The UCLA football team has been stunted by an inability to
provide consistent and complete offensive-line play. When the
Bruins’ run blocking has been good, the quarterback has been
getting sacked, and when the pass protection has been good, they
haven’t been able to create many holes in the defensive
front. Despite the issues, offensive line coach Jim Colletto feels
that the line is fine. “They’re young guys,”
Colletto said. “They don’t have a whole lot of
experience. We have a starting freshman tackle. For the most part
they’re doing OK.” There are three new starters along
the offensive line, including redshirt freshman tackle Aleksey
Lanis, and this year they have played like a line still trying to
gel. UCLA has averaged 143.7 yards on the ground, numbers elevated
by games against teams such as Rice and Stanford, which have shoddy
run defenses. They have also allowed just 10 sacks, but those have
come in bunches, indicative of inconsistency expected of a young
line. “I don’t think we’ve played up to our
potential,” offensive lineman Chris Joseph said.
“We’ve played well, but we can definitely play better.
I just think we need to start playing together more. Sometimes we
leave people out there on islands. We need to have it that if you
slip up, you’ve got somebody behind you to pick you
up.” This week against Notre Dame, the Bruins will be tested
by one of the best pass rushes they’ve seen all season. They
hope the lessons they learned against Oregon last week will stand
them in good stead this week. “(Notre Dame) has the best pass
rushing team we’ve played so far,” offensive lineman
Shannon Tevaga said. “Big, fast, strong guys and they hustle.
With Oregon, we thought we were going to get our respect. This game
against Notre Dame is a perfect opportunity to put ourselves on the
map.”
COWAN’S THROAT RETURNING TO HEALTH:
Sophomore quarterback Pat Cowan was unable to speak for much of the
early week because of a shot to the throat he took against Oregon
last week. After losing his voice in the final minutes of the game
and coughing up blood afterward, Cowan was put on a no-talking
regimen by doctors so that his voice will be ready to call the
plays for Notre Dame. It appears to have worked. Wednesday, Cowan
was able to talk to reporters, albeit only for a short while. He
was able to make the calls at the line during practice. On Tuesday,
Cowan had to practice with backup Osaar Rashaan standing behind him
making the calls.
WAKING THE ECHOES: This will be the first game
at Notre Dame for UCLA since 1964. The game will be televised
nationally on NBC at 11:30 a.m. The Bruins are 0-2 all time against
the Irish.
AUSTIN OUT: Wide receiver and starting punt
returner Terrence Austin pulled his hamstring and will not suit up
for the game against Notre Dame. … Lanis and defensive tackle
Chase Moline both practiced this week and will play. … Wide
receiver Joe Cowan was participating in some of the drills, wearing
pads. His return for the year is still in question. If the coaches
and Cowan choose to, he can still apply for a medical redshirt
because he did not play this year. … Quarterback Ben Olson has
done some throwing drills off to the sideline during the week, but
he is still out at least another two weeks.