I just watched the UCLA-Oregon game -- that was a true battle between Top-10 teams.
UCLA's strengths are that Charbonnet is the best downhill, Yards-After-Contact running back I've seen in the Pac-12 in a while, and DTR is one of the most mobile QBs in the nation.
And of course mobile quarterbacks and hard-to-tackle running backs are two of Stanford's weaknesses.
UCLA is not a perfect team. Oregon had success running up the middle, and DTR can throw inconsistently. Oregon had the perfect game plan -- jump out to the lead and playcall incredibly aggressively (an early onside kick while they had the lead), and this took UCLA's best two assets -- Charbonnet and DTR's feet -- largely out of the game, and made UCLA try to catch up using DTR's arm. Oregon's two-touchdown win didn't show UCLA was over-rated -- it showed what can happen when another Top-10 team, with a thunderous home field advantage, with a great game plan, executes that plan to perfection.
There is a path for Stanford to win. DTR can throw some bad, floating balls, and in past years, Stanford has had ball hawk defensive backs. UCLA's dependence on Bono reminds me of Notre Dame's dependence on Mayer, and Stanford was the first team this season to take away Mayer. I've been really impressed with how much Stanford's front 7 have improved, and maybe this is the game they take another step forward and pinch DTR and lock-down Charbonnet before he can get going. Maybe this is the game the secondary returns to their old form. Maybe this is the game the oline protects McKee consistently against a fast, aggressive pass rush, and maybe this is the game the WRs make all the catches we know they can, and a new RB emerges.
But although I hope this happens, and I think it can happen, my prediction must be negative this week -- UCLA has too many of Stanford's weaknesses and the Cardinal is not well-positioned to exploit UCLA's vulnerabilities. Even though Stanford is improving and has a shot at a bowl game, I could see Stanford trailing 35-6 and making it closer only in garbage time.
Can't Stop Mobile QBs, Can't Stop Downhill Runners - 16
Mobile QB, Downhill Runner - 35
UCLA's strengths are that Charbonnet is the best downhill, Yards-After-Contact running back I've seen in the Pac-12 in a while, and DTR is one of the most mobile QBs in the nation.
And of course mobile quarterbacks and hard-to-tackle running backs are two of Stanford's weaknesses.
UCLA is not a perfect team. Oregon had success running up the middle, and DTR can throw inconsistently. Oregon had the perfect game plan -- jump out to the lead and playcall incredibly aggressively (an early onside kick while they had the lead), and this took UCLA's best two assets -- Charbonnet and DTR's feet -- largely out of the game, and made UCLA try to catch up using DTR's arm. Oregon's two-touchdown win didn't show UCLA was over-rated -- it showed what can happen when another Top-10 team, with a thunderous home field advantage, with a great game plan, executes that plan to perfection.
There is a path for Stanford to win. DTR can throw some bad, floating balls, and in past years, Stanford has had ball hawk defensive backs. UCLA's dependence on Bono reminds me of Notre Dame's dependence on Mayer, and Stanford was the first team this season to take away Mayer. I've been really impressed with how much Stanford's front 7 have improved, and maybe this is the game they take another step forward and pinch DTR and lock-down Charbonnet before he can get going. Maybe this is the game the secondary returns to their old form. Maybe this is the game the oline protects McKee consistently against a fast, aggressive pass rush, and maybe this is the game the WRs make all the catches we know they can, and a new RB emerges.
But although I hope this happens, and I think it can happen, my prediction must be negative this week -- UCLA has too many of Stanford's weaknesses and the Cardinal is not well-positioned to exploit UCLA's vulnerabilities. Even though Stanford is improving and has a shot at a bowl game, I could see Stanford trailing 35-6 and making it closer only in garbage time.
Can't Stop Mobile QBs, Can't Stop Downhill Runners - 16
Mobile QB, Downhill Runner - 35