Go Joe Bruin continues our “Projecting the 2017 depth chart” series by looking at one of the bigger question marks on the UCLA Football team, the defensive line.
Every smart coach knows you build the foundation of your team upfront in the trenches. In our last edition of “Projecting the 2017 Depth Chart” series we looked at the offensive line for the UCLA Football program. We now jump across the line of scrimmage to look at the defensive line.
RELATED: UCLA Football Projected Depth Charts- Quarterbacks, Running Backs, Wide Receivers/Tight Ends, Offensive line
In 2016 the UCLA Football defensive line was dotted with a stud pass rusher, an agile interior defensive lineman and a crafty, veteran defensive tackle. All three of those players have found themselves on NFL rosters at this point with two of them being drafted earlier. All three will have to be replaced.
We will start our GJB projected depth chart at the DE position. Keep in mind we are going to list one DE position first and then to finish the depth chart we will return to the DE position as we work across the line.
Right Defensive End Depth Chart
Right defensive ends or RDE are your pass rushers. Yes these guys need to be able to play against the run to survive but they make their money and their fame on getting to the passer.
- Jaelan Phillips, #15, 6’5″, 255lbs., Fr.
- Keisean Lucier-South, #11, 6’4″, 240lbs., R-So.
- Marcus Moore, #95, 6’2″, 265., R-Fr.
It shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone that Phillips is atop the depth chart at one of the DE spots. He already has NFL size, speed and strength as a freshman and will only continue to get stronger and faster. He’s even made the fabled Freak list that college football guru Bruce Feldman puts together every year. He’s also one of the more complete DEs on the roster meaning he won’t be a liability on run downs or be a pure pass rush specialist.
KLS knows one speed, blazing. His first step is crazy good and he can run the arc with some of the best of them but what he hasn’t learned to do yet is have a plan for when his speed is negated. Offensive tackles know he only has the speed rush and no counter moves so they overset, or kick out wider in pass protection. Do that against a pass rusher with a plan and they’ll have sack lunches all day but against someone who doesn’t have a full tool belt, you can easily push them past the pocket.
What is even more concerning about KLS is that he doesn’t really have a stand out season so far so that means in the limited film study opponents have about him they’ve already figured out how to handle him.
Marcus Moore is a name most UCLA Football fans have forgotten. He’s about to make them remember in 2017. He’s now fully recovered from the injury that robbed him of his freshman season and a chunk of his senior season in high school and showed his burst off in Spring ball. While he’s still young and inexperienced, the coaching staff has to be excited about being able to rotate in fresh pass rushers without much drop off.
Nose Tackle Depth Chart
The Bruins run a more traditional four man front in their 4-3 defense but they still employ a nose tackle. Typically your nose tackle will function as a space eater or gap occupier. He isn’t asked to penetrate much into the backfield or sack the passer but instead is relied upon to hold up against double teams and free up other defenders so that they can make the tackle. It isn’t a glorious job and it won’t show up on the stat sheet but theses are highly prized players across CFB and the NFL. Last year Eli Ankou held this role and is now looking to fill that role with the Houston Texans.
- Boss Tagaloa, #75, 6’2″, 310lbs., So.
- Greg Rogers, #96, 6’3″, 305lbs., Fr.
- Ainnu Taua, #35, 5’11”, 295lbs., R-Jr.
Last year as a freshman Tagaloa saw action in all twelve UCLA Football contests. He recorded 19 total tackles and was a key reserve for the Bruins although I did notice there were times he was pushed around by PAC-12 veterans. That’s not cause for concern though as most freshmen take time to acclimate to the division 1 level. He wasn’t dominant this spring but again that should be cause for concern. He has the size, strength and now, experience to give the Bruins the piece they need in the middle.
He hasn’t see the field for the Bruins yet and hasn’t even been a part of a formal practice yet but Rogers should be an immediate impact player for UCLA Football. He looks bigger than 305 and is a better athlete than Tagaloa. He gives the Bruins some pass rush from the inside which should make coaches happy but will need to demonstrate his ability to anchor in the run game. Something I think he’ll only get better at as the season wears on.
Taua has bounced around from the offense to the defense during his time at UCLA. Not a big body, Taua is more of a penetrator with a fire hydrant frame that allows him to occupy two gaps. However he isn’t particularly stout and can be engulfed by larger blockers. His frame is his main limitation because he doesn’t have the quickness of Aaron Donald or even that of Nikita Whitlock. That means he’s not beating anyone with speed and he’s really not beating them with strength.
DT Depth Chart
This defensive tackle position operates more as a penetrator than as a space eater. You need a quick up the field guy to take advantage of the double teams that your NT commands and this UCLA Football team has more than a few guys capable of that.
- Matt Dickerson, #99, 6’5″, 295lbs., Sr.
- Nick Terry, #94, 6’3″, 295lbs., R-Sr.
- Osa Odighizuwa, #92, 6’2″, 285lbs., R-Fr.
UCLA Football fans have gotten more and more opportunities to see Dickerson the past few seasons. Large framed and svelte, Dickerson would seem to be more at home as a 3-4 DE where he could use his frame and length to keep blockers at bay. He did however see plenty of time at DT for the Bruins last year and will surely get the nod to start the season. My only issue with Dickerson is that because he’s taller, he needs to focus keeping his pad level lower. When he loses leverage it’s very obvious in both the run and pass game.
Nick Terry is a former Boise St. transfer who saw plenty of action with the Broncos before going the JC route. He has the requisite size and sneaky quickness to be an up the field penetrator but needs to be more consistent in his hand usage. The Bruins will rely on him a ton in 2017 so we will get to see truly how capable Terry is.
Osa doesn’t have his brother’s size but does have his work ethic. A weight room lover and a former wrestler, Osa understands leverage and has the strength to take advantage of it. He can stay low and drive his man back into the QB but doesn’t have the frame that can carry more than 300 pounds successfully. Still, he should become a valuable interior pass rusher for the Bruins in time.
Left Defensive End Depth
These defensive ends are typically what we refer to as base ends or your more traditional left defensive ends. These players are typically less explosive than their right side counterparts and have more asked of them in the run game but still offer some pass rush ability.
- Jacob Tuioti-Mariner, #91, 6’2″, 285lbs., Sr.
- Rick Wade, #90, 6’6″, 280lbs., R-So.
JTM came on very strong at the end of last season signaling to me that he was ready to take over a starting role full time. He’s stout and has demonstrated his versatility by playing all across the defensive line during his time with the UCLA Football program. While not overly tall, JTM has decent length that allows him to keep longer armed tackles at bay and more than enough power to jack them back. He won’t win any athletic awards but well above average in his role.
I like JTM but I really like Wade. He’s tall, strong, smart and has sneaky good athleticism. He passes the eye test and is the guy you want to get off the bus first. He has improved every year in the program but has been the victim of talented depth ahead of him. While I do think JTM enters the season as the starter, don’t be surprised to see Wade in more than just spot duty.
Potential Starting Defensive Line
RDE Jaelan Phillips-NT Boss Tagaloa-DT Matt Dickerson-LDE Jacob Tuioti-Mariner
The UCLA Football defensive line has an amazing amount of potential mixed in with experience. While the big names are gone, the Bruins boast some impressive returners and mix that in with tons of young, talented faces. They’ll be tested early against big passing attacks in Texas A&M and Memphis while facing run heavy teams in Hawaii and Stanford. As goes the defensive line so goes the UCLA Football defense.
Next: UCLA Football: If Josh Rosen wasn't injured the Bruins would have gone 10-4 in 2016
Stay with Go Joe Bruin as we continue our depth chart projections in the coming weeks. Next time we project the linebackers.