UCLA Football: What Does Kennedy Polamalu Bring to Running Game?

October 12, 2013; Pasadena, CA, USA; UCLA Bruins running back

(24) runs the ball against the California Golden Bears during the first half at the Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Jim Mora has taken more from USC than just their pride. He has taken one of their former ace recruiters and assistants — who also played fullback for them during a Rose Bowl season. This past off season, Jim Mora hired a new running backs coach. His name: Kennedy Polamalu. His addition brings more college and NFL experience to the table, having coached many teams in the past, but it also means a more stable running game.

There is no doubt that Polamalu has a knack for understanding football. His specific attention to detail makes him a great fit for a UCLA program trying to take the next step as a program. His knowledge, along with the newly instituted under-center passing plays for Brett Hundley, is sure to make defenses think before they act — considering their options and ultimately missing the fast paced UCLA offense. He, however, brings a bigger, more specific, and equally important quality with him.

As a former fullback himself, and also having to do with his strength and conditioning background, UCLA running backs will be better suited to find success against Stanford, or any big, gritty team for that matter. No matter what the combination of backs, it has been two years and three games of UCLA losing to Stanford — each game with a virtually non-existent running game. With one guaranteed match-up against the Cardinal this season, and another possible game in the PAC-12 Championship,  UCLA will need a running game should they hope to make a run at the first college football playoff.

If they can, and if they do make such a run, the UCLA Bruins would likely face an SEC team at some point — the same kind of team that wins in the trenches and stifles your running game, and if Polamalu can lead a running game against Stanford, he can do the same against any other team in the nation.

This all, however, depends on the strength of the offensive line this season. While it is looking up and seemingly a strength, the offensive line at UCLA has been plagued by injuries in seasons past. If it holds up, their passing game and running game will benefit greatly from the addition of Kennedy Polamalu. His coaching of the running backs should give defenses less of an ability to focus and hone in on Brett Hundley, and his direct contributions to the running game will be limitless.