DeShaun Foster explains mindset to punting while losing late in games

From a scoreline perspective, UCLA has not been in competitive fourth quarter games the last two weeks. Game management from head coaches can be interesting in those situations, especially from a first-year guy like Deshaun Foster. Offensive fourth downs late in contests, Foster has still opted to punt the ball away instead of going for it.

When asked about those decisions, the first question from Foster was the exact down and distance. An answer of 4th and 10 was provided, the UCLA headman quickly replied that is why. He believes if the Bruins did attempt to gain a first down but failed, questions would be asked about giving opposing teams short fields.

“If we haven’t been successful moving the ball offensively, then you guys would be talking about ‘Why are you going for a 4th and 10 on your 41?’ You can kind of look at that and think ‘Okay, is that a good situation to do that in, no matter what the score is? Or should I put them in a worse situation if we don’t get it?’ And then you guys are telling me about my decisions on fourth down,” Foster said.

With around 9:30 left in the fourth quarter on Saturday against Oregon, UCLA was down 34-13, and able to pick up a couple of first downs. One was even converted on 4th and 1, running eight yards to their own 41-yard line. Two incompletions and a run stuffed at the line of scrimmage then occurred, putting the Bruins in the aforementioned 4th and 10.

Foster called out the punt team with 7:05 left on the clock and never saw the ball again. Oregon killed the rest of the clock in 13 plays to get their first-ever Big Ten win.

A similar scenario unfolded in Baton Rouge the week before down 17 to LSU. UCLA punted on a 4th and 10 from the positive 41 with under five minutes left before the Tigers ran the clock out.

Some might view this as Foster giving up on the game and taking the loss. He does not view it that way, though — saying his team is going to fight for 60 minutes.

“Just because you punt, doesn’t mean that you’re giving up,” Foster said. “We haven’t giving up in any of the games that we’ve played in. One thing I can say is that these guys are playing hard, no matter what. It’s not a giving-up situation.

“If my team is still playing well and they’re playing hard, then yeah. But if offensively, if we’re not moving the ball well enough, I’m not going to put them in a situation just to get the first down.”