BRUINS WORRIED? ACTUALLY, YES.

Byline: Jon Wilner Daily News Staff Writer

UCLA coach Bob Toledo's role changes with the season.

In the winter, he's a recruiter. In the spring and summer, he's a strategist who designs plays to fit his talent. And in the fall, he becomes a motivator.

So far, he's done a masterful job. Not once in Toledo's 17-game tenure have the Bruins showed the passiveness that pervaded the late stages of Terry Donahue's reign. Toledo did not let the Bruins get discouraged when they were 0-2. He did not let them get cocky when they thumped Texas, and he did not let them get satisfied when they handled Arizona and Houston.

``Coach Toledo has done a great job making us understand that we're as good as anyone, but if we don't play well, we can get beat by anyone,'' center Shawn Stuart said. ``He doesn't let us believe we can walk over teams.''

The Bruins seemingly have no reason for concern against Oregon State this afternoon at the Rose Bowl. UCLA has won four straight games. It's ranked 17th. It has one of the most potent offenses and opportunistic defenses in the land.

Meanwhile, Oregon State is the Pac-10's traditional doormat. It has a new coach, a new system and no victories over top competition.

Yet somehow, Toledo has convinced the Bruins to respect OSU.

``I think Oregon State has done an awesome job,'' UCLA quarterback Cade McNown said. ``They have momentum going for them. They'll approach it like they have everything to gain and nothing to lose.

``People will pick us to win, some by a lot, but I expect a very tough game.''

When Toledo saw that Oregon State defeated North Texas, San Jose State and Utah State and lost to Stanford and Arizona State by three points each, he realized the Beavers are six points from being 5-0. That became his theme for the week, and the source of UCLA's respect.

``Some of the other teams they've played, I don't know how to take them, but I saw what they did against Stanford and Arizona State, and that's a concern,'' Toledo said.

``Stanford and Arizona State didn't realize how good (the Beavers) were. If you let them play with you, they'll beat you. We have to try to put them away.''

Toledo told the Bruins that Oregon State's defense is similar in style, if not personnel, to Arizona's - a connection that got the players' immediate attention. So did Toledo's reference to Beavers quarterback Tim Alexander, a sensational athlete who also plays tailback.

``He wears No. 10, and they have those black uniforms,'' Toledo said. ``He's like Kordell Stewart of the Steelers coming at you.''

References to Stewart, Arizona, 5-0 - they're all ploys, all tricks of the trade. But in truth, the Bruins should be concerned. They're without nose guard Damon Smith, perhaps their best run stopper. Tailback Skip Hicks has a bruised knee and may not be 100 percent - if he plays at all. The offense, especially McNown, struggled at times last week.

And the Beavers, with former USC offensive coordinator Mike Riley in charge, have one of the conference's top defenses (15 points allowed per game). It's a unique scheme that looks like something out of the Canadian Football League - fast, attacking and tough to block.

``It's as aggressive a defense as I've seen in a long time,'' Toledo said.

Oregon State's offense is not as advanced, but Alexander, a junior, is a big-play threat from any position. Riley jettisoned former coach Jerry Pettibone's wishbone attack and installed a West Coast offense that puts the ball in Alexander's hands. He had 202 all-purpose yards against Arizona State and 231 against Stanford, and he must play well today for the Beavers to have a chance.

``We played Stanford and ASU really good, but are we good enough to win? I don't know if we are,'' Riley said. ``You have to do it before you can say it.''