BLITZING BRUINS CAUSING CHAOS.

Byline: Jon Wilner Daily News Staff Writer

They charge off the edge and around the corner, past linemen and through running backs, with the quarterback in the crosshairs. Rover Wasswa Serwanga and strong safety Larry Atkins are UCLA's primary chaos-causing blitzers, the instigators of all that is wild and crazed about the Bruins' attacking, amoeba defense.

Combined, they've recorded eight sacks, intercepted six passes, recovered three fumbles and left a slew of quarterbacks dazed and confused, wondering what hit them.

``I fear for the quarterbacks when they don't know where the blitz is coming from,'' said Serwanga, who leads the UCLA defense against Cal today at the Rose Bowl at 12:30 p.m.

Serwanga's greatest obstacle is often his own emotion. When defensive coordinator Rocky Long signals the play from the sideline and Serwanga realizes it's his turn to hunt the quarterback, he forces himself to remain calm. No sense jumping offsides or letting the offense know he's coming.

Atkins is usually the quietest Bruin, but when it's his turn to blitz he can't keep quiet.

``This is me. This is me,'' he tells teammates. ``I'm about to get one.''

He had better get one. Just as a successful blitz discombobulates an offense or creates a game-changing turnover, a failed blitz can be disastrous for the defense.

``If you don't get there, it puts a lot of pressure on the coverage and makes it easier for them to complete a pass,'' Atkins said.

UCLA's defense is predicated on pressuring the quarterback. Because the Bruins lack a dominating defensive lineman, a one-man pass rush, they must blitz linebackers, safeties, even cornerbacks, to create a pass rush.

``It's the heartbeat of our defense,'' said assistant Bob Field, who coaches the rovers and strong safeties. ``We blitz from many positions, but Larry and Wasswa are the most visible because they're on the perimeter.''

Blitzing is an integral part of UCLA's game plan each week, but against Cal it's especially critical. The better the receivers, the greater the emphasis on harassing the quarterback. Cal has one of the Pacific-10's best receivers in senior Bobby Shaw, a threat not only to catch but to break a long run after the catch. (Last year, Shaw caught 12 passes for 168 yards against UCLA.)

To contain Shaw and a Cal passing attack that ranks second in the conference behind Washington State, the Bruins must disrupt quarterback Justin Vedder's timing. Make him throw before he's ready. Make him throw before the receiver breaks free. Make him abandon the pocket too early.

``You have to get to the quarterback quickly, because you can only cover a receiver so long. After a while he's going to get open, I don't care who the cornerback is,'' Field said. ``With Shaw, getting to Vedder will be critical. Their offense is the best we've faced since Tennessee.''

A successful blitz is based on timing and acceleration. Both Atkins, who relies on strength, and Serwanga, who depends on speed, have become more efficient in their techniques.

Instead of running around a blocker - thus deviating from his imaginary line to the quarterback - Serwanga has learned to make himself skinny, and harder to block, by turning his body and lowering his inside shoulder at the moment of contact. It's like he's trying to fit through a narrow doorway.

As the strong safety, Atkins is positioned over the tight end. Opponents use a variety of blocking schemes against him. Oregon State tried the cut block, in which the fullback dove at his ankles; Atkins eventually anticipated the move and jumped over the fullback. When the fullback blocked from a standing position, Atkins knocked him on his back. Atkins has also learned to use his arms like a defensive lineman to gain leverage on blockers.

Whatever the means, the end is essential.

``It really is a game of inches,'' Field said. ``Six inches can often be the difference between hitting the quarterback as he throws or getting him after he throws.''

And that can mean the difference between a turnover and a touchdown.

CAL at UCLA

12:30 p.m.

No TV / 1150 AM