Pass Offense: If there is a strength of this Stanford team, it’s probably the passing game. Quarterback T.C. Ostrander has had five years to learn and saw some opportunities last season. The Cardinal have two wideouts with NFL potential, as well, seniors Evan Moore and Mark Bradford. But Ostrander hardly has the talent of UCLA’s signal-caller, junior Ben Olson. The Bruins air attack has looked improved in camp, and wide receivers Marcus Everett and Brandon Breazell are looking to end their UCLA careers with a big season.
EDGE: UCLA
Run Offense: The Bruin’s return their leading rusher from 2006, senior Chris Markey. Junior Kahlil Bell has had a great preseason camp, and should take some of the load of Markey’s shoulders. UCLA also brings back a veteran offensive line. The Cardinal run a passing attack; in two seasons junior tailback Anthony Kimble has just four touchdowns. As the team’s primary runner for the past two years he has run for 765 yards. Stanford has an experienced offensive line as well, but the group will certainly be more focused on pass protection this season.
EDGE: UCLA
Pass Defense: UCLA has all four starters back in its secondary from the 2006 season. Safeties Chris Horton and Dennis Keyes are team leaders as seniors, and senior corners Rodney Van and Trey Brown have plenty of experience under their belt. The cornerbacks are undersized, so the 6-foot-7-inch Evan Moore may be a problem. Stanford lost both of its safeties from last year, but they return three veteran cornerbacks, junior Wopamo Osaisai and seniors Tim Sims and Nick Sanchez.
EDGE: UCLA
Run Defense: Stanford is switching to a 4-3 attack this year under coach Jim Harbaugh. They plan to use a rotation of linemen. Sophomore Ekom Udofia is their best run-stopper at nose tackle. The Cardinal will definitely feel the loss of linebacker Michael Okwo; they’re left with a relatively inexperienced group of linebackers. Sophomore Clinton Snyder is perhaps their most experienced outside linebacker, starting 11 of 12 games last year as a freshman. UCLA, on the other hand, has a veteran defensive line and linebacking corps. Brigham Harwell and Kevin Brown will wreak havoc in the middle as the Bruins’ defensive linemen and Christian Taylor is a heralded run stopper at middle linebacker. The UCLA safeties also play an important role in defending the run.
EDGE: UCLA
Special Teams: The Bruins are breaking in two new kickers, redshirt freshman Kai Forbath will take kickoffs and redshirt sophomore Jimmy Rotstein will take the kick-offs. Stanford has a veteran punter in senior Jay Ottovegio, but UCLA’s Aaron Perez is a redshirt junior who started last season. UCLA’s Matthew Slater had a great camp returning kickoffs.
EDGE: UCLA
Coaching: Jim Harbaugh will be coaching his first game on the Farm with new defensive coordinator Scott Shafer, an up-and-coming defensive coordinator who comes to Stanford after coaching at Western Michigan. Despite the excitement surrounding the Stanford group, it’s unreasonable to expect them to command their team like UCLA’s staff can. Karl Dorrell is working with one of the most experienced teams in college football. DeWayne Walker is an aggressive defensive coordinator. Offensive coordinator Jay Norvell is already hearing praise for the work he’s done with the offensive units.
EDGE: UCLA