Bruins defensive coordinator comes through loud and clear UCLA FOOTBALL: Bullough takes more vocal approach than predecessor, expects same results.

Byline: Brian Dohn, Staff Writer

Chuck Bullough yells more than DeWayne Walker, who often used Bill Parcells-ish catch phrases to tweak his players into performing better.

Bullough also negligibly altered UCLA's defensive formations, moving players a step or three, depending on the situation and the play call.

Other than that, two weeks into spring practice and Bullough's defense looks remarkably like his predecessor, which is exactly what coach Rick Neuheisel wanted when he elevated Bullough from linebackers coach to defensive coordinator when Walker was named New Mexico State's coach in the offseason.

"I don't see a whole lot of differences," Neuheisel said. "We're playing well, we're playing instinctively. There's no drop off in tenacity, and that's a comfort."

Not to mention a necessity.

In three years, Walker transformed one of the worst defenses in the nation into the backbone of UCLA's program.

While the offense was fumbling over itself, Walker's defense was either winning games, or keeping a game close until fatigue and an anemic offense did the Bruins in.

Bullough, a first-year coordinator with strong bloodlines, is charged with maintaining the defense Walker molded as the Bruins look to rebound from a 4-8season. Although the offense should be improved, a talented defense will likely be the strength in 2009.

"I don't think the average fan is going to see much difference," Bullough said. "We've done a few things with positioning guys in formations, but it's not much different. It's a yard or two here and there on some plays, but most people won't notice anything different.

"Coaches notice, but fans won't. It's a small detail."

Bullough, 41, spent the past three seasons under Walker. He was hired, in part, because Neuheisel wanted continuity on the staff.

Bullough changed some of the terminology, and during the spring players said more zone defense is being used.

But the biggest difference is personality.

"He's more vocal than DeWayne was," UCLA senior linebacker Kyle Bosworth said. "DeWayne was low-key, and he'd be the guy who would scare you, or get you down, just by saying a word as you pass by him. Coach Bullough, he's in your face. If you do something wrong, he'll be all up in you."

Bruins senior middle linebacker Reggie Carter knows all about the verbal thrashing Bullough delivers.

As Carter's former position coach, Bullough frequently chided Carter for not attacking drills with enough zest.

"Coach Bullough has that look where if you slip, he wants to come and give you a couple of rights and lefts," Carter said. "You know he's not going to do it, but you're skeptical about getting too close when he's fired up. It's like, 'Oh, I may want to back up. He's still in football mode.' He made that switch, and you may be on the ground."

UCLA's starting 11 seems set - Glenn Love continues to be the leading strong safety and Jerzy Siewierski is impressing at defensive tackle - heading into training camp, but another thing Bullough wants is developed depth.

The Bruins didn't rotate linebackers or defensive backs the past few seasons. He also wants to have eight defensive linemen for each game.

"The way we fly to the ball, we need to have depth," Bullough said. "We need to have D-linemen that come in, safeties coming in."

Bullough learned his toughness at an early age.

His father, Henry, spent 23years as an NFL defensive coordinator. Bullough himself set a Michigan State single-season record with 175 tackles and played in the NFL for five seasons.

He has no experience as a coordinator, so it remains to be seen whether he will be conservative or take risks.

But Bosworth may have provided a glimpse of the future.

"He did nickel (defense) on fourth-and-1," Bosworth said. "I was kind of shocked, but oh, yeah, it worked."

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