Defensive lineman Eli Ankou talks about his feeling when he saw Eddie Vanderdoes on the sideline in street clothes, what needs to get better to improve against the run and Harambe’s healing powers.
Safety Tahaan Goodman talks about his performance through two games of the year and the defense’s focus on physicality.
Defensive line coach Angus McClure talks about how the team spends down time in San Bernardino getting better, the progression of Boss Tagaloa and the health of Eddie Vanderdoes.
Linebacker Kenny Young about the competition at middle linebacker, the Blue Cut Fire and how San Bernardino helps the team build mental toughness.
Linebacker Cameron Judge talks about how the middle linebacker competition affects him, what he thinks about San Bernardino and his role as a starter right now.
Defensive back Tahaan Goodman talks about what he brings to the group of defensive backs, how the team bonds off the field and his reputation as a big hitter.
UCLA safety Tahaan Goodman should have been called for a targeting penalty against Washington State on Saturday, said Pac-12 vice president of officiating David Coleman.
Appearing on Pac-12 Networks today to talk specifically about targeting fouls, Coleman analyzed a few calls from the weekend with network analyst Mike Yam. One was Goodman launching himself head first at WSU quarterback Luke Falk, who had left the game earlier with an apparent head injury but returned to start the second half.
“It’s a definite– It’s a launch,” Coleman said. “We have to have our antenna up when something like that happens. As you see from this shot, there is definitely elbow to helmet contact, and that’s a targeting foul. …
“(Falk) had definitely given himself up (by sliding). And then you see the other player coming like he is, something bad is going to happen in a situation like that.” Continue reading “Pac-12: Refs missed targeting call on UCLA’s Tahaan Goodman” »
UCLA cornerback Johnny Johnson runs with the ball during the Bruins’ “Spring Showcase” at the Rose Bowl on April 24, 2015.
(Keith Birmingham/Staff)
Like UCLA’s offensive line, the secondary is a unit that has grown significantly during the Jim Mora era. Back in 2012, the Bruins were maligned for their pass defense, one that ranked eighth in the Pac-12. In the last two years, they haven’t ranked lower than fourth.
With every starter returning, there’s plenty of depth in the defensive backfield, one that has emphasized positional versatility to facilitate the use of shifting schemes and to better secure against injuries. This fall, the X-factor will be whether or not any one player makes the leap into becoming a dominant, shutdown corner.
The best candidate is likely still senior Fabian Moreau, who looked fantastic in spring and fall camp last year before a very uneven 2014 season. The former running back was burned repeatedly through the first half of his junior campaign, but eventually found more a rhythm as the year wound to a close. Position coach Demetrice Martin said in April that Moreau often appeared to be in great position for a play, then explicably stopped running all the way through. The Florida native has since made an effort to work on his ball skills and fix that habit. Continue reading “UCLA spring camp position reviews: Defensive backs” »
Tahaan Goodman hasn’t made a huge statistical impact this season, but his big hits against Arizona definitely left their mark on some Wildcats.