UCLA Bruins head coach DeShaun Foster made the biggest coaching decision of his career in Westwood last weekend.
Benching starting quarterback Ethan Garbers for up-and-coming signal-caller Justyn Martin, Foster made the change ahead of their losing effort to Penn State.
On the season, Garbers completed 67 of 117 passes for 808 yards with three touchdowns and six interceptions. Naturally, Foster made the change to reinvigorate a sliding Bruins team in hopes of picking up some wins down the stretch.
Martin has only attempted 35 passes in his college football career, all of which came against Penn State last Saturday. But the quarterback change could breathe new life into the sluggish Bruins offense.
Though not as athletic as Garbers, Martin is a decisive passer who could lend himself to a more conventional, efficient offense. For a Bruins team looking to “get back to the basics,” Martin offers the Bruins a chance to move the chains effectively and avoid the back-breaking turnovers that have plagued the Bruins thus far.
If Foster continues to play Martin, expect a relatively smooth offensive attack and the Bruins to be competitive well into the second half going forward.