UCLA SPRING FOOTBALL PREVIEW: FOR BRUINS, IT'S BACK TO BASICS FUNDAMENTALS WILL BE STRESSED.

Byline: Brian Dohn Staff Writer

There are two sure-fire ways to get on the bad side of UCLA's new defensive coordinator, DeWayne Walker.

``I'm a teacher and I'm really going to get after these guys,'' Walker said, ``but if you really want to (tick) me off, missed tackles and deep balls down the field, I'll probably lose it in those two instances.''

The attempted change in defensive attitude hits overdrive today as the Bruins begin their 15-session spring practice, but Walker's presence is not the only interesting change.

Despite finishing 10-2 and ranked 16th in the final Associated Press poll, UCLA's coaching staff was remade. The Bruins have six new assistants, and the offensive and defensive coordinators are new.

Offensive coordinator Jim Svoboda was promoted from quarterbacks coach, and Walker was a high-profile hire with an impressive resume that includes stints under defensive gurus Bill Belichick, Pete Carroll and Gregg Williams.

``Pete and Belichick and Gregg, their deals are, it's not about X's and O's,'' Walker said. ``It's tackling, blocking, not making mistakes. Just playing sound, fundamental football.''

And fundamentals, particularly better tackling and swarming to the football, are the focus of the next three weeks.

``(Walker) is a real big fundamentalist,'' UCLA coach Karl Dorrell said. ``That's something we're all going to stress. ... We're trying to improve on those things as much as we can, and to put a great deal of detail and passion to doing things the right way.''

UCLA was 113th out of 117 Division I-A teams in total defense (468.1 ypg) last season, including 116th in rushing defense (232,7 ypg) and 108th in scoring defense (34.2 ppg), and was plagued by blown assignments and shoddy tackling.

``The first thing I want to see across the board is a good stance,'' Walker said. ``Obviously, from a secondary standpoint, there's a technique for every coverage. There's certain footwork for the defensive linemen and the linebackers, and when we turn the tape on, I want to see those stances, and that's before the ball is snapped.''

UCLA has depth in the secondary, and Walker said he wants tighter coverage on the outside. But there are questions regarding UCLA's linebackers after the departure of starters Spencer Havner, Justin London and Wesley Walker, and depth on the defensive line.

The only holdover on the defensive staff is Gary DeLoach, who will focus on the safeties. Walker will also work UCLA's cornerbacks, Chuck Bullough was hired to coach linebackers and Todd Howard will coach the defensive line.

``I think we have good teachers,'' Walker said. ``As much as we're putting on them, we have to do a good job too, and make sure we don't let them down. I'm real sensitive about that.''

The transition on offense should be much more subtle, and Svoboda said he doesn't envision much change. He knows UCLA's personnel, understands Dorrell adores this offense, has a strong-armed quarterback in sophomore Ben Olson and the offensive line, albeit younger, should be more athletic and physical.

Svoboda, who called plays for 16 seasons as the offensive coordinator at Northwest Missouri State and head coach at Nebraska Wesleyan, said he learned well from watching his predecessor, Tom Cable.

``I feel fortunate to have worked for Cable because I think he was a fabulous offensive coordinator, and he had a great understanding of all aspects of the game,'' Svoboda said. ``I thought he was a gifted play-caller, and I don't think everyone can do that.''

While sitting in the coaches' booth last season, Svoboda said ``it was amazing how many times he'd call a play, and it'd be exactly what I'd call in that scenario.''

However, one difference is Svoboda's plan to use the shotgun, a formation Cable didn't like.

``There is a place for experimenting with things,'' Svoboda said. ``We'd like to expand on our play-action stuff a little bit more. ... (The shotgun) is a thought that we've had. It's something Karl's done, and something I've done, but you really have to consider what you're doing to do with it because it's different.''

Brian Dohn, [phone]

brian.dohn(at)dailynews.com

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