Get to know UCLA with the help of a Q&A with BruinBlitz
It's a game of two battered teams Thursday night at Stanford Stadium between Stanford (3-3, 2-2, Pac-12) and UCLA (1-5).
The Cardinal have won two straight games while overcoming one injury after the other. The Bruins have one incredible comeback win over Washington State and a lot of misery aside from that as Chip Kelly tries to get his team going.
Cardinal Sports Report got some help from Rick Kimbrel of BruinBlitz to learn about the strengths and weaknesses of the Bruins, who will try to break a 12-game losing streak to Stanford.
How would you describe the state of the UCLA team and how they're handling the season so far?
Amazingly enough, this team has shown a lot of fight even though they have struggled.
A lot of teams would have quit already after such a slow start, but this group of young men have a lot of character. In UCLA’s last game against Oregon State, the Bruins spotted the Beavers 21 points in the first quarter. If there ever was a time for this team to quit, this was the time -- playing a quarterback, sophomore Austin Burton, who was not only making his first start, but seeing his first game action ever.
Burton did an outstanding job throwing for 236 yards and one touchdown. He ended up rushing for net of 64 yards and one rushing touchdown. So far this team hasn’t shown quit and that is a testimony of their character.
What are the main issues causing problems for the defense and who are the players Stanford fans should focus on?
Where to begin? UCLA’s defense has performed like the team as a whole, inconsistently. The defense played well enough to win the first two games of the season. No one thought the Bruins would beat OU in game three except madmen and poets. OU beat the Bruins, 48-14.
UCLA's defense struggles to create pressure on the quarterback. This puts added pressure on the Bruin back seven. They have improved on rushing defense. The Bruins also at times struggle at tackling. The Bruins are 12th in the conference in total defense, 12th in scoring defense, 12th in passing defense, and eighth in rushing defense.
It was hard to name players that have stood out because there haven’t been many, but middle linebacker Krys Barnes has been steady and leads the team in tackles, but he is hurt and may not play. Darnay Holmes has been playing hurt but has picked it up of late. On the defensive line, Osa Odighizuwa gets a lot of attention. Keisean Lucier-South has only played three games and he leads the team with two sacks. That kind of sums things up about UCLA’s problems putting pressure on the quarterback.
Do you expect Dorian Thompson-Robinson to be available? If so, what does he bring to the offense? If not, how does that change the game for UCLA?
Hard to predict, but I think UCLA head coach Chip Kelly will go with Burton, but if Thompson-Robinson does get the start it all depends which Thompson-Robinson shows up.
The one that has played the whole season except for a quarter and a half against Wazzu, then a lot of inconsistency. If the Thompson-Robinson of that quarter and half against WSU plays, UCLA is tough to stop on offense. The Bruins came back from a 32 point deficit in that game and it was one of college football’s all-time great comebacks.
The offense does not change if Burton plays. In fact, against OSU the offense ran very efficiently and they were able to make the game interesting after spotting the Beavers 21 points. A lot of UCLA fans hope that Burton plays because they feel he gives them a better chance at winning.
Who are the other playmakers to watch on offense?
Demetric Felton is a playmaker deluxe. He has the potential to take the ball to the house anytime he has the ball in his hands. He currently leads the Pac-12 in all-purpose yardage. Felton has rushed for 307 yards, has 397 receiving and 158 in kickoff returns -- he averages 143 all-purpose yards a game.
Running back Joshua Kelley is much like Stanford running backs of the past. He usually makes the first tackler on the scene miss.
The Bruins have a lot of depth and talent at receiver. Keep an eye on Jaylen Erwin, Chase Cota, and Kyle Phillips. All have contributed to the offense when given a chance.
What is your score prediction and why?
I don’t know why I am about to make this prediction because recent history doesn’t warrant such an outlandish prediction but I think the Bruins are going to win this game. I think the Bruin defense will play just good enough to give first-time starter Jack West some trouble. If the Cardinal ends up starting Davis Mills, I think his tender knee will give him trouble. The final score will be 31-28, UCLA.