Coach Toledo speaks a foreign language. Or so it seems to
freshmen quarterbacks Drew Olson and Matt Moore.
“The tough part about an inexperienced quarterback is
adjusting during the game. He’s looking at you like,
“˜What are you talking about?'” Toledo said.
“We’re coaching all the time. People have no idea,
(during the game) they think I’m on the phone calling Chicken
Light: “˜I want one more pizza, please,'” he
said.
Which quarterback will be left to decipher Toledo at Washington
this Saturday is unknown. Toledo said that the two will split reps
50-50 during the week. Olson’s shoulder has healed from the
separation he suffered at Cal, and he could have played Saturday if
he had to. While the starter will not be named until late in the
week, if at all, both will see time in the game.
In a relief role, Olson completed 9-of-15 passes for 104 yards
in four games. Moore completed 7-of-19 for 142 yards and a
touchdown in his single start.
“It’s going to be a dogfight,” junior wide
receiver Tab Perry said.
For Toledo the numbers do not matter as much as his
intuition.
“It’s a gut feeling. Watching practice this week
will be important,” Toledo said.
Toledo significantly pared down the offense for Moore, who never
threw to a secondary option in the game.
“I think there is going to be a little more for whoever,
even though we scored 28 points on such a simple offense,”
Moore said.
“I don’t think you can win every football game being
too simple … I don’t particularly want to give it to Ebell
39 times,” Toledo said. “We can open the playbook more
with Drew because he’s been running the offense the last
couple months.”
Ңbull;Ӣbull;Ӣbull;
Sophomore tailback Manuel White will miss another game this
Saturday at Washington with a pulled hamstring. While Tyler Ebell
leads the team with 632 yards rushing, the 243 pound White has been
sorely missed in short-yardage and goal-line situations.
“Ebell has great vision in the hole. He can cut back and
the guy breaks his ankles trying to tackle him. He’s better
between the tackles than I gave him credit for. He can do whatever
we want a back to do,” Toledo said.
“My concern is short yardage and the goal line. When Ebell
gets hit he’s not going to drag people into the end zone like
DeShaun Foster or Manuel White.”
The Bruins are eighth in the Pac-10 in red zone offense. One of
the most blatant red zone mishaps came at Cal where they failed to
get points from first-and-goal on the two-yard line.
Against Stanford, the Bruins settled for a field goal after
being in first-and-goal from the five-yard line. They cannot afford
such inefficiency against Washington, which sports the top run
defense in the conference, allowing only 79.2 yards per game.
Ңbull;Ӣbull;Ӣbull;
As for other injuries, Rodney Leisle is out again following foot
surgery and is not expected to return next week. Paus is most
likely out for the season, even a bowl game, following ankle
surgery last week. Sophomore corner Matt Clark is out with a broken
toe. Sophomore safety Jibril Raymo is probable with a separated
shoulder suffered at Cal.
Ңbull;Ӣbull;Ӣbull;
UCLA’s defense has improved to third in the conference,
giving up 326.6 yards per game.
“Coming into the season, the linebackers were the concern
more than anything, and they’ve been the most
impressive,” Toledo said. “Chillar reminds me of Donnie
Edwards when he was here.”
Ңbull;Ӣbull;Ӣbull;
Nate Fikse won Pac-10 Special Teams Player of the Week honors
after hitting 5-of-5 field goals in addition to his usual punting
duties.