UCLA FOOTBALL NOTEBOOK: VAN NOT PICKY ABOUT PICKS.

Byline: BRIAN DOHN Staff Writer

UCLA junior cornerback Rodney Van has the physical gifts, and his technique, particularly his tackling, is ever improving. He also batted down more passes than all but four players in the Pacific-10 Conference this season, but one thing remains out of Van's reach.

He is interception-challenged.

Despite being tested consistently, Van finished his first regular season as a starter without an interception. He had a team-high eight pass break-ups, but he didn't make any interceptions.

``Even in high school, picks weren't high on my list,'' said Van, who estimated he made three while playing at Long Beach Poly. ``I make a lot of tackles, a lot of deflections, and just a lot of overthrown balls were incompletions. There were never that many picks, though. It's one of those things I never had a lot of.''

Van's last chance this season comes next Wednesday when the Bruins meet Florida State at the Emerald Bowl in San Francisco, and the Seminoles' quarterbacks could aid his quest.

Quarterbacks Drew Weatherford and Xavier Lee, who are both expected to play, combined to throw 18 touchdowns and 15 interceptions, and Van is eyeing a chance to make a game-changing play.

``I've had a whole season to play and trust in myself, and realize that I can take more chances on certain things because I know what I'm doing,'' Van said. ``I think more picks will come as I start to get more in-tune to the game and gain even more knowledge for it.

``I have a knowledge now, but as I progress in my years of football, more picks will come as I get more intelligent.''

UCLA ranked seventh in the Pac-10 with 12 interceptions, with cornerbacks Trey Brown (four) and Alterraun Verner (two) accounting for half.

Van's lone interception of his UCLA career came in a 2005 loss at USC. Although he makes them regularly during practice, Van said it's more important he does not give up the big play, like he did during the middle portion of the season.

``He went through a stretch this season where he had some plays made on him, but I thought he finished the season pretty good,'' Bruins coach Karl Dorrell said. ``Why he doesn't have any (interceptions)? I couldn't tell you. I don't see it as an issue where he can't catch or anything like that. I think they'll come.''

Younger look: Freshman receivers Terrence Austin and Jeremy McGee were limited during the season, but both have been getting more reps -- for a reason -- as the Bruins prepare for Florida State.

``We're getting Terrence and Jeremy McGee more practice time because they're going to be more in the game plan,'' Dorrell said, ``this game more than any other game this year.''

Austin made two catches in eight games while McGee, who started the season at cornerback, does not have a catch and has carried the ball twice for minus-6 yards.

Odds and ends: Bruins backup defensive tackle Chase Moline (herniated disc) will not try to practice until Saturday, Dorrell said. --Bruins guard Chris Joseph (hamstring) continues to be limited in practice.

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