When redshirt junior wide receiver Dominique Johnson thinks back to the 2008 UCLA football season, one thing stands out in his mind: 112 out of 119. As in, the ranking of the 2008 Bruins on offense out of the 119 NCAA Division I football teams in the nation. It’s a statistic that sums up what was a woeful offensive performance last season and motivation for what needs to change this season if the Bruins want to erase the memory of a 4-8 finish.
After practice on Tuesday, Johnson talked at length about what the Bruins are looking to prove in 2009.
“Just that UCLA’s offense is something, and 112 out of 119 teams is not us, and we’re trying to change that this year,” Johnson said. “That’s just what we’re trying to show everybody. That we do have offensive weapons on this team and we can utilize them, make things happen.”
According to the NCAA, in 2008 the Bruins actually had the 111th ranked offense in the nation with 283.25 yards per game. However, Western Kentucky, which is not included in the NCAA rankings because of its provisional status in the Football Bowl Subdivision, averaged 286.08 yards per game, making the Bruins 112th in the nation.
It is no secret that the Bruins struggled on offense last season. After losing the top two quarterbacks, Pat Cowan and Ben Olson, to season-ending injuries, junior-college transfer Kevin Craft was forced into the spotlight. Craft started all 12 games last season yet set a dubious school record by throwing 20 interceptions.
Additionally, the Bruins were outscored by their opponents 348-212, while averaging just 17.7 points per game.
“We need to improve in all areas,” senior wide receiver Terrence Austin said. “We got to go out there and make it a balanced attack on offense. If we’re not able to run the ball, then we can’t pass. And if we’re not able to pass the ball, then we can’t run.”
Johnson and Austin are the leaders of deep and talented receiving corps that will work to improve the offensive performance and make UCLA an offensive force to be accounted for. While the offense has been the more inconsistent unit of the UCLA football team in recent years, Austin recalls a time when things were different.
“It’s been proven a couple years back; we just been on a slump,” Austin said. “And I think that we have the potential to make that an idea of change, so we’re going to be able to do that.”
One player in particular who will look to give the Bruins a playmaking presence in 2009 is sophomore receiver Nelson Rosario. Rosario appeared in nine games last season, tallying 11 receptions and 169 yards.
Throughout spring practice, both players and coaches have been impressed with Rosario’s athleticism and his ability to create separation between himself and the defense.
“He’s starting to show signs,” coach Rick Neuheisel said. “He’s a gifted athlete that just needs to keep developing, keep showing that urgency about being a great competitor now.”
So how do the Bruins go about improving from a discouraging 2008 season?
“Just have to think about why we’re playing and we have to care about what we’re doing, for one,” Johnson said. “And I just think the number I told you early, 112, that sticks in our minds, and I think that’s going to drive us through the rest of summer and through fall practices and into Sept. 5.”