DEFENSE IS ON THE RUN RICE OPTION TO CHALLENGE BRUINS.Byline: Brian Dohn Staff Writer UCLA UCLA University of California at Los Angeles UCLA University Center for Learning Assistance (Illinois State University) UCLA University of Carrollton, TX and Lower Addison, TX allowed 156 yards rushing last week at San Diego San Diego (săn dēā`gō), city (1990 pop. 1,110,549), seat of San Diego co., S Calif., on San Diego Bay; inc. 1850. San Diego includes the unincorporated communities of La Jolla and Spring Valley. Coronado is across the bay. State - not the 441 the Bruins gave up in the 2004 opener against Oklahoma State, but enough to raise an eyebrow. Add the loss of defensive tackle Kevin Brown The name Kevin Brown can refer to several different people, including the following:
The Bruins contend they are better this season, but much remains unknown. UCLA is a 24-point favorite over Rice tonight at the Rose Bowl, but the Owls run an option offense, which mixes in shotgun formations, and led the nation in rushing last season at 306.6 yards per game. Rice, playing its season opener, says it will throw the ball more this season. But its strength on offense remains the run, which plays directly against UCLA's biggest uncertainty on defense. On its four-man defensive line, UCLA (1-0) has three first-year starters with end Nikola Dragovic and tackles Chase Moline (expected to start over Nate Skaggs) and Brigham Harwell. Junior end Justin Hickman Justin Hickman (born July 20, 1985 in El Paso, Texas) is an American football defensive end with the Washington Redskins. He played collegiately at the University of California at Los Angeles. started eight games last season. Of those on the two-deep, six are freshmen or sophomores. Harwell, who played end a year ago, is limited by a sprained ankle A sprained ankle, also known as a ankle sprain, ankle injury or ankle ligament injury, is a common medical condition where one or more of the ligaments of the ankle is torn or partially torn. . ``(Harwell) was hobbling around (against San Diego State), but obviously, we have to be stouter inside,'' UCLA defensive coordinator A defensive coordinator typically refers to a coach on a football team in the National Football League or college football who is in charge of the defense. This position aids the head coach a great deal in many ways by delegating play calling to other coaches and allowing the head Larry Kerr said. ``Moline did a solid job for the first time. I think Skaggs had his ups and downs ups and downs pl.n. Alternating periods of good and bad fortune or spirits. ups and downs Noun, pl alternating periods of good and bad luck or high and low spirits . I thought our ends played well, but we're going to have to get better there. There's no doubt about it. ``We're still better than we were last year. Those three guys inside are better than what we had last year. Unfortunately, we got knocked off the ball a few times in that game, and San Diego State has a solid offensive line. But we'll face some better ones, so we're going to have to mature.'' First-year defensive line coach Thurmond Moore said he isn't concerned because broken plays inflated San Diego State's rushing total. ``Brigham played on one leg,'' Moore said. ``As long as we play with fundamental techniques and keep on playing hard, things will come into order.'' Rice's offensive success has more to do with deception than blocking power, but if the Bruins are pushed around on the line of scrimmage line of scrimmage n. pl. lines of scrimmage Football Either of two imaginary lines extending across the field parallel to the goal line at the ends of the ball as it rests prior to being snapped and at which each team lines up for , it could make for a tense night. ``Last year, we were all new and everyone was kind of tight on the field,'' said Dragovic, a sophomore. ``Now, we're starting to see things better, react to the run a lot better. Last year, it was just a pass-rush thing. We were pretty quick, so that's what we focused on. We see the run formations forming better than we did last year.'' UCLA's coaches and players talk about the need for experience - the same mantra mantra (măn`trə, mŭn–), in Hinduism and Buddhism, mystic words used in ritual and meditation. A mantra is believed to be the sound form of reality, having the power to bring into being the reality it represents. as 12 months ago - but it will have to come quickly if the defense is to improve. After Rice, Oklahoma visits the Rose Bowl before Pacific-10 Conference The Pacific-10 Conference (Pac-10) is a college athletic conference which operates in the western United States. It participates in the NCAA's Division I. Membership Full members play begins Oct. 1 against Washington. Although the Pac-10 is viewed as a pass-happy league, UCLA's ability to stop the run without crowding eight players at the line of scrimmage is essential for taking the pressure off a talented but unproven secondary. ``Coach Moore wants sacks. He wants us to get after the quarterback,'' Hickman said. ``He wants us to stop the run on first down so we can rush the passer on second and third down. His philosophy is crush the run on the way to the quarterback.'' Dragovic said a few of the freshmen experienced jitters jitters 'Butterflies' Psychology An episode of nervousness or anxiety that often precedes a public event; jitters is a type of performance anxiety which may affect actors in a stage production–stage fright or soloist musicians; it may respond to anxiolytics , and their play suffered. He expects that to be less of a factor as the season continues. ``I know if we keep on working like this, we're going to be just fine,'' Dragovic said. ``It was some guys' first start (at San Diego State), and you had a few guys coming in that were freshmen. They're coming out there and their bodies are stiff. They're scared. They're coming out there with thousands of people around them. I remember my first game last year. I was the same way.'' Brian Dohn, (818) 713-3607 brian.dohn(at)dailynews.com CAPTION(S): 2 photos, box Photo: (1 -- color) Justin Hickman and the rest of UCLA's defensive line will try to stop Rice's option attack tonight at the Rose Bowl. (2) UCLA defensive end Nikola Dragovic sacks San Diego State quarterback Kevin O'Connell Kevin O'Connell may refer to
Edna T. Simpson/Daily News Box: UCLA (1-0) vs. RICE |
|
||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion