Coming into this season, it was unknown which players would step
up to lead the Bruins. On offense, the Bruins lost quarterback Drew
Olson, tight end Marcedes Lewis and running back Maurice Drew. On
defense, UCLA lost strong safety Jarrad Page, and linebackers
Justin London and Spencer Havner.
Last year’s Bruins went 10-2, making them a hard class to
follow, especially on offense. Last year was essentially the
pinnacle of the Bruins’ offense as they racked up more yards
per game than at any point during coach Karl Dorrell’s tenure
at UCLA.
Although they struggled tremendously in their two losses against
Arizona and USC, in which the Bruins scored 14 and 19 points
respectively, the UCLA offensive players left a stamp on the
program that would be hard for any players coming after to
follow.
The defense, on the other hand, was woeful last year. They
played a weak Cover 2 scheme that seemed to allow opposing offenses
to rack up yardage at will. They struggled with tackling and put
very little pressure on quarterbacks.
Led by defensive coordinator Larry Kerr, the Bruins’
defense was essentially a unit designed to eat up time so the
offense could get rested before its next touchdown drive.
Oh, how the times have changed.
This year, the impact players are on the defensive side of the
ball. Led by star defensive ends Bruce Davis and Justin Hickman,
the UCLA defense has become known as one of the premiere
pass-rushing defenses in college football.
New defensive coordinator DeWayne Walker has instilled an
aggressive, blitzing style that has appeared to agree with his
undersized players.
The leader of the defense, Christian Taylor, has benefited from
the new system. Last year, it seemed as if the linebackers were
constantly in situations where they had to shed offensive linemen
in order to sack the quarterback or make a play on the running
back.
This year, the linebackers have been much more free to roam as
the defensive line has improved tremendously. Taylor, and his
fellow linebackers Aaron Whittington and freshman All-American
Reggie Carter, have taken advantage of the opportunities granted by
the improved defensive line. The Bruins’ front seven have
made this an intimidating run defense that now ranks first in the
Pac-10.
In the secondary, second-team freshman All-American Alterraun
Verner has been the shining light. In the first game of his career
against Utah, Verner returned an interception for a touchdown and
went on to do it again later in the year. At times this year, he
has appeared to be either the second or third-best defensive back
on the team, a remarkable feat for a true freshman.
When cornerback Rodney Van was struggling in the middle of the
season, there was talk that Verner would take his starting spot.
That did not happen, but Verner, Van and Trey Brown have formed
much more of a platoon than anyone could have expected.
On the offensive side of the ball, the Bruins have lacked a true
impact player, which has proved costly at times. They lack the big
playmaking threat of Maurice Drew or Marcedes Lewis, and instead
are stocked with solid, but not spectacular, players. The Bruins
are lucky, then, that they have a defense that has emerged to be as
strong as it is.