How good has the UCLA defense been this season?
They just held the best rushing team in the conference to only 80 yards. Their lowest total previously was 116 by Ohio State, the top rated defense in the nation. They were under 200 yards only twice.
They just held the 2nd leading rusher in the nation to 49 yards on 2.7 yards per carry. His previous low was 86 against the Buckeyes and had been under 100 only twice. Iowa having a backup QB in the game mattered little. In the previous two games with that QB he averaged 122 and 6.4.
But it's been very good all season. One must take into account that they played four of the top-20 offenses in the nation in games 2-5. One must also take into account that although they gave up a lot of points earlier in the season, part of that was due to our awful offense which gave the opponents good field position. They are 7th in the nation in rushing defense, not that much different from last season (2nd). They are 46th in total defense, very respectable. The pass defense is lowly ranked but 258.8 yards per game is only 31 yards more than last season. But the most significant stat is that they have held every opponent but one to less than their season's average yards per game.
Malloe has also turned Carson Schwesinger, a reserve linebacker with only 12 tackles last season into an All-American candidate. Last season several defensive players who were already highly rated as pro prospects returned from the previous year.
Malloe is making $1 million a year. No need to pay anyone more.