Arizona State looks to avoid its second consecutive loss but standing in its a way is a very formidable UCLA squad. Joe Healey examines the Sun Devils' upcoming opponent and discusses the opportunities and challenges this contest will present.

UCLA Offense

Despite having just one full season of college football under his belt entering the 2016 season, Rosen entered the year as the most highly acclaimed quarterback on the west coast and his Bruins were not only a preseason top-20 team but chosen by the Pac-12 media to win the south division.

Through an adjustment of new offensive coordinator and a more pro-style offense, Rosen has put up impressive numbers and effectively avoided a “Sophomore Slump” in his second year at UCLA.

On the year, Rosen has completed 60.1% of his passes for 1,515 yards with eight touchdowns and four interceptions, ranking third in the Pac-12 in passing – no shame when the two ahead of him are Luke Falk and Davis Webb operating out of the offenses they do.

At running back, the output hasn’t been anywhere near as noteworthy at quarterback as the Bruins have struggled to replace superstar rusher Paul Perkins.

Thus far, UCLA has operated with a three-man rotation with Soso Jamabo (47 carries, 186 yards), Nate Starks (42 carries, 143 yards) and Bolu Olorunfunmi (36 carries, 143 yards). Of the trio, no player rushes for more than 4.0 yards-per-carry, while none averages more than 48 yards per game. The overall talent is there, such as Jamabo, a five-star prospect from the 2015 class rated the No. 22 overall recruit in the country, but the collaborative effort hasn’t done much to attack teams this year.

In addition to replacing Perkins, UCLA was tasked this offseason with filling the boots of high-profile pass-catchers in Jordan Payton and Thomas Duarte. Though the results haven’t been of an eye-popping nature, they have collectively been very good as UCLA averages 300-plus passing yards per game.

Leading the way is Darren Andrews (21-301-1) with big play threat Kenneth Walter (15-299-3) and Eldridge Massington (12-148) and converted defensive back Ishmael Adams (11-118) not far behind.

UCLA also uses and benefits from a pair of talented tight ends in Nate Iese (9-149-1) and Austin Roberts (7-73), who figure to see quite a bit of time Saturday.

Though no depth chart is made publicly available for this weekend’s game, along the offensive line UCLA has started Conor McDermott and Kolton Miller at tackle, local product Kenny Lacy at guard and Scott Quessenberry at center in all five games and Najee Toran in four of five games played at guard opposite Lacy.

McDermott is the most accomplished of the group as he was a Second-Team All-Pac-12 pick in 2015.

UCLA Offense Summary

Though the passing game has been explosive as it ranks 24th nationally, the Bruin run game has been inexplicably putrid as UCLA ranks dead last in the Pac-12 and 117th nationally with just 119.2 yards per game.

On an individual scale, UCLA’s top rusher right now ranks 25th in the conference and to date has been outgained on the ground by 75 yards by ASU quarterback Manny Wilkins. However, that deficiency may not prove to be much of a benefit to the Sun Devils if ASU is unable to prevent Rosen and the Bruin pass game from racking up yards through the air.

UCLA Defense

UCLA uniquely refuses to post a depth chart in its weekly game notes, but based on previous game starters the typical defensive line has consisted of Takkarist McKinley, Eli Ankou, Eddie Vanderdoes and Matt Dickerson, with Jacob Tuioti-Mariner earning three starts this season as well.

Tuioti-Mariner leads all defensive linemen with 19 tackles, including 1.0 sack. McKinley is clearly UCLA’s most dynamic pass rush threat with team highs of 6.0 tackles-for-loss and 3.0 sacks as part of his 17 total tackles. McKinley also ranks third in the Pac-12 in tackles-for-loss. Ankou, Vanderdoes, and Dickerson have combined for 39 tackles but nothing among the three behind the line of scrimmage.

At linebacker, Jayon Brown and Kenny Young have been every game starters, while UCLA has in some games started in a 4-2-5 alignment and in some cases linebackers such as Cameron Judge and Josh Woods have earned starts.

On the year, Brown has a team-high and ranks third in the Pac-12 with 44 tackles with Young placing second with 39 stops and a share of the team lead with 3.0 sacks. Judge has 10 tackles and Woods has eight.

In the secondary, the veteran pair of Fabian Moreau and Randall Goforth starts with the typical combo of Jaleel Wadood and Nate Meadors. Adarius Pickett and Tahaan Goodman have also earned starts this season.

Wadood has 21 tackles and two pass breakups, while Pickett (17 tackles) and Goforth (15 tackles) share the team-high of two interceptions. Meadors has 15 tackles and Moreau has 11, while the pair has also combined for 11 pass breakups. Goodman has 16 tackles and three pass breakups to his credit so far in 2016.

Last year, both Goforth and Wadood were Second-Team All-Pac-12 selections.

UCLA Defense Summary

The pride and joy this season is UCLA’s talented and experienced secondary, which helps rank the Bruins 24th nationally in pass defense (186.0 yards per game), while next level talent is also spread across the front seven. UCLA has been generally average against the run, ranking seventh in the Pac-12 by allowing 170.0 yards per game.

If ASU, by force or by choice, attempts to challenge the Bruin secondary on a frequent basis, it will be a tall task for freshman Brady White to overcome. Altogether, the Sun Devils will need to protect the quarterback and establish the run as the primary objectives before having high confidence in letting loose in the passing game.

UCLA Special Teams

Freshman kicker J.J. Molson, from a billionaire Canadian family that owns the Montreal Canadiens and has a stake in its namesake Molson Coors Brewing Company, has connected on 7-of-10 field goals but his long is just from 39 yards.

Punter Austin Kent averages 41.54 yards on 26 punts and Molson typically handles kickoffs as well.

As Sun Devil fans painfully remember from his 2014 outburst against ASU, Ishmael Adams is the primary punt and kick returner for UCLA, averaging 23.5 yards on 10 kick returns but just 3.1 yards on 12 punt returns. Adams’ availability for Saturday is unknown, in his absence, Adarius Pickett could return punts as he averages 15.3 yards on three punt returns this year.

Overall Summary

A heated series with unique trends in the road team winning the past four matchups and the home team winning the four before that, UCLA comes to Tempe with some momentum to face a Sun Devil team that is left reeling after a blowout loss that sent its starting quarterback to the sidelines due to injury.

It’s tough to say if this is a “must win” caliber game for ASU, but if the Sun Devils would like to regain the momentum acquired by its 4-0 start, a victory is absolutely necessary.

In this matchup of former Rivals No. 1 pro-style quarterback (Rosen) versus Rivals No. 2 pro-style quarterback (White), much more is known about the visiting passer than the home team’s starter. Many fans wanted to see how White’s blue chip recruiting pedigree would translate to the college level and Saturday will be the first full chance to see what he brings to the table.

The Bruins are solid throwing the ball and defending others from doing so, placing ASU in a position to have to play uncharacteristically well in some areas to have a favorable chance of winning Saturday.

Keys to a Sun Devil Victory

Give Brady a Safe Space

Having a player in his first career college start as a redshirt freshman with minimal game experience, ASU has a hefty to-do list to give Brady White the most accommodating environment in which to play. Offensively, the line will have to play at a significantly higher level than last week, both to give White enough time in the pocket and to allow the running backs enough space to take the pressure of the freshman to be the only driving force of the offense.

On defense, basic as it may sound the Sun Devils have to prevent UCLA from racking up early points as not to force White into comeback mode at an early point in the game.

Try to Tackle and Defend the Pass

The broken record of the 2016 season despite a 4-1 record, the trends are zooming to the concrete status of these issues being permanent plagues for the year. Dating back to 2015, a variety of quarterbacks have had career days against the Sun Devil defense, a deficiency that a future pro such as Josh Rosen can turn into a feeding frenzy.

ASU cannot allow Rosen time to advance through progressions, nor can it let UCLA’s athletes scurry for free yardage due to abominable tackling. However, at this point, this appears to be a wish list better handled by Santa Claus than the Sun Devil coaching staff.

Rattle Rosen

At the risk of going full “Captain Obvious”, if ASU is able to interrupt Rosen’s timing, fortune could shift in favor of the home team. Rosen is known for being able to meticulously operate through his progressions and has an overall skill set that makes him a high caliber NFL Draft prospect in a year or two.

UCLA opts for several multiple tight end sets, which could complicate matters as we have all seen ASU suffer from the net result of sending rushers and putting its defensive backs in make-or-break situations.

Familiar Faces

· ASU RB Jason Lewis, LB Laiu Moeakiola, and WR Ryan Newsome were verbally committed to UCLA before signing with ASU

· UCLA DB Randall Goforth and DB Jaleel Wadood were verbally committed to ASU before signing with UCLA

· UCLA DL Jacob Tuioti-Mariner’s sister Nora played volleyball at ASU

· UCLA OL Kenny Lacy (Phoenix Mountain Pointe) is an Arizona native

· UCLA assistant coach Eric Yarber was on the Arizona State staff under Dennis Erickson from 2007-09

· UCLA WR Ishmael Adams and LB Cameron Judge attended Oaks Christian High School, as did ASU running back Gil’Scott Jackson and LB Carlos Mendoza

· UCLA LB Jayon Brown, DB Randall Goforth, WR Christian Pabico and DB Colin Samuel attended Long Beach (Calif.) Poly High School, as did ASU LB Salamo Fiso and DL JoJo Wicker

· UCLA DB Tahaan Goodman and RB Khalil Muhammad attended Rancho Cucamonga (Calif.) High School, as did ASU’s Alani and Viliami Latu

· UCLA QB Josh Rosen, DL Jacob Tuioti-Mariner, and DB Jaleel Wadood attended St. John Bosco, as did ASU OL Zach Robertson

· UCLA LB Josh Woods attended Upland (Calif.) High School, as did ASU DB James Johnson