Tag Archives: Christian McCaffrey

UCLA practice links: Bruins start preparing for Stanford, McCaffrey

Posted on by
5
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)

It’s Stanford week, friends. It’s one of the biggest – if not THE biggest – game of the season for the Bruins considering the Cardinal’s recent reign over the conference and UCLA’s offseason pledge to become a more physical team. If the Bruins are to succeed in this game, then they’ll have to shut down running back Christian McCaffrey.

Head coach Jim Mora said Monday “it’s not even arguable that (McCaffrey is) the top player in college football.”

More on UCLA’s preparation for the Stanford superstar.

Other links:

Note:

Keep your options open for UCLA’s home game against Arizona on Saturday, Oct. 1. The kickoff time was pushed to a six-day selection by the Pac-12 and its TV partners and is still up in the air. It can be 5:30 p.m. on FOX, 6:30 p.m. on Pac-12 Networks or 7:30 p.m. on ESPN. Oregon-Washington State and USC-Arizona State are the other Pac-12 games in contention for those time slots. FOX picks its game first, followed by ESPN. The Pac-12 Networks get the last game.

First look: Stanford at UCLA

Posted on by
1
Stanford running back Christian McCaffrey (5) stiff-arms UCLA linebacker Kenny Young (42) 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) stiff-arms UCLA linebacker Kenny Young (42) during the first half of an NCAA college football game Thursday, Oct. 15, 2015, Stanford, Calif. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)

UCLA Bruins (2-1) vs. Stanford Cardinal (2-0)
Kickoff: Saturday, 5 p.m. PT, Rose Bowl
TV: ABC
Radio: AM 570

Scouting report: Stanford is still Stanford, the bully on the Pac-12 block. The Cardinal are coming off a methodical dismantling of USC in which Christian McCaffrey had 165 rushing yards, 73 receiving yards and two touchdowns (one receiving, one rushing). The running back leads the conference in rushing (149 yards per game) and all-purpose yards (235.0 yards per game). Stanford has wins over Kansas State and USC this season. Through two games, the Cardinal have been penalized only seven times for 61 yards. They are the least penalized team in the conference in yards per game. The Bruins rank fifth in the Pac-12 with 46.7 penalty yards per game. Continue reading “First look: Stanford at UCLA” »

By the numbers countdown to kickoff: 5 days

Posted on by
4
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.

UCLA 2016 schedule preview: Stanford

Posted on by
14
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)

Continuing the look at UCLA’s 2016 schedule, here is a breakdown of the Bruins’ conference opener: Stanford.

UCLA vs. Stanford

Saturday, Sept. 24 | Rose Bowl

2015 in review

Stanford capped off the 2015 season with another Pac-12 championship and a Rose-Bowl rout demolition of Iowa. Business as usual for the Cardinal in recent years. Stanford ran all over UCLA on Oct. 15 in a 56-35 victory at Stanford Stadium that still stings for UCLA players. Christian McCaffrey rushed for 243 yards as UCLA gained only 181 total yards on the ground as a team. Josh Rosen was sacked three times and threw two interceptions as Stanford led 56-20 after the third quarter. Continue reading “UCLA 2016 schedule preview: Stanford” »

Five questions: San Jose Mercury News’ Jon Wilner on Stanford

Posted on by
Reply

UCLA is limping a bit after a deflating loss to Arizona State nearly two weeks ago, a game that exposed some of the flaws on what is still a talented team. The No. 18 Bruins now need to try and bounce back against 15th-ranked Stanford, the opponent that has given them more trouble than anyone else in the past three years. How do David Shaw and company look this year after a relatively down 2014 campaign? The Bay Area News Group‘s Jon Wilner answered five questions about the Cardinal.

1. Kevin Hogan’s pass efficiency has improved notably compared to what he did in his first three seasons. What are the biggest differences in how he’s played this year?

He’s a fifth-year senior who has mastered the offense, has a veteran line — the left side is as good as it gets in the Pac-12 — and playmakers at running back and tight end (and, to a lesser extent, receiver). Stanford is asking him to do more. He was a game manager as a freshman and sophomore, and last year they had neither the talent nor the scheme. It’s all coming together. He’s also at peace emotionally — last year was difficult for him with his father dying of cancer during the season.

2. Stanford is scoring touchdowns on two-thirds of red-zone trips, compared to 57.5 percent over the past three years. Is this due more to improvements in coaching/playcalling or personnel?

Both. The line is better. There are fewer penalties, fewer turnovers, fewer missed blocks. And the coaches have a better idea how to use the talent, particularly Remound Wright, the short-yardage specialist, and Austin Hooper, one of the top tight ends in the country. But let’s also remember that UCF is winless and Oregon State and Arizona are weak defensively. It’s not like Stanford has put up big numbers against a series of stout defenses. Then again, I’m not sure UCLA qualifies as stout given the injuries.

3. The Cardinal’s streak of six straight 1,000-yard rushers ended last season, but Christian McCaffrey is on pace to join that club. How does he compare to past running backs of the Harbaugh/Shaw eras? Continue reading “Five questions: San Jose Mercury News’ Jon Wilner on Stanford” »