There has been a lot said about the Bruins moving to the BIG Ten entering this season. From recruiting rankings to talent assessment, UCLA has caught fire for many of the program’s past shortcomings.
That said, Bruins defensive coordinator Ikaika Malloe gave some insights into how his defense will need to adjust.
In a video posted on UCLA’s BIG Ten Network X page, Malloe shed some light on how the conference merger will affect both the Pac-12 and BIG Ten teams. Specifically, it was about how different offensive philosophies will shape defensive game plans.
“Even when I was a player playing at the University of Washington, the BIG Ten was known for powerhouse football… For us, you had to get them out of running the ball. In the Pac-12, everything was quarterback-driven. It’s all about coverages and disguises and how much pressure you can put on the quarterback,” Malloe said.
“So, it will be a push and pull from two different conferences coming together. One will have to build the physicality part at least in my opinion. I believe on the BIG Ten side, it’s trying to figure out the spread offense. Things of that nature, where it’s not all powerhouse.”