Tag Archives: 2016 season preview

By the numbers countdown to kickoff: 5 days

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Stanford running back Christian McCaffrey (5) runs past UCLA defensive back Ishmael Adams (1) for a touchdown during the first half of an NCAA college football game Thursday, Oct. 15, 2015, Stanford, Calif. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)

Stanford running back Christian McCaffrey (5) runs past UCLA defensive back Ishmael Adams (1) for a touchdown during the first half of an NCAA college football game Thursday, Oct. 15, 2015, Stanford, Calif. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)

Countdown the days to UCLA’s season-opener against Texas A&M with key stats facing the Bruins this year.

10 receiving touchdowns by Thomas Duarte last year, which led the team
9 returning starters on defense
8th in the Pac-12 in rushing defense last year
7 second-half turnovers for Josh Rosen last year
6 different starting combinations on the offensive line in 2015

5 STRAIGHT LOSSES TO STANFORD UNDER JIM MORA

For another season, we ask: Is this the year the Bruins vanquish the Cardinal?

Under head coach Jim Mora, UCLA has never beaten Stanford. It’s five straight losses in four years.

The Bruins are so committed to the cause that they’ve shaped themselves to specifically beat Stanford. They pledged to get bigger to stop the run. The focus on power running was geared to help the offense control the clock and help the defense get used to facing such a bruising scheme.

“It’s time to beat Stanford this year, so I’m glad we’re making the changes we’re making,” linebacker Kenny Young said. “It’s going to help us a lot.”

UCLA’s struggles against the Cardinal even predate Mora. The Bruins haven’t beaten Stanford since 2008. The eight-game losing streak is the longest losing streak UCLA has against any one conference opponent at any time. The next such streak was a seven-game slide against USC from 1999-2005. The final two USC wins of that streak were later vacated.

With Kevin Hogan gone, the door is ajar for another team to snatch the top spot in the conference, although the Cardinal were still voted the media favorites to win the league. They do after all still have Christian McCaffrey, who ran for 243 yards against the Bruins last year.

By the numbers countdown to kickoff: 6 days

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Conor McDermott and Josh Rosen celebrate his touchdown late in the fourth quarter in their game against Washington State Saturday. (BILL ALKOFER, OC REGISTER STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)

Conor McDermott and Josh Rosen celebrate his touchdown late in the fourth quarter in their game against Washington State Saturday. (BILL ALKOFER, OC REGISTER STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)

Countdown the days to UCLA’s season-opener against Texas A&M with key stats facing the Bruins this year.

10 receiving touchdowns scored by Thomas Duarte last year, which led the team
9 returning starters on defense
8th in the Pac-12 in rushing defense last year
7 second-half turnovers for Josh Rosen last year

6 DIFFERENT STARTING COMBINATIONS ON THE OFFENSIVE LINE IN 2015

The Bruins were hopeful about their depth on the offensive line heading into last season, but by season’s end, things looked dim.

Injuries made for a rotating cast of characters on the offense line and six different starting combinations in 2015.

By the Foster Farms Bowl, the Bruins were so thin on the line that they leaned on a walk-on, Cristian Garcia, and a former defensive lineman, Najee Toran, for support. Garcia got the start at left guard during the bowl game

“We make it work,” offensive line coach Adrian Klemm said. “This is why we have guys who can play multiple positions. Just plug guys in and keep it moving.” Continue reading “By the numbers countdown to kickoff: 6 days” »

By the numbers countdown to kickoff: 7 days

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UCLA Bruins quarterback Josh Rosen #3 fumbled the ball and USC Trojans defensive tackle Rasheem Green #94 picked it up and ran it in a touchdown in the 3rd quarter. USC defeated UCLA 40-21 in a cross town rivalry at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, CA. 11/28/2015 (photo by John McCoy/Los Angeles News Group)

UCLA Bruins quarterback Josh Rosen #3 fumbles while being sacked against USC. USC  defensive tackle Rasheem Green recovered it and in a touchdown in the 3rd quarter. (Photo by John McCoy/Los Angeles News Group)

Countdown the days to UCLA’s season-opener against Texas A&M with key stats facing the Bruins this year.

10 receiving touchdowns scored by Thomas Duarte last year, which led the team
9 returning starters on defense
8th in the Pac-12 in rushing defense last year

7 SECOND-HALF TURNOVERS FOR JOSH ROSEN LAST YEAR

Although quarterback Josh Rosen set a school record for consecutive passes without an interception (245) last year, he said his main goal heading into his sophomore season is taking better care of the football.

He had 13 total turnovers last year (11 interceptions, two fumbles), with seven of them coming in the second half of games. A reminder of when Rosen’s turnovers occurred during each game:

rosen turnovers

In the first seven games of the season, Rosen turned the ball over six times, but only twice in the second half. In the last six games of the season, five of Rosen’s six turnovers occurred in the second half, including three in the fourth quarter of games.

Rosen’s 11 interceptions the most among top nation’s top true freshman quarterbacks last year and the second-most for starting quarterbacks in the Pac-12, trailing only Cal’s Jared Goff, who threw 13. When comparing pass attempts and interception, Washington State’s Luke Falk proved to be the most efficient quarterback in the conference, throwing 80.5 passes to every interception. Rosen threw 44.3 passes to each interception.

Here’s how all the starting quarterbacks in the conference stacked up last year:

passestoints

By the numbers countdown to kickoff: 8 days

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Photo by Frank Perez/Correspondent

Photo by Frank Perez/Correspondent

Countdown the days to UCLA’s season-opener against Texas A&M with key stats facing the Bruins this year.

8TH IN THE PAC-12 IN RUSHING DEFENSE LAST YEAR

The Bruins were ranked eighth in the conference in rushing defense (198.5 yards allowed per game) last year with major losses to Stanford and Nebraska all due to the team’s inability to stop the run.

Stanford racked up 311 rushing yards against the Bruins while Nebraska, which finished the season with a losing 6-7 record, had 326 in the Foster Farms Bowl.

UCLA hopes that concentrating on run fits and proper technique, combined with a switch to a 4-3 formation will fix last year’s woes. So far, they’re encouraged by the results in practice.

Going against Kennedy Polamalu’s offense also helps the defense prepare to face Stanford’s powerful running game again this season.

“Practice now is much more physical,” defensive lineman Rick Wade said. “It’s much different, it’s completely different. So seeing the double teams, seeing the fullbacks, seeing the tight ends, it really does help us and I think it will translate into the season.”

Here’s a reminder of how the defense performed each game against the run.

ucla run defene with average

By the numbers countdown to kickoff: 9 days

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Eddie Vanderdoes (47) talks with Kenny Young (42) at practice. Photo by Steve McCrank/Daily Breeze

Eddie Vanderdoes (47) talks with Kenny Young (42) at practice. Photo by Steve McCrank/Daily Breeze

Countdown the days to UCLA’s season-opener against Texas A&M with key stats facing the Bruins this year.

10 receiving touchdowns scored by Thomas Duarte last year, which led the team

9 RETURNING STARTERS ON DEFENSE

UCLA sent two big stars on defense to the NFL, but the Bruins are set to reload quickly with nine returning starters.

Eddie Vanderdoes replaces first-round pick Kenny Clark in the starting lineup after a season-ending knee injury last year. Vanderdoes had never missed a game in his college career prior to his injury and made 19 combined starts during his first two years with the Bruins.

Cameron Judge is set to take a starting outside linebacker role opposite Jayon Brown. Judge, a senior, played in 12 games last season and made one start while Myles Jack left school early to prepare for the NFL Draft and recover from a meniscus injury.

Deon Hollins started 12 games last season as an outside linebacker in UCLA’s 3-4 front, but with the team’s switch to a 4-3, defensive end Matt Dickerson worked mostly with the No. 1 unit during training camp. Dickerson played in every game last year and made one start, against Washington State.

The Bruins could have 10 (or possibly 11) upperclassmen starting on defense:

  • Defensive line: Takkarist McKinley (Sr.), Eli Ankou (R-Sr.), Vanderdoes (R-Jr.), Dickerson (Jr.)
  • Linebackers: Brown (Sr.), Kenny Young (Jr.) or Isaako Savaiinaea (Sr.), Judge (Sr.)
  • Defensive backs: Fabian Moreau (Sr.), Randall Goforth (R-Sr.), Jaleel Wadood (Jr.), Marcus Rios (R-Sr.) or Nate Meadors (So.)

The group’s experience is “golden,” Vanderdoes said.

“That’s the biggest asset we have right now,” he continued. “We’ve been through everything. … We’ve experienced big losses, small losses, everything, so I don’t think anything can faze us at this point. We’ve seen it all, we’ve experienced it all. We know what it’s like.”