive teams, like Washington State and their star signal-caller Cameron Ward on Saturday.

The Trojans stymied Ward and the previously undefeated Cougars, who had the nation’s fourth-ranked total offense and second-ranked passing unit. Ward was completing 75% of his passes, and had thrown 13 touchdown passes without a turnover through the first five games.

In the heat against the Bruins’ swarming, suffocating and, more than anything, stubborn defense, he wilted.

UCLA held the Cougars to 216 yards, and allowed them to convert just two of their 13 third-down plays. The Bruins also forced a season-high four turnovers – two of them interceptions. And the Bruins sacked Ward three times for 25 yards Saturday, making sure his Heisman Trophy candidacy lost ground too.

“Secondary-wise, there’s been a bigger emphasis on plastering routes when the plays breakdown,” explained Johnson, who intercepted a pass (his third this season) and returned it 31 yards in the second quarter, setting up a UCLA field goal.

“I mean, the Pac-12 is riddled with athletic quarterbacks who can extend plays, get loose. So having that bigger emphasis on that just makes our job a lot more easier. But we’re also just prepared to, maybe the play goes for 16 seconds, not four, so we’re always ready for whatever offense is bringing to us.”

After holding Utah to just one offensive touchdown in its last game, the Bruins slowed Washington State to a crawl too, holding the Cougars without an offensive TD in the first half and on their first 10 possessions in the game.

“Cam Ward, everyone knows he’s a good, top-five quarterback,” defensive lineman Carl Jones Jr. said. “… and he got frustrated a lot.”

It wasn’t just Ward who had to have been fed up: The Bruins limited Washington State’s running backs just 12 (12!) rushing yards.

The Cougars (4-1, 1-1) became the fourth consecutive opponent UCLA has held to fewer than 300 yards of total offense. The last time a Bruins defense did that? Back in 2006.

See, these Bruins, they’re rewriting history – on the defensive side of the ball.

“That entire defensive staff, led by (Lynn), did an unbelievable job,” Kelly said. “That was the No. 2 ranked passing offense in the country. Outstanding.”

Or the appreciative young quarterback Moore said: “Defense wins football games.”

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