Despite rushing for just 19 yards on nine carries in
UCLA’s victory over Arizona State, sophomore running back
Tyler Ebell has been named the starter for Saturday’s game at
Stanford. The decision comes on the heels of true freshman Maurice
Drew’s break-out performance against the Sun Devils. In the
Bruins’ best running performance of the season, Drew gained
176 yards on 18 carries highlighted by an 83-yard touchdown run
““ the longest run by a true freshman in UCLA history.
“Even though Maurice had a very good game, Tyler is the
starter,” head coach Karl Dorrell said. “What we have
done at that position has been good anyways. We’ve done a
good job packaging backs. Maurice had a good game, and Tyler has
done good things for us.” With the loss of junior running
back Manuel White, who fractured his right shoulder blade playing
against the Sun Devils, senior Akil Harris might see some playing
time alongside Drew and Ebell. The 6-foot-3, 236-pound White played
fullback and running back for the Bruins, but with him out for the
rest of the season, the team loses its best blocker in the
backfield. “It’s like losing two players at
once,” Dorrell said. “His versatility gives us
versatility on offense.”
MONDAY MORNING QB: After his first start since
suffering a deep bone bruise in the season opener, sophomore
quarterback Matt Moore knows where improvement can be made. Moore
went 14 of 28 for 190 yards and a touchdown, but he also threw two
interceptions. Both interceptions came when Moore threw the ball as
he was being hit, and he often overthrew his receivers.
“Throwing the ball high is just fundamental stuff,”
Moore said. “As far as the progressions, that was good, but
as far as stepping up, I need to be quicker.” Moore was 10 of
17 for 186 yards in the first half and looked sharp at times.
Dorrell said Moore will play much better this week. “He
needed a week to get used to game speed,” he said.
STILL UNRANKED: A five-game winning streak and
a spot atop the Pac-10 standings is not good enough to get the
Bruins into either Top 25 poll. UCLA (6-2, 4-0 Pac-10) garnered 28
votes in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll and 67 in the Associated
Press poll. That leaves them 108 and 64 votes away from the No. 25
spot, respectively. “In the back of their minds, the players
might be wondering why they aren’t ranked,” Dorrell
said. “But I tell the players, just go out there and prove
them wrong.”
INJURY REPORT: Junior cornerback Matt Ware is
still recuperating from a high ankle sprain. Dorrell said Ware
cannot be assessed until he can run, which he currently cannot do.
His condition will be evaluated today. Senior Keith Short, playing
in Ware’s place, was the team’s defensive player of the
week. Senior defensive tackle Rodney Leisle suffered a high ankle
sprain against Arizona State. Dorrell said it is unlikely Leisle
will play against Stanford. Sophomore C.J. Niusulu would play in
Leisle’s place.