One of the concerns entering the 2006 football season was how
the Bruin secondary would replace perennial All-Pac-10 safety
Jarrad Page, who started for three years and was considered one of
the anchors of the UCLA defense.
Well, after four games, the question now is, “Page
who?”
Behind the stellar performances of junior strong safety Chris
Horton and junior free safety Dennis Keyes, the Bruins’ pass
defense has been phenomenal, holding opponents to 155.75 yards
passing per game, recording six interceptions, and helping everyone
forget about Page.
“It’s just a new mentality this year, one that comes
after coach (DeWayne) Walker,” Keyes said. “We want to
be as aggressive as we can, and put as much pressure as possible on
the opposing team.”
Horton in particular has led the Bruins’ charge, recording
an interception in each of the last two games and leading the team
in tackles with 20.
His performance has been impressive, especially considering that
Horton had only made one start prior to this season and missed six
games last season with a wrist injury.
“You know, I, as well as the team, had a lot to prove
prior to this season,” Horton said. “I’ve just
tried to make plays whenever I have a chance, and set a tone for
the defense.”
And quite a tone Horton has set. The Bruins are currently third
in the NCAA in total defense, and either first or second in the
Pac-10 in every defensive category.
One of those statistics, which the Bruin defense especially
prides itself on, is its ability to get opposing offenses off the
field on third down. UCLA leads the NCAA in this category,
successfully accomplishing the task 19.2% percent of the time.
“It’s one thing that coach Walker has stressed since
he joined the staff,” linebacker Eric McNeal said. “We
want to get off the field as soon as possible, and get our offense
back the ball.”
But the Bruin defense knows it can’t be happy just with
the numbers it has put up so far, as the toughest part of the
schedule still lies ahead.
After facing sophomore quarterback Willie Tuitama and the
Arizona Wildcats this weekend, the Bruins travel to face offensive
powerhouses Oregon and Notre Dame on the road.
This weekend, however, will be enough of a test, as Tuitama lit
up the Bruins for 204 passing yards and two touchdowns in a 52-14
victory last season.
“We all know in the back of our heads what he did to us
last year,” Keyes said. “We definitely want to make
sure it doesn’t happen again, and for that to happen we have
to be playing the same consistent defense we have all
season.”
OGDEN INDUCTED: Former offensive lineman
Jonathan Ogden, along with seven other athletes, will be inducted
into the UCLA Hall of Fame on Friday.
Ogden, a starter for the Bruins from 1992 to 1995, won the
Outland Trophy (for the nation’s top offensive lineman) in
1995 and a unanimous first-team All-American.
Ogden had his Bruin jersey retired in 1998 and has been named to
eight consecutive Pro Bowls while playing in the NFL.
Along with being inducted Friday night, Ogden and the other
inductees will be introduced at halftime of the UCLA-Arizona
football game on Saturday.