Although UCLA typically has a bye week before its rivalry game against USC, the Bruins will gladly accept a week off to prepare for No. 2 Oregon next week instead.
In their second bye week of the season, the Bruins will take the extra days to rest up and get healthy ““ a concept that has been too foreign lately.
That means for running back Craig Sheppard, who had the most carries of his career on Saturday, a chance to get his legs back under him.
“Not just for me but for everyone, it’s huge,” Sheppard said. “I got a hip pointer in the game. Everyone’s a little banged up but this is really going to help me get my legs fresh for next week.”
With injuries to running backs Chris Markey (turf toe), Kahlil Bell (torn ACL), Raymond Carter (torn ACL), and Christian Ramirez (concussion), the walk-on Sheppard will be playing an integral role on this team for the rest of the season.
Despite this added load, the inexperienced back who has 20 career carries will not be approaching practice any differently.
“I still need to prepare and work like I used to work and not become complacent with what little I accomplished,” Sheppard said. “I want to accomplish more and help this team win.”
O-LINE UNAFFECTED BY RUNNING BACK TURNSTILE:Although injuries have forced five different running backs into game situations this season, the offensive line does not cater their game plan to each back.
“We’ve still got to do our job,” center Chris Joseph said. “Our blocking assignments don’t change depending on what backs are in there. (It changes) really nothing. Just who you’re seeing in the huddle before each play and who you’re picking up afterward.”
With new players in the backfield who don’t have the experience of Markey or Bell, the offensive line has taken it upon themselves to offer their encouragement.
“You give them encouragement and try to instill a little confidence in them,” Joseph said. “Just know that we’re all behind you. We don’t play any favorites. Whoever’s in the game is our favorite running back at the time. It doesn’t really matter.”
During the last bye week before the Cal game, the offensive line got back to the basics and took a few days to focus on fundamentals. The unit will have a similar focus this week.
“Just trying to get back on some fundamental work,” Joseph said. “It’s very limited team stuff and it’s lots of individual, just working on technique and have that carry over to when we do team stuff.”
BRUINS TO REDSHIRT THREE MORE:Senior defensive tackle Brigham Harwell will take a redshirt this season after suffering a shoulder injury in practice last week. He had also injured his knee earlier in the season and only appeared in two games. Heading into the season, he was the Bruins’ top defensive tackle and is just one of many injuries to the defensive line.
Dorrell also announced that wide receiver Marcus Everett will redshirt this season due to an ankle injury that he will have surgery on in December. He appeared in four games this season with 10 catches.
Freshman quarterback Chris Forcier will also be held out of the Bruins’ final games in favor of redshirting.