RUNNING GAME BOXED IN.

Byline: Brian Dohn Staff Writer

After tearing through defenses for 1,093 yards in the first four games, UCLA's running game has been nonexistent the past two weeks.

Part of the problem is defenses are playing eight men in the box at the line of scrimmage to slow down the Bruins and force quarterback Drew Olson to throw the ball, but offensive coordinator Tom Cable said that is no excuse for a lackluster running game.

``It still comes down to having eight negative-yard runs,'' said Cable, also the offensive line coach. ``That's inexcusable. That's on us, regardless if there's eight, nine or whatever (at the line). The bottom line at this level is you've got to run it on eight guys in the box.

``When you get that ninth guy in the box, you have the ability to throw the football and get better balance.''

UCLA struggled to gain 114 yards in an Oct. 9 win against Arizona, and its longest run was 11 yards. In Saturday's loss to Cal, UCLA rushed for 79 yards and had a long run of 15 yards. At times, Cal had nine players in the box near the line of scrimmage, tempting UCLA to throw.

The extra attention on the running game has slowed tailback Maurice Drew considerably. After rushing for 669 yards in the first four games, he has 64 yards on 25 carries in the past two.

``When you have success running the ball, teams are going to start keying the run,'' strong-side guard Steven Vieira said. ``It's hard to run. Drop a couple of linebackers, drop a couple of safeties in the box, and it becomes hard to run. They have numbers.''

But Cable said UCLA, to be a good offense, must overcome that. This week, he is stressing the details of blocking, with an emphasis on footwork and shoulder-pad level.

``I've got to coach better and we've got to play a little better,'' Cable said. ``You have three out of five guys really playing well, so we've got to get the other two up to snuff. We just seem to have kind of hit a lull, and that's on me. I just have to coach better and get them out of it.''

--Drew dinged: Drew sat out the last half of practice after injuring his left knee, banging it into a helmet during a nine-on-seven drill. Drew left the field to meet with team doctors after practice and did not stop to talk with reporters.

``He's fine,'' Dorrell said. ``You know when you knock knees? That's what happened. There's nothing wrong with Maurice. He'll be fine.''

Drew is second in the Pacific-10 Conference in rushing at 122 yards per game.

--Cassel's confidence: Junior cornerback Marcus Cassel said he met with defensive backs coach Gary DeLoach after being benched in the third quarter at Cal. He said the discussion centered around being more sound with his technique, and his confidence is intact.

``They told me they haven't given up on me, and I didn't think they would,'' Cassel said. ``It means a lot. I'll just try to continue to get better.''

Cassel, who will start Saturday at Arizona State, admitted it did bother him getting yanked, but he is over it.

``It's frustrating and you get down about it, but things happened in the Washington game when they threw the long pass on me, so you just have to have a short-term memory,'' Cassel said. ``I was more frustrated, than anything, that I like my teammates down.''

--Odds and ends: UCLA linebacker Spencer Havner was named one of 12 semifinalists for the Rotary Lombardi Award. ... Receiver Craig Bragg went through his first practice since dislocating his left shoulder Sept. 18. He will wear a shoulder harness at ASU. ``It's not as limiting as I thought it would be,'' Bragg said. ``The only thing it's keeping (the shoulder) from doing is going too far back. I don't think it's going to affect me reaching and catching the ball.''

Brian Dohn, [phone]

brian.dohn(at)dailynews.com

CAPTION(S):

photo, box

Photo:

Running back Maurice Drew hasn't found the running lanes the past two weeks.

Edna T. Simpson/Staff Photographer

Box:

UCLA at No. 21 ARIZONA ST.