UCLA Football vs. Stanford: 5 Things We Learned From the Stanford Game
Sep 24, 2016; Pasadena, CA, USA; Stanford Cardinal running back Christian McCaffrey (5) runs the ball while being tackled by UCLA Bruins running back Bolu Olorunfunmi (4) and linebacker Kenny Young (42) during the first half against the UCLA Bruins at Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports
The UCLA Football team lost to Stanford for the ninth time in a row. Though this game was a heartbreaker, there were a few things that stood out as positives. But let us be real, there were also a few negatives.
The UCLA Football team has failed to find a way to beat Stanford. Again. But it was not all bad.
Aside from the last six minutes, the Bruin defense held the Cardinal in check. The offense had a few good drives, but unfortunately they could not see the end zone.
So let us dive into the five things we learned about UCLA’s battle with Stanford:
1. The Defense Is Good
UCLA had prevented Stanford from scoring a touchdown in this game until 24 seconds remained. The Bruin defense continued their wrath which emerged like a bat out of hell last weekend against BYU.
They pressured quarterback Ryan Burns, they swarmed the ball carriers, limited Christian McCaffrey (sort of) and shut down most of the passing game.
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Up until Stanford’s last drive, in which they marched downfield 70 yards (which came about as Marcus Rios was called for kick-catch interference), the Bruins looked very good against Stanford.
The fact that the mighty Cardinal, the #7 team in the nation, was shut down on several occasions shows that the Bruins have are serious contenders. But the need to find a way to end games.
I’m sure the last thing Bruin fans want to read how well the defense was after they allowed a late Stanford touchdown. But the truth is the defense did everything they can to limit Stanford scoring opportunities and to shut down McCaffrey.
The offense didn’t help by not getting into the end zone. The Bruins lost a time of possession battle, which was better than last season, which means a defense was once again on the field more than the offense. This is the first time this is happened this season.
Despite the loss, the defense is very good. But with that being said…
Sep 24, 2016; Pasadena, CA, USA; Stanford Cardinal running back Christian McCaffrey (center) runs the ball during the second half against the UCLA Bruins at Rose Bowl. The Stanford Cardinal won 22-13. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports
2. The Defense Needs To Be Aggressive Late In The Game
For the second straight game, the Bruin defense let up on the reins, gave their opponent a cushion and were scored on because of it.
Last week, against BYU, the Bruins did a brilliant job of containing QB Taysom Hill. He had a career-low -7 rushing yards. UCLA had trouble with the run defense last season and it is starting to improve. But then they played prevent defense and a Cougar receiver was able to find his way into the end zone.
Against Stanford, the defense was good considering they went against the best player in the nation and one of the best teams in the nation. UCLA contained Stanford as much as they could, but in the end it was just too much and that is going to lead to problems down the line.
Stanford was only able to score on field goals until their final drive. That is when UCLa played conservative, lost their bite and allowed Stanford to Stanford the Bruins.
If UCLA plays aggressive all game long, only to ease up at the end of the game, then it voids everything good that they did to to that point, especially if it results in a loss.
Sep 24, 2016; Pasadena, CA, USA; UCLA Bruins quarterback Josh Rosen (3) warms up prior to the game against the UCLA Bruins at Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports
3. Josh Rosen: Unbalanced
There is an imbalance with Josh Rosen this season. He is throwing for several yards, but he is not getting the ball into the end zone.
He is able to get the team down the field with a good balance of running and passing, but somehow he cannot finish the job.
Real quick, let’s compare this game to last year when Stanford trounced the Bruins 56-35. Rosen and could not get anything going in that game until it was too late.
Yesterday against Stanford, UCLA was methodical. Rosen looked like he was having better connections with his receivers and his running backs helped out when needed. Especially Bolu Olorunfunmi who seem to be attacking the Stanford defensive line head on.
Despite this heartbreaking loss, that is something to build on for the future.
He wasn’t able to get anything in the end zone but Rosen did collect 248 yards through the air. Things are slowly starting to work out for UCLA and they had a chance to flex their muscles against Stanford.
Unfortunately they couldn’t finish the job which means they have something else to work on.
Sep 24, 2016; Pasadena, CA, USA; Stanford Cardinal running back Christian McCaffrey (5) runs the ball past UCLA Bruins linebacker Cameron Judge (4) during the second half at Rose Bowl. The Stanford Cardinal won 22-13. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports
4. The 3rd Quarter Is Not UCLA’s Friend
Though the defense continued to hold off the Cardinal offense just after the half, the Bruin offense could not get the ball past the goal line.
Stanford did get a field goal in the third quarter but for the most part they were stagnant against the stingy Bruin defense.
But going back to what I touched upon in the last slide, Rosen and the offense need to find a way to put points on the board. They didn’t exactly come out slow, they just failed to execute. They had a really good rhythm in the first half but once again they succumbed to the Cardinal pressure after the half.
The worst thing about this game is that UCLA was completely shut out in the second half. They had their chances to score and put themselves out of range, but late in the game the defense went conservative and allowed Stanford to do with Stanford does to UCLA all the time.
Sep 24, 2016; Pasadena, CA, USA; UCLA Bruins head coach Jim Mora (right) looks on during the first half against the Stanford Cardinal at Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports
5. UCLA Football Still Cannot WIn Big Games
It is hard to say, but Jim Mora cannot win big games. In the last five seasons, the Bruins have had a number of games set up to propel themselves into the upper echelon of the college football elite. In the last five years the Bruins have lost all of those big games which has kept them as a team that is just good, not great.
A lot of what occurred in yesterday’s loss to Stanford was not on the players. There were a few bonehead plays, like that kick-catch interference by Rios, but for the most part coaching lost this game. Again.
Jim Mora still has not beat David Shaw and this was the sixth time in a row he has watch Stanford walk off the field victorious.
If Jim Mora wants UCLA to be great, then he has to be more aggressive and take more risks rather than have this “bend but don’t break” mentality.
Stanford is a good championship level team. If you play “bend but don’t break” against them, they will break you because they know how. They have the coaching staff for it. They have the experience. They have the Pac-12 trophies.
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UCLA has a Alamo Bowl trophy and one South Division win in the Mora era. That will not do.