UCLA Football: Negating The Negativity (Especially After Stanford)

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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The UCLA Football team is 2-2 to start the 2016 season, which means the sky is falling… or is it? I tell you why it’s not.

The UCLA Football team lost to the Stanford Cardinal in the worst way possible as the Bruins had a 13-9 lead late in the game.

On their second to last drive of the contest, the Bruin offense could not get into the end zone and extend the lead. The defense was then called in to stave off the Stanford offense as they did all game long.

That didn’t happen. Stanford scored with 24 seconds left. They scored again as time expired after hitting UCLA QB Josh Rosen who fumbled the ball. The Cardinal scooped it and ran it back for touchdown. Stanford won, 22-13.

So apparently the sky is falling. UCLA can’t beat Stanford, they are 2-2 to start the season and national championship aspirations have been disintegrated.

Listen, it is not the end of the world and I’m here to tell you why.

1. UCLA Manhandled the #7 Team in the Nation

It is unfortuante they lost but the fact is they controlled nearly all of this game says something. The offense was good against a stout defense, the Bruin D was incredible in slowing down Christian McCaffrey and the Cardinal offense and UCLA almost beat a Top 10 team.

In the end, UCLA lost to a very disciplined championship-winning team. The last six minutes seemed to have erased what UCLA achieved and that should not to be ignored.

2. Do Not Forget About the Improvements

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Just like the previous weekend, UCLA’s defense continued to thrive. Do not let one touchdown cloud your judgement on what this defense is capable of.

The run defense improved and even though Stanford ran for 207 yards, the Bruins did not allow an offensive rushing touchdown the entire game.

As for the offense, they might be considered a weak link, but look deeper. It needs to be understood that UCLA has implemented a new, more complicated offense and the team is not going to master it overnight.

Despite the lack of balls in the endzone, UCLA is getting the ball downfield. Josh Rosen is putting up big yards, the O-line is holding back defenses and the Bruins may have found their up-the-gut running back in Bolu Olorunfunmi. They need to continue to nurture this and attack.

3. The Coaching Staff Needs Time

Yes, it is fashionable to blame the coaching staff. Why not? Who are Bruin fans going to take their anger out on? Although they did allow a late touchdown, so some of it is warranted, but moving on!

Once again, chants of “Fire Mora” have emerged and it is unecessary, especially after four games. Mora has been successful at UCLA, but there is also the argument that he cannot win big games.

But that is the reason Mora and his staff have made changes to improve themselves.

Now here is the thing, the changes will not take place over night. It is a process for the offense to learn a new system. It is a process for the defense to improve, especially when shoring up their run D.

The staff needs time and so far it has not been horrible. If UCLA was 4-0, we would not be hearing any of this. Besides, IT WAS ONLY ONE CONFERENCE GAME! UCLA has eight more chances to right the ship.

It may seem as though I am making excuses for the team. I am not. I understand the Bruin’s follies. I also see a lot of good that is coming from this team. UCLA is a adjusting and will be more successful in the coming weeks. At least I hope they are, for the sake of my Twitter mentions! Go Bruins!

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