UCLA Football News: DeShaun Foster Reveals Strategy Behind Unique Kicking Platoon

UCLA football kicked off a new chapter under head coach DeShaun Foster on August 31, showcasing a unique approach during their season opener against Hawaii.

Foster implemented a planned rotation of punters and kickers, a strategy aimed at maximizing team performance.

Mateen Bhaghani stepped in as kicker, successfully converting all three field-goal attempts, including a crucial 32-yarder that clinched the game with less than a minute remaining.

His performance came after Blake Glessner missed a field goal earlier in the game. In the punting department, Chase Berry averaged 39.5 yards on two attempts, while Brody Richter averaged 22.5 yards on another two.

Foster's decision to utilize multiple specialists was intentional, reflecting his vision for the team.

“With the momentum going, I probably was gonna go for it,” Foster told Ben Bolch of The Los Angeles Times . “Then, they end up calling a timeout so we kicked the field goal.”

He also took charge of critical fourth-down decisions, diverging from the expectations set by offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy, a two-time Super Bowl champion.

As a result, Gessner missed a 52-yard field goal and Hawaii held on to their 7-0 lead.

“Every decision that we did was me,” Foster said . " … I’m telling everybody what to do. There’s no decisions being made by any other coaches, so anything that’s happening is coming directly from me.”

During one pivotal moment in the second quarter, Foster opted to kick a field goal instead of going for it on fourth down, a choice that ultimately kept Hawaii in the lead.

As the Bruins prepare for their upcoming game against Indiana on September 14, Foster emphasized the importance of team-wide improvement, indicating that every player needs to elevate their game, not just one side of the ball.

“I want the whole team to get better, so it’s not a one-sided thing like one side of the ball needs to get better and the other side can stay where they’re at; everybody needs to improve," Foster said.

The bye week will serve as an opportunity for the team to regroup and refine their strategies moving forward.