UCLA NOTEBOOK: UCLA DEFENSE WILL BE ON THE RUN.

Byline: Brian Dohn Staff Writer

Missed assignments, poor technique, missed tackles and inexperience - coupled with an Oklahoma State offensive line that was bigger, stronger, more physical and more experienced - contributed to UCLA's defensive line allowing a laughable 426 rushing yards last week.

From coach Karl Dorrell to members of the defensive line, UCLA vowed its defense would have an improved showing today against Illinois.

``They're going to test it, see what we're all about up front,'' Dorrell said. ``We're going to answer the bell with some improvement and being able to do some things better than we did the week before. I'm planning on that. They're definitely going to test our run defense, and we're going to do what we need to do to be victorious.''

Illinois has experience on the right side of its line, but not the talent of Oklahoma State. The Illini also doesn't have the reputation of being a staunch running team.

Illinois center Duke Preston has started 25 consecutive games. Right guard Matt Maddox is a second-year starter and right tackle Bucky Babcock has 37 career starts. On the other side of the line, left guard Martin O'Donnell is making his first start, and J.J. Simmons makes his second start at left tackle.

Although Illinois ran for 296 yards in its 52-13 season-opening win against Florida A&M, running wasn't its forte a year ago. In 11 games against Division I-A teams in 2003, the Illini failed to run for 90 yards six times.

UCLA is also hoping Eyoseph Efseaff's transition from offensive line to defensive tackle helps. Efseaff, a senior with 36 starts, hasn't played defense since high school, but, at 6-foot-3 and 315 pounds, should provide bulk for the middle.

``I'm learning everything right now as fast as I possibly can,'' Efseaff said. ``I basically got the defense down. If you had to test me on paper, I'd got it all down. Now, it's a matter of going out there and performing, learning all the new techniques.''

--Lay of the land: Illinois coach Ron Turner spent three seasons (1985-87) as an assistant coach at USC, so he knows the pressure UCLA coach Karl Dorrell is feeling after getting off to a slow start. And Turner said it is compounded by the success USC is currently enjoying.

``That probably makes it a little more difficult right now,'' Turner said. ``It's a tremendous rivalry, and when one is doing well and the other one is not, it probably (adds to the pressure). Expectations are very high - maybe unrealistic.''

--Looking tight: Marcedes Lewis caught two passes in the opener, but he believes he will be a big factor, since UCLA's offense is designed to utilize the tight end. Quarterback Drew Olson threw to him four times in the opener.

``I think last year, a lot of times the tight end wasn't really considered an option on most of the plays,'' Lewis said. ``This year, it's a big turnaround.''

Brian Dohn, [phone]

brian.dohn(at)dailynews.com

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KARL DORRELL

Coach says defensive line will be tested by Illinois today.