UCLA NOTEBOOK: TAYLOR REBUILT, READY TO GO.Byline: Brian Dohn Staff Writer Five passes were thrown to split end Junior Taylor in UCLA's season- opening loss. He got his hands on a few of them, but caught none. Even worse, Taylor had trouble getting off 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 and into his routes. It was a performance that brought back memories of a disappointing 2003, but Taylor said it's not time to call his once-promising career a bust, particularly because few know the facts of what contributed to a lackluster sophomore year. ``I'm just ready to show everybody what I can do, and show them it's not false chatter Chatter See: Whipsawed ,'' said Taylor, now a junior. ``It's the truth. I can be a big-time player.'' Big things were expected from Taylor last season, but he finished with 24 catches, making just seven in the final seven games. Taylor said he was injured in·jure tr.v. in·jured, in·jur·ing, in·jures 1. To cause physical harm to; hurt. 2. To cause damage to; impair. 3. more than 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 let on. He had surgery to repair a sports hernia hernia, protrusion of an internal organ or part of an organ through the wall of a body cavity. The hernia is enclosed by a sac formed by the lining of the cavity. It results from a weakness or rupture in the wall, usually where there is already a natural weakness. in the offseason, but until this week Taylor didn't divulge just how serious, and inhibiting, the injury proved to be. Taylor said he had two ligaments ``completely torn'' in his left groin area, and that made it difficult to play much of the second half of the season. ``The doctors said most people can go and play with one (torn ligament ligament (lĭg`əmənt), strong band of white fibrous connective tissue that joins bones to other bones or to cartilage in the joint areas. The bundles of collagenous fibers that form ligaments tend to be pliable but not elastic. ) and not really know it, but when you get a second one, once that tears, it's usually too painful to play,'' Taylor said. ``That's how it was. I couldn't go full speed. I couldn't run my routes full speed. It was just wearing on me. I was going out there and trying to compete on the highest level, but I couldn't run, I couldn't cut. I couldn't be myself. ``We kept it inside the family. Coach (Karl) Dorrell didn't say anything about it. Nobody said anything about it, and so everybody was like, 'Why isn't he steppin' up?' The pain just became unbearable. I had a hard time sitting down, laying down. A lot of times I started off in a game, but you saw me very limited in the second half.'' The surgery to repair the sports hernia consisted of ``using a piece of mesh clothe'' to re-attach the ligaments, Taylor said. The ``mesh clothe'' is usually made of a synthetic plastic. But Taylor isn't using last year's injury as the reason he didn't catch a pass in the opener. He said timing issues between himself and quarterback Drew Olson Drew Olson (born April 6, 1983 in San Francisco, California) is a former starting quarterback for the University of California, Los Angeles football team, where he broke many of UCLA's passing records. were a problem, and he worked at improving them this week in preparation for Saturday's game at Illinois. ``(Taylor) will be better this week,'' Bruins offensive coordinator An offensive coordinator typically refers to the coach on a football team in the National Football League or College football who is in charge of the offense. This position aids the head coach by designing and scripting plays, delegating work to offensive position coaches during Tom Cable said. ``I think it's important to him. We spent the whole week working with him on the things that were issues during the game, mainly ball security. He's a good player that we have to get better.'' --Odds and ends: As expected, Dorrell said strong safety Jarrad Page Jarrad Page (born October 19, 1984) was selected by the Kansas City Chiefs in the 7th round of the 2006 NFL Draft. He played for UCLA in his collegiate career. Before attending UCLA, Page grew up in San Leandro, California, attending San Leandro High School, where Page was the top (heel) and linebacker Justin London (ankle) both would play after practicing Thursday. ... Converted offensive lineman Eyoseph Efseaff should get his first game action as a defensive tackle. ``He will get a few snaps and will play,'' Dorrell said. ``We'll see what he can do.'' ... The team left for Champaign, Ill., after Thursday morning's practice. The Bruins are concerned about adjusting to the early kickoff, which is 9 a.m. PDT PDT abbr. Pacific Daylight Time PDT Pacific Daylight Time PDT n abbr (US) (= Pacific Daylight Time) → hora de verano del Pacífico PDT . Brian Dohn, (818) 713-3607 brian.dohn(at)dailynews.com CAPTION(S): photo, box Photo: JUNIOR TAYLOR The split end's performance last year was hindered by two torn ligaments, an injury kept under wraps by the team. Box: UCLA at ILLINOIS |
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