Chip Kelly analyzes UCLA's running game entering Stanford game

UCLA head coach Chip Kelly watched the running game pace its offense in a 36-24 loss this past weekend to Oregon State. The Bruins managed 450 yards of offense with 284 yards coming on the ground.

Carson Steele led the way with 110 yards on the ground on 22 carries while backup quarterback Collin Schlee had six carries for 80 yards.

Kelly talked about the running game during his Monday media availability.

“I think there were flashes and there were times we looked really, really good,” Kelly said. “And there were other times when, for lack of a better term, we left some meat on the bone. We need to continue to grow on the offensive side of the ball. Statistically, when you look at it, we did rush for a lot of yards but Collin had a little bit to do with that too himself. That was a little bit different schematic changeup that we hadn’t shown in the past. Collin did a good job of really taking advantage of what we had. But just we need to be more consistent in terms of just being able to rush the football.”

Steele leads the way on the season with 523 yards total rushing on 93 carries for three touchdowns. T.J. Harden has 53 rushing attempts for 333 yards and three scores of his own. Over the first six games of the season, UCLA is averaging 214.67 yards per game on the ground, which ranks 10th in the country and second among all Pac-12 teams.

Their opponent this week, Stanford, has a decent rush defense. The Cardinal are 66th in the country in rushing defense at 138.2 yards per game. But did just

But beyond that it will likely be the last time the two programs face off for the next few years as UCLA heads to the Big Ten and Stanford departs for the ACC. Kelly addressed the sadness he feels at the fall of the Pac-12 these past two years due to conference realignment.

“It’s all sad,” Kelly said. “I have feelings on the whole thing. I think that we should all still be together. Some people should be able to work that out. Let’s criticize them. Let’s not criticize the high school athletes. Let’s criticize the people that are making really good money that have put us in this situation.