Zach Charbonnet and Brittain Brown keep UCLA grounded

Coach Chip Kelly and the UCLA discourtesy person been the beneficiary of dependable moving backs successful each of the past 3 years.

Zach Charbonnet and Brittain Brown person followed the two-back strategy Kelly started successful 2019 with Joshua Kelley and Demetric Felton.

Kelley and Felton shared the tract Sunday afternoon, this clip arsenic nonrecreational players astatine SoFi Stadium. Kelley had 2 carries for 17 yards successful the Chargers’ 47-42 triumph implicit the Cleveland Browns. Felton had 17 yards connected 2 punt returns for the Browns.

Charbonnet and Brown person shared the tract each play for UCLA (4-2, 2-1 Pac-12), including past Saturday arsenic the duo contributed to the 329 full rushing yards successful the 34-16 triumph implicit Arizona.

“I deliberation we conscionable support this happening rolling,” said Brown, who has tally for 442 yards, with a 6.3 per-carry average, and 4 touchdowns. “Me and Zach provender disconnected each other. It’s bully contention and we emotion competing against each different portion we’re going against the different team.”

Brown rushed for a season-high 146 yards and a touchdown connected 12 carries against the Wildcats. Charbonnet rushed for 117 yards, losing conscionable 2 yards, connected 21 carries.

Both players enactment wrong Kelly’s strategy and their similarities adhd consistency connected offense.

“They’re tough, hard-nosed, carnal runners,” Kelly said. “As a play caller, you don’t person to telephone 1 acceptable of things for 1 feline and a antithetic acceptable for different guy. With some Brittain and Zach, our violative mentality, our violative individuality doesn’t change.”

Kelly has embraced the accidental of placing some moving backs connected the tract alongside dual-threat backmost Dorian Thompson-Robinson successful definite formations.

“I deliberation it presents aggregate challenges (for opposing defenses),” said Charbonnet, who averages 6.4 yards per transportation and has already amassed 566 yards and 7 touchdowns. “I tin get the ball, Dorian and Brittain tin get the ball, truthful it’s truly hard being capable to support up with wherever the shot is going.”

Kelly has besides been impressed with however bully the duo is catching passes from Thompson-Robinson retired of the backfield, arsenic they person combined for 15 receptions for 159 yards.

The Bruins’ quality to divided the workload betwixt the 2 players has helped support them caller and wounded escaped aft the archetypal six games of the season.

Brown and Charbonnet had injuries to flooded astatine their anterior schoolhouse earlier joining UCLA done the transportation portal.

“I’d accidental I felt a batch fresher than astir years,” Brown said. “I’ve stayed healthy. I’ve had a mates injuries successful my vocation from backmost successful the day. Fingers crossed, I’m not trying to jinx myself, but yeah, it’s decidedly keeping our legs fresh.”

UCLA’s Brittain Brown scores connected a 1-yard touchdown tally successful the 4th fourth to springiness the Bruins a 31-20 pb implicit LSU connected Sept. 4, 2021, astatine the Rose Bowl. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

Brown rushed for 1,126 and 10 touchdowns successful the 25 games helium played astatine Duke. His 3rd play arsenic a productive subordinate was chopped abbreviated aft 3 games with a season-ending wounded successful 2019.

Charbonnet rushed for 726 yards and 11 touchdowns for Michigan successful 2019 portion dealing with a genu injury.

Michigan manager Jim Harbaugh made the astir of his extent astatine the presumption during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season. Charbonnet finished the play with 124 yards and 1 touchdown connected 19 carries successful 5 games.

Charbonnet has caught the attraction of galore coaches successful the Pac-12 with his accumulation this season, but immoderate aren’t amazed aft having recruited him astatine Oaks Christian High.

Washington manager Jimmy Lake watched a batch of movie connected Charbonnet during the recruiting process portion scouting different players from the aforesaid precocious school. The Huskies (2-3, 1-1) were preparing to spot Charbonnet successful 2020 erstwhile Michigan was primitively scheduled to play astatine Washington earlier the play was condensed.

“He’s a big-time shot subordinate (with) truly bully size and speed,” Lake said. “He’s a peculiar shot subordinate and helium volition beryllium a pugnacious moving backmost to bring down connected Saturday.”

Kelly has evaluated movie connected the Huskies’ defence and what challenges the Bruins whitethorn look connected the roadworthy Saturday.

“That’s a truly bully defense,” Kelly said. “They’re tough, they’re physical. I deliberation they’re truly good coached and we person our hands afloat with their defence successful each facet.”

The Bruins are wary of the large situation and the anticipation of rainfall successful Seattle.

“We effort to simulate it arsenic overmuch arsenic we tin successful practice,” Kelly said. “Obviously we can’t simulate the rain. We did immoderate bedewed shot drills and volition proceed those successful practice. … The 1 happening we speech to our squad astir each the clip is power what you tin control.”