Each week, offensive coordinator Jim Svoboda would emerge from
the Bruins’ locker room after the game and talk about the
Bruins’ need to establish the running game.
After no palpable solution to their problems for the last four
weeks, the Bruins might have finally found their answer in redshirt
junior Derrick Williams.
On Saturday, Williams and Chane Moline came in to replace
starter Chris Markey, and combined for 56 yards rushing in the
first half before the Bruins went away from the running game in the
second half.
“We’re just trying to find ways to be productive in
different ways,” coach Karl Dorrell said of his decision to
go with Williams. “We’ve had some injuries at (running
back), and you have to keep bringing along the personnel in your
program.”
Williams’ performance was especially surprising on special
teams, in which he tallied 113 kickoff return yards and had one run
for 47 yards that nearly went for a touchdown.
SLIDESHOW
Click here to see more photos from UCLA Football’s game against
Washington State.
Williams electrified the crowd in the second half when he leaped
over a defender on a running play and made numerous spin moves on
the same play.
“I have always known that I have to get myself ready to
play,” Williams said. “If someone struggles, or gets
injured, I want to take advantage of my chances.”
Meanwhile, Moline provided the kind of production the Bruins
might see out of him in the future. The 6-foot-1-inch, 240-pound
running back led the Bruins with 32 yards rushing on six carries,
and pulled many defenders with him while they tried to bring him
down.
“(Chane) did some good things,” Dorrell said.
“He’s a hard runner and he made some good yards. We
need to keep developing him, and Derrick.”
Williams, who was once a highly touted recruit out of St. John
Bosco High School, only had seven career carries prior to
Saturday’s game and was the fourth string running back coming
out of fall camp.
But with back-up running back Khalil Bell out with an ankle
injury and Markey struggling, Williams got his chance on
Saturday.
“I think maybe the coaches were just looking for some
playmakers,” Williams said. “I think I showed them a
little quickness. I hope I get another chance.”
Williams almost never had the opportunity to shine before
Saturday. He spent the majority of last season in Dorrell’s
doghouse, and was suspended once for disciplinary reasons.
But this past spring, Williams was voted the most improved
running back during spring camp, and got back into the good graces
of the coaching staff this season.
“I have just been looking for the opportunity,”
Williams said. “I knew it would come eventually. Hopefully,
next time I can play in a victory rather than a loss.”
MARKEY SPEECHLESS: Markey, who had been the Bruins’
primary ball-carrier all season, didn’t have an answer to why
his carries were taken away from him during Saturday’s
loss.
“You have to ask the coaches about that,” Markey
said. “I have no clue.”
Markey, who struggled mightily against Notre Dame last week,
finished the game with eight carries for 23 yards.
But he said he wasn’t frustrated by his effort.
“If I lose my (starting) job I’m still going to do
whatever it takes to help this team,” Markey said. “But
I think I’m playing pretty good football. I feel like I could
have helped the team out, but it was a team loss.”