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UCLA Football Early 2018 Schedule Preview: Stanford Cardinal

By Mike Regalado

SANTA CLARA, CA - DECEMBER 01: Head coach David Shaw of the Stanford Cardinal looks on from the sidelines against the USC Trojans during the Pac-12 Football Championship game at Levi's Stadium on December 1, 2017 in Santa Clara, California. The Trojans won the game 31-28. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA - DECEMBER 01: Head coach David Shaw of the Stanford Cardinal looks on from the sidelines against the USC Trojans during the Pac-12 Football Championship game at Levi's Stadium on December 1, 2017 in Santa Clara, California. The Trojans won the game 31-28. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /
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SAN DIEGO, CA – SEPTEMBER 16: Rashaad Penny #20 of the San Diego State Aztecs runs past Bobby Okereke #20 of the Stanford Cardinal during the first half of a game at Qualcomm Stadium on September 16, 2017 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
SAN DIEGO, CA – SEPTEMBER 16: Rashaad Penny #20 of the San Diego State Aztecs runs past Bobby Okereke #20 of the Stanford Cardinal during the first half of a game at Qualcomm Stadium on September 16, 2017 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /

Stanford Defense

Things were a bit off for Stanford last year and that might continue into 2018. The Cardinal have been pretty solid as a defensive team, but things took a hit last season, especially with several key injuries. It also does not help that Stanford has such great coaching and development, that a few players have left for the NFL.

Still, Stanford has always been steadfast to their defensive discipline and that should continue, but there seems to be a drop off with talent. Defensive coordinator Lance Anderson will have his players producing at a high level, but is there a cap with his talent?

On the defensive line, Staford has Jovan Swann and Dylan Jackson to rely on. Unfortunately, they only had 40 total tackles between them. There is not a lot of depth and their potential starting DT Michael Williams only had six tackles in 2017.

Stanford 2017 Defensive Stats

Total Defense Passing Defense Rushing Defense Scoring Defense
405.1 (6th)  236.1 (5th) 169.0 (7th) 22.7 (2nd)

( ) – denotes ranking in the TEAM CONFERENCE

The linebackers look a little better. Starters Joey Alfieri, Bobby Okereke, Sean Barton and Casey Toohill have a ton of experience. Okereke is the workhorse here as he will be terrorizing offenses all season long. He was third on the team last season with 96 total tackles, 7.5 for a loss and 2 sacks.

The Cardinal lose two top LBs from last season, but Alfieri showed a lot of promise last season and should mesh well with this group as a starter. Toohill played sparingly but showed a lot of development since the end of last season.

Stanford loses two of their top DBs which will lead to more opportunities for other guys, but you really can’t substitute for All-Pac-12 selections. Alijah Holder and Paulson Adebo are skilled players at the corners, but only Holder had playing time last season and he only had 26 total tackles with one interception and three pass breakups. The safeties, Ben Edwards and Frank Buncom, bring a little bit more to the defensive backfield. Not only do they have experience, but they are aggressive with their production. Collectively, they both had 85 tackles, five interceptions, and three breakups.

If UCLA is firing on all cylinders by the end of the season, there is a chance that they could defeat Stanford on the ground and through the air. But let us not factor out that the Cardinal usual bring things together by seaosn’s end, so even though they have holes in their defense, Shaw should find some way to fix that and limit UCLA’s yards and points.