At least the Bruins aren’t kidding themselves. Yeah,
they’re 4-1. Yeah, they’re scoring points. But now
things are going to get serious. When UCLA travels to Berkeley this
weekend to face No. 8 California (3-1, 1-1 Pac-10), the Bruins will
have a lot to prove. And coach Karl Dorrell is serious when he says
the team still needs to improve in many areas to challenge the
ultra-talented Bears. That’s what this week of practice is
for. “We all have to play better, and that’s everyone
on defense. And we’re going to have to run the ball better
this week. And we’re going to have to throw it as well or
better this week. And we’re going to have to protect the
quarterback a little bit better this week. And we’re going to
have to shore up our run defense a little bit better this week. And
we’re going to have to make sure that they don’t get
big plays in the passing game this week … “You get my
point.” The point of Dorrell’s exhaustive list, of
course, is that UCLA has been far from perfect. In Saturday’s
37-17 victory over Arizona, tight end Marcedes Lewis (six
receptions, 99 yards, three touchdowns) and quarterback Drew Olson
(17-for-25, 234 yards, four touchdowns) were good, but the rushing
offense (114 yards) was mediocre. Though special teams play was
solid, the rushing defense (258 yards allowed) was abysmal.
That’s kind of how things have been this season.
“We’re finding ways to win, and we’re getting
familiar with that without playing our best football,”
Dorrell said. Olson agrees. “(The offense) is getting better,
but it’s still not where we want it to be,” Olson said.
“It seems like we’ve always got something to work
on.” As the Bruins get back to practice today, the work
begins in earnest. Dorrell said tackling is near the top of the
team’s agenda this week, as the coaching staff was quite
disappointed with the team’s inability to make tackles
against Arizona. Also on the agenda is making sure players continue
to get more comfortable with the offense. “We can do a lot of
things better, and this is a great week to have that
opportunity,” Dorrell said.
BAD NEWS, GOOD NEWS: Senior receiver Craig
Bragg has been ruled out for the Cal game. Dorrell said the
Bruins’ leading receiver simply isn’t ready to play.
Junior center Mike McCloskey, who didn’t play Saturday
against Arizona, is expected to practice this week and hopefully
play against Cal. Dorrell said the absence of McCloskey probably
hurt the Bruins’ rushing attack against the Wildcats.
“The biggest thing we missed with McCloskey is the continuity
you have with your five (offensive linemen),” Dorrell said.
Junior linebacker Justin London, who saw some playing time
Saturday, is expected to have an increased role in practice this
week. Dorrell hasn’t yet determined if London will start
against the Bears.
MORE PRAISE FOR LEWIS: Following
Saturday’s breakout performance for UCLA’s talented
tight end, many Bruin players and coaches had nothing but praise
for the junior. Even those who play defense. “I’m just
excited for him,” London said. “It’s been a long
time coming, and he’s just a great tight end. He was patient
and he just had to wait for his shot. Every great athlete wants to
be the best and he knows he can be.” Tight ends coach Jon
Embree knows Lewis still has a ways to go before he is truly great,
but Embree was very satisfied with Saturday’s performance.
“He’s the consummate team player,” Embree said.
“At his position, it’s hard sometimes to force the
issue of getting him the ball. But when it does happen, it
goes.”