By Miguel A. Melendez Special to the Daily News
Sometimes the final box score isn't always the best indicator on performances.
UCLA's Datone Jones recorded three tackles for a loss last week against Nebraska, including a momentum-swinging safety in the fourth quarter. He's off to a strong start with nine tackles with one sack and a forced fumble this season.
Jones, a senior, undoubtedly is anchoring the defensive line, but the rest of the line has made subtle contributions that have probably gone unnoticed to everyone except defensive line coach Angus McClure.
Owa Odighizuwa was solid backing up Jones and Cassius Marsh on both sides. Marsh recorded one tackle, but he was solid providing contain on the run.
"Cassius did a nice job of locking down the right side," McClure said. "You noticed Nebraska became more of a right-handed running team. It's because Cassius did a nice job on the run."
And then there are unsung heroes like Seali'i Epenesa, who as a nose tackle in the 3-4 scheme takes a beating in the middle. He draws constant double teams and is responsible for plugging the gaps and jumping into running lanes.
"Playing nose guard is a different animal," McClure said.
Epenesa sacrifices his body, but nobody seems to notice.
"The guy that was unnoticed but had the best game better than all of them was Epenesa," McClure said. "He did an outstanding job on their center. He owned their center."
Epenesa established himself by getting great push up front. His
aggressiveness helped re-establish the line of scrimmage."He's always double teamed," McClure said. "He's a guy that's not going to get a tremendous amount of attention or tackles or sacks because he's always being double teamed. For a guy to take control of their center and take control of that "A" gap like he did is just tremendous work."
Epenesa's prints were everywhere, but never more evident than at the start of the second half.
On the first play, Epenesa made a strong push on center Justin Jackson. As Nebraska running back Ameer Abdullah came rushing up the middle, Epenesa took his eye off Jackson and centered on Abdullah. Epenesa extended his left arm and zeroed in on the tackle. Abdullah fumbled and Tevin McDonald scooped up the ball.
On UCLA's next drive, freshman Ka'imi Fairbairn converted a 22-yard field goal to give the Bruins a 27-24 lead.
"Seali'i squeezed the center and knocked the ball out," McClure said. "That's just good instinct. He's done nothing but get better this season."
No letdown
With so much talk about the Bruins' national ranking and Johnathan Franklin's Heisman chances, UCLA coach Jim Mora said remaining focused is key. Now is not the time for UCLA to get complacent, he says.
"Complacency is a killer and I think it's just important to avoid it in your life if possible," Mora said, "and certainly in a competitive environment like this where you're operating in front of people that are going to judge you."
Media policy explained
In light of what transpired over the last couple days regarding Scott Wolf of the Daily News being banned for two weeks from USC practice and games for reporting on injuries, Mora was asked to give his perspective on why the school has instituted a media policy of reporting on injuries.
"We at UCLA appreciate the jobs you guys do," Mora said. "We understand how hard it is and we want to give you information necessary to do your job. You guys, especially you, come out here every stinking day, rain or shine, hot or cold. You were at San Bernardino.
"We want to help you do your job, but at the same time we have to protect what we're doing. So if we can provide our opponent with a competitive advantage because we're providing them injury information, that's just not a positive for our program. We just have to balance what's good for our fans, what's good for you guys and what's good for the public with what's good for our football team."
Earlier this week, Houston coach Tony Levine told reporters in Houston that the Cougars will go into Saturday's game against the Bruins without two offensive line starters.
Advantage, Bruins.
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