UCLA ANALYSIS: AS NEXT ONE GOES, SO GOES THE SEASON.

Byline: Jon Wilner Staff Writer

A warm, thick air of disappointment enveloped UCLA's locker room on the southeast corner of Stanford Stadium. But beneath the obvious angst was a faint optimism - barely detectable in the Bruins' quiet voices and hollow eyes - that the disparate parts have almost congealed.

It was an appropriate tone.

With seven games remaining and a road trip to Arizona State fast approaching, the Bruins (2-2 overall, 0-1 Pac-10) on are the brink.

On one side lies quality. On the other, mediocrity. Which way they fall - what kind of season this becomes - depends heavily on their performance this week.

Beat the Sun Devils, who are equally desperate, and seven or eight wins are within reach. Lose, and the Bruins are suddenly staring at 6-5 or worse.

Why this week? UCLA is the only team with its first two league games on the road, but the difficult early schedule turns favorable in mid-October, with four of the final six at home. If the Bruins can survive until the homestand, they'll have a chance to refuel.

There were traces of a turnaround in UCLA's 42-32 loss Saturday in Stanford Stadium.

Tailback DeShaun Foster played his best game and the Bruins ran effectively for the first time.

The offensive line had fewer breakdowns in communication and execution. (If injured guard Mike Saffer returns this week, as he expects, watch for exponential improvement.)

And receiver Danny Farmer survived without aggravating his tender ankle, although he did not catch a pass.

``What's frustrating is that I see so much promise in this team offensively,'' offensive coordinator Al Borges said. ``We're young and that's not an excuse, it's a reason. Sometimes we don't take advantage of our opportunities.''

That failure falls mostly on the quarterback. Either starter Cory Paus must return quickly (and effectively) from bruised ribs or temporary starter Drew Bennett must improve his downfield passing.

Bennett has average velocity and rarely throws tight spirals, but his arm isn't the issue. This is about his head - about recognizing defenses, about spotting open receivers and about delivering the ball quickly.

Saturday, Bennett either threw late or missed open receivers altogether. Consequently, he stripped UCLA of its most effective weapon. While Stanford has a stingy run defense, the Cardinal secondary is slow and suspect. Opponents had thrown for 332 yards a game, but UCLA managed only a paltry 207.

``(Bennett) didn't throw it as well as he needs to throw it to win big games,'' UCLA coach Bob Toledo said.

It's the same dilemma on defense. The Bruins have improved their run containment, their pass rush is emerging, and they've assimilated the suspended players. They're close to becoming an effective unit - except for the secondary, which is a mess.

There's no easy solution.

Freshmen cornerbacks Ricky Manning and Joe Hunter aren't suddenly going to play like seniors.

Senior safeties Joey Strycula and Eric Whitfield aren't going to become all-conference players this week.

Cornerback Jason Bell's heel might heal, but he has missed two games and won't be in top form by Saturday.

And two players are not performing to their talent or experience levels: sophomore safety Jason Stephens, who has been benched, and senior safety/ cornerback Ryan Roques.

Yardage itself isn't the issue. UCLA dares opponents to move five yards per play for 80 yards, because few college offenses can do it series after series. But when the Bruins yield yards in chunks, as they did Saturday, it's a problem not easily overcome.

`I'm not going to let this get us down,'' defensive coordinator Bob Field said. ``It's about the way you practice. We have to hammer it. We have to harp on it. We have to demand it.

``We did a very good job on it in spring practice and a very good job in fall camp. But for whatever reason, (Saturday) we went back to square one.''

Note: Paus is listed as Bquestionable for the ASU game.

UCLA Status Report

GAME: 4

RESULT: Stanford 42, UCLA 32

RECORD: 2-2

THIS WEEK'S GPA: 2.36

CUMULATIVE GPA: 2.52

NEXT WEEK: at Arizona State

Quarterbacks

Drew Bennett had no turnovers and completed 61.2 percent of his passes, but he averaged just 6.7 yards per attempt. Not good enough. (Stanford averaged 17.2 per attempt.)

C+

Running backs

DeShaun Foster had his first 100-yard game and caught three passes. Jermaine Lewis, Keith Brown and Durell Price were quiet.

B

Receivers

Tight ends carried the day with six catches. Danny Farmer (no receptions) and Freddie Mitchell (no second-half catches) were open downfield but didn't see the ball.

C

Offensive line

Getting better. Bruins gained 148 yards on the ground, and line provided adequate protection against tough Stanford pass rush. Wanted: guard Mike Saffer.

B

Defensive line

Bruins pressured the quarterbacks, knocked Todd Husak out of the game and shut down Stanford tailback Kerry Carter. End Kenyon Coleman was a terror.

B+

Linebackers

Another solid game from middle man Robert Thomas, but outside 'backers Tony White and Ryan Nece (nine combined tackles) must increase production.

C

Secondary

The problem goes beyond freshman cornerbacks. The senior safeties (Joey Strycula, Ryan Roques and Eric Whitfield) aren't playing well, either. No options until Jason Bell returns from injury.

F

Special teams

Nate Fikse had his best punting game, coverage units were superb, and Lovell Houston's kickoff return gave UCLA hope. Stanford punter Sean Tolpinrud's 32-yard run was just a great play.

A-

Coaching

The good: no turnovers, two penalties, resiliency, and 25 offensive points with backup quarterback. The pathetic: pass defense. Haven't we seen this show before?

C

CAPTION(S):

Photo, box

PHOTO UCLA cornerback Ricky Manning Jr. can't hold Stanford wide receiver DeRonnie Pitts (2), who scores in the fourth quarter on Saturday.

Paul Sakuma/Associated Press

Box: UCLA Status Report (see text)