UCLA defense remains on shaky ground after being pounded by Stanford

Defense was the issue for UCLA against Stanford. It has been for three consecutive weeks.

Finding answers Sunday was difficult. None of the defensive players requested for interviews were made available to the media. A team spokesman said they were in a training session that would last until 4 p.m. Practice ended at noon.

So discussion of how the Bruins could improve after allowing 124 points and 857 yards rushing in losing two of the last three games was left to receiver Jordan Payton and running back Paul Perkins, who were unqualified to speak to the defensive problems.

That fell to Coach Jim Mora.

“If you believe in what you’re doing, then you do it and keep trying to do it better,” Mora said. “You get rid of the things that aren’t working and you improve on the things that are working. You try to put players in the best position you can, but you don’t panic.”

The bottom line, he said, was “having a positive attitude. It’s about being honest with yourself; hang together. You know all those coach cliche things.”

He’s right. Those are all coach cliches.

But a little frustration has set in.

Linebacker Deon Hollins took things out on a trash can outside the visitor’s locker room after a 56-35 loss to Stanford on Thursday.

Defensive end Takkarist McKinley was calmer and sure of the path, though less sure of the details, postgame

“We’ve just got to move on, get back to the film, keep working, keep grinding,” McKinley said. “Whatever the coaches call, you’ve got to do it.”

The Bruins face California on Thursday. The No. 20 Bears sling the ball around with quarterback Jared Goff, as opposed to Stanford’s pound-the-ball routine.

“They are pretty different, that’s kind of the nature of the Pac-12,” Mora said. “I don’t think you can get more radically different than these two teams. Stanford is like old-school football. Cal is like new-school football.”

Injuries

The training room got significantly more crowded after Thursday’s game.

Running back Nathan Starks (head injury) was not at practice. Tackle Conor McDermott (knee) and Hollins (knee) were there but did not participate. Mora said that McDermott, who protects freshman quarterback Josh Rosen’s blind side, was very doubtful for Thursday. Redshirt freshman Kolton Miller would start in McDermott’s place.

Guard Alex Redmond practiced, but his left hand was heavily taped.

Targeting issue

UCLA lost a player for targeting for the second time this season. Mora said he would like to see the rule revisited.

Wide receiver Kenneth Walker III was called for a helmet-to-helmet hit against Stanford when he came back to block Cardinal linebacker Blake Martinez.

“He is peeling back and has a really good player chasing his quarterback,” Mora said. “He tries to put a hit on the guy. It’s hard to critique that and say ‘lower your aim point.’”

Mora cited Michigan linebacker Chris Frey, who was called for targeting after being thrown down on a Michigan State player Saturday.

“As a guy who kind of likes football a little bit, that’s frustrating,” Mora said. “What is important is we continue to make player safety a priority. At the same time, we have to remember that this is football. It is a violent, contact sport. We need to try to find a happy medium.”

Booted?

UCLA punter Matt Mengel, who has struggled this season, averaged 37.8 yards per kick against Stanford.

“I would say if there was a positive in the punting situation it is that we’re not getting many return yards against us,” Mora said. “That’s something.”

Walker worked on his punting skills after practice. He was a punter at Richmond (Ca.) Kennedy High.

chris.foster@latimes.com

Twitter: @cfosterlatimes