Back to the UCLA Bruins Newsfeed

UCLA gets creative with its depleted defense against Memphis

was missing so many players on defense that it forced the Bruins to get creative.

It worked. Sort of.

The Bruins used a 3-4 formation that essentially turned defensive ends Jaelan Phillips and Keisean Lucier-South into outside linebackers … and then had to switch personnel again in the third quarter when Phillips went down with an apparent right ankle injury. Phillips was wearing a walking boot after the game.

“You can call it a 3-4, or a 5-2, whatever,” UCLA coach Jim Mora said of the No. 25 Bruins’ hybrid formation after their 48-45 loss to Memphis on Saturday at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium.