LOS ANGELES -- In theory, UCLA coach Jim Mora’s decision in the offseason to revamp the team’s offense made sense.
The Bruins put up huge numbers in his first four seasons at the school, but there was a growing belief the up-tempo, spread offense employed by former coordinator Noel Mazzone had become too taxing on the team’s defense. Last season, the UCLA defense was on the field, on average, eight minutes more per game than the offense was. In a pair of losses to end the season, that discrepancy grew to 20:02 (against Stanford) and 16:30 (against Nebraska).