As the UCLA football team left Drake Stadium after its annual
Spring Scrimmage on Saturday, the Bruins realized that they have a
lot of work to do to get to the same level of last season’s
10-2 mark. The Bruins’ first-string offense failed to score
against the Bruins’ defense during two trips near the goal
line, and neither quarterback, Ben Olson or Pat Cowan, displayed
any flashes of brilliance that would cause coach Karl Dorrell to
name a starter before fall camp in August. Overall, it was just a
sign that the Bruins have a lot to work on before fall camp.
“It wasn’t the best of scrimmages, but it was pretty
competitive,” Dorrell said. “I think that’s a
good sign, at least for our defense.” “But it’s
only March, and there is a long time before fall camp
starts.” On Saturday, the defense was the first team to
shine. The defensive line, aided by the return of senior Justin
Hickman, consistently put pressure on the Bruins’
quarterbacks, and caused two interceptions thrown by Cowan. The
secondary also looked improved with the return of redshirt junior
strong safety Chris Horton, who aided the Bruins’ run defense
and brought a new level of energy with new defensive coordinator
DeWayne Walker at the helm. “You can tell what kind of
emotion Chris brings to this defense,” Dorrell said.
“It’s just a different level, and that’s exactly
what coach Walker is trying to push for all his players.” The
defense’s success on Saturday, however, was the
offense’s spoil. The offensive line struggled while
protecting in pass situations, and Dorrell acknowledged that the
line has a lot to prove in the absence of seniors Mike McCloskey,
Ed Blanton and Robert Cleary. Their struggles resulted in an
offense that didn’t have very many holes in the running game
and little time to pass for the quarterbacks. “They’re
very young, and it doesn’t help that they’ve had to
switch positions as well,” Dorrell said of his young lineman.
“They will be much improved by the time the season rolls
along.” But the competition everyone came to see on Saturday
was between Olson and Cowan. Olson took all the snaps with the No.
1 unit on offense, and completed 12 of 18 passes for 120 yards and
a touchdown. Cowan, meanwhile, went 9 for 21 for 141 yards and
threw two touchdowns. When asked about Olson’s performance
afterward, Dorrell reserved to hold much judgment. “Is he a
clear-cut (starter)? No,” UCLA coach Karl Dorrell said.
“I think both of those guys have a lot to add to the table
and Pat has done enough this spring that he’s warranted more
legitimate action to try and be the guy. And Ben has done well, but
he’s not clearly out front.”
NEW COMMIT: Defensive tackle Brian Price of
Crenshaw High School verbally committed to the Bruins following
Saturday’s scrimmage. Price, out of the class of 2007,
committed to the Bruins over Pac-10 rivals USC and Cal. Price, 6
foot 2 inches tall and 260 pounds, was offered a scholarship from
UCLA in February and is considered one of the top defensive tackles
on the West Coast.