UCLA Football: 3 takeaways after blowout victory over Stanford

2. Joshua Kelley broke through for UCLA

While quarterbacks like Dennis Dixon and Darron Thomas made the most noise, Chip Kelly’s success at Oregon was predicated on having strong running backs. The Ducks were always built around the read-option, requiring backs that could churn out hard yards as well as burst for big plays.

After a rough first half of the season where his only 100-yard game game against Arizona, Joshua Kelley had a huge night against Stanford. His performance was critical to the UCLA blowout of the Cardinal, and he will be critical to any success that the Bruins have over the back half of the season.

Against Stanford on the road, Kelley put up a huge performance. The senior busted off 176 yards and a fourth-quarter touchdown on 18 carries, racking up a sterling 9.8 yards per carry in the process. He added two catches for 13 yards, showcasing his ability to provide a great safety valve out of the backfield.

If UCLA is going to have any chance at winning four of their next five and getting to six wins and bowl eligibility, that effort will be predicated on getting Kelley to keep performing at a high level. If the running back can continue to torment opponents out of the backfield, things are trending upward in Westwood.