He’s always there. Lurking, waiting. Spencer Havner, the
unquestioned leader of UCLA’s beleaguered rush defense,
continues to tackle his team’s most glaring weakness ““
its inability to stop the run.
The junior linebacker leads the nation with 15.3 tackles per
game. That’s a pretty amazing statistic considering the
Bruins feature college football’s second most porous run
defense.
“Spencer means a lot to our football team,” UCLA
defensive coordinator Larry Kerr said. “He’s a guy that
brings a lot of athletic ability to the field, and he’s
versatile. He can do a lot of things, and quite frankly we’re
asking him to do a lot of things.”
The Nevada City native has been doing all those things quite
well as one of the defense’s only bright spots thus far this
season.
Without him, the Pac-10’s most generous defense would
certainly be even more charitable. The Bruins are last in the
Pac-10 in total defense and have surrendered over 200 yards on the
ground to all three of their opponents.
“Coming into the year, I planned on leading the
Pac-10,” Havner said. “But I don’t want to put a
big focus on (the tackles). I would be happier if we keep a rusher
under 100 yards.”
His lofty personal goal was certainly within reach. The junior
starter was third on the team in tackles last year, and as a
freshman his 96 tackles placed him second both on the team and on
the all-time Bruin list for freshmen.
So this year, it was only natural for him to step up in place of
last season’s conference leader in tackles, departed
linebacker and old roommate Brandon Chillar.
“Spencer is a beast of an athlete,” junior
middle-linebacker Justin London said. “He’s shown he
can play every position in the linebacking core, and he’s
stepped up big when we’ve needed him.”
And never before have the Bruins so badly needed a linebacker to
step up big. Though the Bruins have featured NFL-bound linebackers
Robert Thomas and Chillar the past two years, those players had the
benefit of experienced defensive lines.
Not a single member of this season’s line had ever started
a collegiate game. Opposing running backs have had a field day
charging through gaping holes untouched, and quarterbacks have had
ample time to survey the field.
The front four have recorded just 48 tackles and one half sack
in three games.
“We just got our minds ready for it because we knew the
line was going to be young,” London said.
Along with inexperience, the line has also dealt with a slew of
injuries, meaning the Bruins have yet to show a consistent
defensive front.
“I think our D-line is coming a long ways,” Havner
said. “We’re all switching around right now, so
we’re looking to get a more complete understanding of the
defense.”
No matter the defensive line combination, the linemen at least
are more at ease knowing who is picking up the slack behind
them.
Havner has collected 46 tackles already this season, many of
which came in the open field rather than at the line of
scrimmage.
“That’s the way our defense is designed, for the
linebackers to make the tackles,” sophomore defensive end
Justin Hickman said. “Spencer is doing a great job, and
it’s a plus to have him there behind us.”
“The design of the defense is he’s gonna make some
plays, and that’s why you put a guy with his talent in that
position,” Kerr said.
Havner has had to deal with the absence of London, the leading
returning tackler, who has played sparingly due to an ankle injury.
Thus, the leadership role that Thomas and Chillar previously
assumed has been thrust largely into Havner’s hands.
“It’s been great to have him be the leader on our
defense especially because he’s the linebacker with the most
experience,” junior linebacker Wesley Walker said.
“He’s not a real vocal leader, but he does a good
job of leading by example. He practices with intensity and a lot of
effort everyday.”
Havner has been doing his part in making the example obvious for
his teammates. Of his 46 tackles, three and a half have been for a
loss, and seemingly all of them have come from a different spot on
the field.
“Spencer is just a guy that can cover sideline to
sideline,” Walker said. “He might be on the other side
from where the play is going, but he can still make the play and
track the guy down.”
Havner has seemingly been all over the field also because he has
had to line up at two different linebacking positions. He has spent
time both at Sam, his natural position as left linebacker, and
Will, the outside linebacker position on the right.
“It’s really more mentally challenging than
physically challenging,” Kerr said. “But he’s a
team player and he’s taken that approach to do whatever to
help the team and that’s the No. 1 thing we’re looking
for.”
As London gradually returns to full form, Havner’s tackle
count might not necessarily go down. With an accomplished middle
linebacker in London at home, he should be more free to attack the
ball.
“Justin is a huge missing piece to our defense right
now,” Havner said. “I can’t wait to get him
back.”
“I’m sure we’re going to share the
load,” London said. “People don’t even know the
tandem at linebacker that we have, and I’m working hard to
get back healthy. I just want to take some of the weight off his
shoulders.”
Whether the Bruin defense can right itself once it is fully
healthy and more experienced will be a persistent topic as the
season progresses.
Of course, coach Karl Dorrell doesn’t see it as much of a
question.
“Once we have Justin London back and at some point our
D-line will be more solidified, it’ll be a pretty solid group
as the season unfolds.”