A new quarterback and a new philosophy will be on display when
UCLA plays Arizona State on Saturday.
As the Bruins attempt to maintain their undefeated conference
record, the coaching staff will pin its hopes on sophomore Matt
Moore and a revamped passing game to try to outmaneuver the Sun
Devils.
“We’re going to throw on earlier downs,”
junior wide receiver Craig Bragg said. “Of course I’m
excited about it as a receiver. Whenever a coach says that, my eyes
light up. I’m excited, we’ve been doing some things in
practice so far that have been designed for the passing
game.”
Moore was given back his starting job after fellow sophomore
Drew Olson held it for seven weeks while Moore recovered from a
deep-bone bruise he sustained in the season opener.
The 6-foot-4 Moore offers better downfield vision and a stronger
throwing arm, allowing the Bruins to chuck it deep.
“We’re taking some more shots down field, some
deeper routes, play actions, that kind of thing,” Moore said.
“It’s going to be exciting.”
While there is the possibility Moore will be tentative
initially, he does have the benefit of facing a defense that is
similar to what UCLA (5-2, 3-0 Pac-10) saw last week.
Like California, ASU (4-3, 1-2 Pac-10) utilizes a
pressure-oriented defense, and the Sun Devils have the ability to
disguise from which side they bring pressure, weak or strong. UCLA
hopes to turn its knowledge of the Sun Devils’ schemes into
increased offensive production.
“Offensively, we have to be more productive than
we’ve ever been,” UCLA coach Karl Dorrell said.
“We have to really start kicking into gear on what we need to
get done on that side of the ball.”
The Bruins’ defense has the fairly large task of trying to
contain Arizona State quarterback Andrew Walter. In the Sun
Devils’ last-second victory over North Carolina this past
weekend, Walter went 26 of 40 for 289 yards and threw two
touchdowns. Walter possesses a strong arm and has thrown for just
under 2000 yards in seven games. He has 15 touchdown passes for the
season, and the Bruins can expect the Sun Devils to go through the
air on Saturday.
“They have a good quarterback,” senior defensive
lineman Dave Ball said. “They are going to pass the ball a
lot, and that presents problems. We are going to have to limit
their quarterback.”
The Bruins have a lot on their hands with Walter who knows
something about UCLA’s highly touted defense.
“I hear the front seven for UCLA is really good,”
Walter said. “They’re going to be ready to go. They
have a great defense.”
Two key members of the Bruin defense are unlikely to play in
this weekend’s game. Senior defensive tackle Rodney Leisle is
recovering from a bruised shoulder, while junior cornerback Matt
Ware is still nursing a high ankle sprain. Walter and the Sun
Devils could exploit Ware’s absence.
Freshman Kevin Brown will make last week’s move from
defensive tackle to offensive guard permanent, as he will start at
the new position this week. Dorrell called for the switch in an
effort to increase the offensive line’s productivity ““
last week, Olson was sacked six times.
It’s a good thing, because with the possibility of a
slow-starting Moore, the UCLA line will need to give him all the
protection it can muster.