UCLA Football: The return of Nate Meadors, Adarius Pickett brings consistency to the secondary
The UCLA football team will get some much needed consistency on the defensive side of the ball as both DBs Nate Meadors and Adarius Pickett have decided to return to the Bruins in 2018.
What we see of the UCLA football team next year will be completely different from 2017. With Chip Kelly coming in, we are expecting the offense to go back to an uptempo, run-based style. But what about the defense?
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New defensive coordinator Jerry Azzinaro has some work to do with his players as they try to improve the run and reshape into a 3-4 defense. What he doesn’t have to worry about is consistency in the secondary as both Nate Meadors and Adarius Pickett have decided to return. BOOM!
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With four key players (Jacob Tuioti-Mariner, Kenny Young, Jaleel Wadood and Matt Dickerson) moving on due to graduation, and hopefully the NFL Draft, having two solid players returning to the secondary is a big for Azzinaro and new DB coach Paul Rhoads.
Meadors has been a star in the making the last three seasons. The fact that he was considering leaving UCLA early for the draft gives an inkling of his level of talent. Meadors is a lockdown cornerback that is also a big hitter. Quarterbacks avoided his side of the field because of how well he plays the ball in coverage.
Last season, Meadors was fourth on the team in tackles with 55 (39 solo, 16 assisted), 2.0 tackles for a loss, nine pass breakups, one sack and one interception that went for 27 yards.
The Bruins also get consistency at safety with Pickett coming back. UCLA loses Wadood, their most import DB from last season, so having Pickett return gives the Bruins talent and experience against the long ball/run. He is fast, physical and can cover a lot of ground in a little bit of time.
Last season, Pickett was second on the team in tackles with 85 (63 solo, 22 assisted), 4.0 tackles for a loss, three pass breakups, 1.0 sack and one interception. As a group, the Bruins were second in pass defense in the Pac-12, allowing only 196.3 yards per game and second in pass completions percentage against with 57.2. Expect similar numbers, if not better, in 2018 as the Bruins have a few other DBs that should make an impact.
Next: Projecting the UCLA football starting lineup for 2018
According to Go Joe Bruin’s 2018 starting lineup projections, Meadors and Pickett will protect the skies with up-and-coming Octavius Spencer and one of last season’s freshmen phenoms, Darnay Holmes. Needless to say, it should be a good year for the Bruins’ secondary next season.