The quarterback competition may have generated the most
publicity since spring, but it’s now the running back duel
that’s at the center of the controversy.
No longer is 5-foot-9, 180-pound Tyler Ebell darting his way
across the field on every running play.
He’s been replaced at tailback by the bulkier Manuel
White, who has shown that he can run over defenders, and Maurice
Drew, who is only slightly bigger than Ebell but lacks
experience.
Even more puzzling was UCLA’s decision to go with Drew
down the stretch against San Diego State, even after Ebell took
three carries for 14 yards. All that work was done in the first
eight minutes of the first quarter. From there, head coach Karl
Dorrell didn’t even look Ebell’s way.
“That’s my fault,” Dorrell said. “I
didn’t see at the time that Tyler wasn’t getting enough
opportunities. Tyler should have had more reps than
that.”
Dorrell would call Ebell’s lack of playing time against
the Aztecs an “oversight” on his part. But even before
this past Saturday’s game, although Ebell is listed as the
starting tailback, the coaching staff seems to be slowly, but
surely favoring White.
“I think I bring to the table a physical brand of
tailback,” White said. “And I do like to carry the
ball, since I’m a tailback at heart. But really, I am willing
to do anything that the coaching staff asks of me, be it blocking
or running the ball.”
In the Bruins’ season opener against Colorado, White
didn’t touch the ball once while Ebell rushed 18 times for 54
yards. In the three games since then, however, White has three
times as many carries as Ebell. Even Drew is getting his fair share
of chances ““ 14 attempts on the season, including seven
carries for 11 yards against San Diego State.
“I’m just trying to do whatever it takes to help the
team,” Drew said. “There are a couple of other running
backs who have a lot of talent, too, and we all just want to
win.”
However, Ebell’s lack of playing time was enough to get
his father into a meeting with Dorrell, where Dorrell reassured him
that Ebell still had a role on the team.
Regardless of who’s running the ball, the Bruins must
figure out a way to move the ball on the ground. UCLA has averaged
just 2.5 yards a carry as opposing safeties have often crept up to
the line of scrimmage, bringing an additional defender against the
run.
“I think (opposing teams) understand that we have a young
quarterback who is not seasoned and is getting his experience as we
go,” Dorrell said. “Teams are trying to load the run to
make the quarterback be the player to beat you.”
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Matt Moore, who has been in pads since last week, finally saw
his first work. Moore, who suffered a deep bone bruise in the first
quarter of the team’s first game at Colorado, won’t
start against Washington, but he likely will see some action.
“I will definitely be ready for Saturday,” said
Moore, who took the role of the backup quarterback during practice.
“It’s still just a football game. I just have to
execute the same plays as before.”
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Placekicker Justin Medlock, who has hit key field goals in each
of UCLA’s victories, suffered a slight shoulder injury when
attempting to pick up a fumble on the opening kickoff against San
Diego State.
“It won’t affect anything from a kicking
standpoint,” Dorrell said. “We’re coaching him to
just get on top of the ball. We’ll take the
possession.”