UCLA quarterback Ty Dieffenbach faces Minnesota test as surprise factor fades
Defenses have adjusted to the senior's tendencies, and the Bruins must find a way to move the ball against a physical opponent to keep their College Football Playoff hopes alive.
By Lauren Bello ·
The element of surprise has left the UCLA football program. Quarterback Ty Dieffenbach is no longer a hidden weapon. Defenses have seen enough film to understand his habits. The 6-foot-6 senior has started the last three games. His passing attack has slowed down. Saturday's trip to Minnesota presents a physical challenge that could expose those struggles.
UCLA is ranked No. 8 in the College Football Playoff. The Bruins are 8-0 overall and 5-0 in the Big Ten. Minnesota is 5-3 and 3-2 in conference play. The Golden Gophers have the talent to stop the passing game. If the ball does not move through the air, the game could turn on the defense's ability to create turnovers.
Head coach Bob Chesney said the offense needs to click. "This is a giant week for him and the receivers to get on the same page, and start clicking on all cylinders," Chesney said. "It's time." The coaching staff wants Dieffenbach to trust the pocket. They want him to pull the trigger on plays he has identified.
Dieffenbach has thrown for fewer than 200 yards in his last two games. His completion percentage has dropped below 60 percent. He uses his athleticism to stay alive in the pocket. He has not converted those plays into long gains. UCLA has converted only 11 of 29 third-down opportunities. The defense has masked these issues by forcing seven turnovers.
Offensive coordinator Dean Kennedy said defenses now show multiple coverages. "There's going to be a lot of different defenses," Kennedy said. "That's probably the biggest piece, is trying to identify the multitude of coverages that you can see at this point in the game." The staff wants Dieffenbach to cycle through his reads faster. He must attack each defensive shell with confidence.
The Bruins have relied on late-game heroics. Dieffenbach threw a 63-yard touchdown to Brian Rowe Jr. against Michigan State. He led a 97-yard drive against Wisconsin. Those plays came in the second half. The team needs an earlier start against Minnesota. A slow start could force the offense into desperate situations.
The game is at 9 a.m. PT Saturday. It is played at Huntington Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. FOX will broadcast the game on Channel 11. Local radio coverage is on 790 AM. UCLA cannot afford a loss if it wants to stay in the top 12 of the playoff rankings.
