After having an atypically bad game against Arizona,
UCLA’s offensive line bounced back against Arizona State last
weekend, allowing only one late sack on quarterback Drew Olson, and
opening up the Sun Devils’ defense enough for 150 yards
rushing, eclipsing the previous week’s meager total of 85
yards. The main story of success, though, was the pass protection.
After giving up four sacks against the Wildcats, the offensive line
kept Olson in a bubble of protection nearly the entire game on
Saturday. “The offensive line didn’t let me get touched
at all,” Olson said. “That’s the most time
I’ve had all year.” Center Robert Chai, filling in for
starter Mike McCloskey, led the line in keeping defenders off
Olson. Though it had an awful game as a unit against Arizona, the
line didn’t attempt to do anything truly different in its
setup for this week. “We just came out more focused,”
guard Robert Cleary said. “We didn’t rewrite the
playbook. We just did the same things we’ve always
done.” The offensive line has been left without two of its
starters the last three games, with Chris Joseph out with a left
knee injury against Washington State, and McCloskey out since
Oregon State with a sprained right shoulder, but coach Karl Dorrell
feels that the offensive unit is finally beginning to gel in their
absence. “There was just better continuity this
weekend,” Dorrell said. “Chai played an extremely
aggressive and emotional game. The more the offensive unit plays
together, the more comfortable they play together.” Tackle
Brian Abraham and former defensive lineman Noah Sutherland have
also helped to fill in on the line.
OLSON SHINES AGAIN: Olson, who played his best
game of the season on Saturday, passing for 510 yards and five
touchdowns while completing 22 of 27 passes, has been named the
National Division I-A Offensive Player of the Week by the Walter
Camp Football Foundation. The honor, coming late in the season, may
help set up Olson for a trip to New York for the Heisman trophy
award ceremony. With 30 passing touchdowns and only three
interceptions this year, he has put himself in a good position to
be a finalist. “He’s playing awfully well right
now,” Dorrell said. “He’s playing as good
football as anyone in the country. He’s deserving. for
sure.” Olson now leads the nation in passing efficiency with
172.47, 30 touchdown passes and interception percentage per pass
attempted (0.93). His Heisman hopes will, most likely, come down to
the final regular season game against USC. He is also one of seven
finalists for the Johnny Unitas award for the nation’s top
senior quarterback.
INJURY UPDATE: On the injury front, Dorrell
sees the main benefit of the three bye weeks prior to the USC game
as time for the Bruins to get healthy. “The next few weeks,
it’s all about health,” Dorrell said. “Justin
London is on track to be healthy, along with McCloskey. We are 9-1
with the opportunity to rest up.” Dorrell went on to say that
linebackers Aaron Whittington and Fred Holmes were also on track to
be fully ready to play by Dec. 3 at USC. Running back Maurice Drew,
who rushed for 41 yards against Arizona, and 88 yards against ASU,
has been suffering from a knee contusion over the last few weeks
and should be able to benefit from the time off. “He’s
been slowed for 2 or 3 weeks now,” Dorrell said.
“It’s a contusion, it’s not anything structural.
Is he 100 percent? No. He has a chance to get to that 100 percent
level for “˜SC, with this time off.”