How UCLAs Colin Hitschler has transformed a defense sparking CFP run

There were times over the past decade when the names Jerry Azzinaro and Tom Bradley were as despised around UCLA as Tommy Trojan.The Bruins’ defense – or lack thereof – was a major reason the team went nowhere, with the defensive coordinators primary culprits.Enter Colin Hitschler, a former wrestler whose unit has embodied his brawler mentality.Do it right or don’t do it at all is one possible mantra based on the defensive coordinator’s fiery approach Wednesday during an early portion of practice open to reporters.Hitschler ordered one underperforming cornerback out of a drill before delivering some salty words for the entire position group.“Come on, corners, pick your s— up!” Hitschler bellowed.They appear to be listening.UCLA’s defense is in lockdown mode for an unbeaten and eighth-ranked team that’s in position to make the College Football Playoff for the first time in school history.“Just trying to get better on every given play,” Hitschler said when asked about getting on the cornerbacks.That’s not often necessary for anyone on this defense.Ranked tied for No.5 nationally in scoring defense (allowing 13.4 points per game) No.

7 in total defense (allowing 260.8 yards per game), the Bruins (8-0 overall, 5-0 Big Ten) are on track to have one of the best defenses in school history.It all stems from the guy calling the plays and calling everyone out when they don’t get it done.“It’s the everyday standard that he holds them to and the desire to be the best,” coach Bob Chesney said when asked about Hitschler’s role in elevating the defense.“Every yard out there on that field, they take personally and he particularly takes personally, and when you have that mentality it makes it for an urgent practice every single day of the week, the standards are extremely high.”It certainly helps that the defense features some high-end talent, including Sammy Omosigho – a semifinalist for the Lombardi Award that goes to the nation’s top ...