UCLA still struggling to find answers to problems on defense

Sometimes UCLA defensive coordinator Joe Tresey appears to be the loneliest guy in Westwood. During practice, he might stand 50 yards away from the action, getting a wide-angle view of his defense.

Sometimes Tresey looks like the angriest man in town. He can go from an introspective pose to an agitated state very quickly, with loud woofs of “Are you [kidding] me!”

Sometimes, well, Tresey just seems puzzled.

Deep into the season, his defense is still a work in progress. And it didn’t work much at all during the 48-12 beating Arizona administered on Oct. 20.

The Bruins sifted through that wreckage while preparing to play California on Saturday at the Rose Bowl, but a remedy is elusive.

“If I had the answer, I would package it and sell it,” said Tresey, who was hired in February. “This is uncharted water for me.”

Smooth sailing doesn’t appear the forecast. California is coming off a 34-10 victory over Utah. The Bears are averaging 293 yards passing per game — ranking 19th in the nation — and feature Keenan Allen, one of college football’s top receivers.

Meanwhile, the Bruins defense has been most proficient in padding opponent stats. Arizona rolled up 573 total yards.

“It’s brutal,” Tresey said “I take it personally. Success is a lot easier to deal with. When you’re winning, you start looking ahead, ‘Who do we have next?’ This is an extremely humbling experience.

“When you get in this type of position, the good Lord tells you, you should live every day in the present. Don’t worry about the past, don’t look at the future.”

The present is troubling enough.

UCLA is better than it was a year ago in only one defensive category, going from 108th nationally against the run in 2010 to 95th this season — a difference of 14 yards per game. The Bruins are 106th in total yards allowed, yielding an average of 436.14. Out of 120 Football Bowl Subdivision teams, only Navy and New Mexico have a worse third-down percentage on defense.

“In this situation, it’s a little bit of everything,” Tresey said.

The blueprint this season called for the offense to run the ball and the defense to be considerably stingier.

Tresey came to UCLA with respectable credentials from his Big East Conference days as a defensive coordinator. Cincinnati allowed 20.14 points per game in 2008 and South Florida allowed 19.77 in 2009.

The defense appeared aggressive and efficient during training camp. They then opened the season by giving up 31 points in the first half of a 38-34 loss to Houston.

The Bruins give up 34.4 points per game, ranking them 108th.

“The Big East didn’t have quarterbacks like we’re running across now,” Tresey said. And, he noted, those passers have plenty of good options: “Every team in the Pac-12 has a core of really solid receivers. In the Big East, you’d have one, possibly two, on each team.”

Coach Rick Neuheisel lamented “uncharacteristic” poor tackling by the Bruins against Arizona. Numbers indicate it’s a weekly problem.

UCLA has allowed more than 200 yards rushing four times, including 254 by an Arizona team that came in averaging less than 72. The Bruins have only six sacks in seven games.

“It’s a combination of a lack of execution and, also from a coaching aspect, putting our players in a better position to be successful,” Tresey said.

UCLA cornerbacks continually play off the line of scrimmage, allowing receivers easy short routes. Tresey has preached an attacking style, but the Bruins often seem passive.

Tresey attempted to fix what has been broken all season during the eight days between the Arizona and California games.

For example, he “simplified” linebacker duties. “We’re not asking them to read a lot,” he said. “We’re just asking them to go play.”

He also fiddled with schemes and personnel, trying to get a “good fit” in the run defense.

Cal will show him how close he might be to finishing the puzzle.

chris.foster@latimes.com

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