It’s no secret the UCLA Football team lost a ton of talent this offseason and almost all of it came on the defensive side of the ball. Can the Bruins recover and prepare for 2017?
The UCLA Football team has come a long way in terms of reloading with talent in recent memory. It wasn’t long ago that a couple major players departing could spell doom on one side of the ball but the Bruins have been consistently recruiting the type of talent to stay afloat.
At least on the defensive side of the ball.
In this series I’m going to take a look at every level of the defense highlighting the players that have left the program, who’s new, a break out player at each level and for my adoring fans my mancrush at every level. Let’s start first with the defensive line.
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Defensive Line
Who’s Gone: DE’s: Takkarist McKinley, Deon Hollins. DT’s: Eddie Vanderdoes, Eli Ankou
Who’s New: DE’s: Jaelan Phillips, Odua Isibor. DT’s: Martin Andrus, Greg Rogers
Breakdown:
The defensive line loses four guys who were either starters or played more than a handful of meaningful snaps in 2016. In any other year in any other program that would be cause for concern in my book. However the Bruins are actually looking at potential upgrades across the line with the new starters.
At defensive end Jacob Tuioti-Mariner really came on strong to finish the season and he will almost certainly lock up a job there. He’s a solid base end for the Bruins when he can utilize his lower body anchor to hold the edge but has surprising athleticism for a 270 lbs. end and can kick inside on pass downs to provide an interior rush. His backup will likely be Rick Wade who also came on last season.
Wade could be starting for almost any other program in the PAC-12 and there will be almost no drop off when he subs in. He’s only gotten stronger and bigger since coming into the program and I can see him eventually taking over the starting gig unless JTM plays out of this world. I have huge expectations for Wade.
On the other side look for Keisean Lucier-South to continue his development which hasn’t been as immediate as fans and coaches would have hoped. KLS is reportedly up to 240 lbs. which is about baseline for his position. If he can demonstrate he’s been able to retain his quickness around the edge and improve his strength he might be able to hold off the guy behind him.
That guy isn’t just a guy. It’s five star, early enrollee, Jaelan Phillips. I’m sorry but there’s no way he’s going to be rotating in for long and it is only a matter of time before this uber athlete forces his way onto the field. If he does it will be interesting to see if the Bruins go with a “NASCAR” like package very similar to what the N.Y. Giants did when they won their SuperBowl in 2008. Phillips is already weighing in 275 lbs. and would make a killing working against guards on obvious passing downs.
A Look at the Defensive Line (cont.)
The defensive tackle position is a little more uncertain but the Bruins do have some gems just beneath the surface. Matt Dickerson will move into the 3 tech position and provides an internal pass rush option. He’s tall at 6’4″ so maintaining leverage will be key. I like Dickerson more as a base end because of his length and height but pushing him inside does give the Bruins more beef and athleticism in the interior.
His running mate, Boss Tagaloa will function more as the run stuffing option and was baptized by fire last season as a true freshman. From reports, Tagaloa has spent the off season reshaping his body and getting stronger which only bodes well for the middle of the defense.
Mora commended Boss Tagaloa and Mike Alves for how they look physically this spring.
— Bruin Report Online (@BruinReport) April 4, 2017
Behind those two, the Bruins return a gang of potential. Osa Odighizuwa, Chigozie Nnoruka, Aniuu Taua and Nick Terry make for a formidable platoon of players that can come in and do more than spell the starters.
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Osa, while not as tall or as athletically gifted as his brother Owa possesses a fantastic first step and is an up the field penetrator that will work really well at the 3T. Taua is undersized but can contribute as a designated interior pass rusher. Terry could start for a number of teams in the PAC-12 and almost every team in the Mountain West.
The new guys, Rogers and Andrus, will be interesting story lines to follow. Andrus likely needs another year in the weight room and in a college meal plan before he’s ready for the field but Rogers is a guy that could earn minutes this year.
Adapting to the college game from high school is a learning curve but Rogers has the size, strength and athletic ability to get onto the field. his biggest obstacle will be the depth ahead of him and it might be a win-win if he redshirts.
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Next time I’ll break down the situation at linebacker and how the loss of Jayon Brown, Cameron Judge and Isaako Savaiinaea impacts the Bruins and whether they can survive in 2017.