UCLA UPDATE: UCLA HANDS OFF OFFENSE TO CABLE BRUINS NAME REPLACEMENT FOR AXMAN.

Byline: Brian Dohn Staff Writer

Already given the chore of improving an inadequate offensive line, Tom Cable now is being called upon to resurrect one of the worst offenses in the nation.

UCLA's football makeover continued Thursday when offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Steve Axman and UCLA amicably split, an expected move because of a ``philosophical'' difference with coach Karl Dorrell.

Dorrell quickly responded by elevating Cable, who was hired a month ago to coach the offensive line. As offensive coordinator, Cable will run the same West Coast-type offense. Dorrell will hire a quarterbacks coach.

``Is it going to be drastically different? I don't know, other than I hope we run it better,'' said Cable, who will call the plays. ``You just try to get everyone on the same page and tweak it here and there. Being able to play to the players' strength is probably the most important thing.''

Dorrell tried to hire Cable as the offensive coordinator last winter, but Cable elected to remain as the coach at Idaho. He was fired after the Vandals went 3-9, but the offense, which is similar to UCLA's, was effective.

In four years at Idaho, Cable's offense averaged 421 yards a game. He was Colorado's offensive coordinator in 1999, when the Buffaloes averaged 425 yards. Cable's appointment also gives UCLA uniformity throughout the offensive staff with coaches familiar with the system.

``(Cable) is of the same football philosophy of what we're trying to do,'' Dorrell said. ``I think we'll do a great job of developing this system to where it can flourish. We have a lot more people in the offensive room that have more background with what we're trying to get accomplished.

``I expect us to be much improved and much more efficient with Tom at the controls.''

Under Axman, the Bruins ranked 110th of 117 Division I-A teams in total yards at 294.9 a game. UCLA was also 100th in scoring (19.1 points a game) and 114th in rushing yards (91.9 a game) behind an abysmal offensive line.

Axman's departure was expected. When tight-ends coach Gary Bernardi and offensive-line coach Mark Weber were fired after a 17-9 loss to Fresno State in the Silicon Valley Classic, it was reported that Axman would not be back.

``I told Karl, 'I was the wrong guy for you,' '' said Axman, who will be paid until his contract expires in June. ``The big mistake was, on my part, I assumed that we'd run the West Coast offense, but I've got great ideas and he's got great ideas from his past, and you're kind of developing an offense that is your own.

``That was an incorrect assumption on my part because Karl wanted to very strictly run the West Coast offense that he had learned from the Denver Broncos.''

Sources said the philosophical differences centered around game-planning and play-calling. Those close to Axman said his offensive philosophy is to mix the vertical passing game with screen passes and misdirection runs. In going 6-7, UCLA did little of that.

``The thing that I learned about the West Coast offense is that it is an extremely complete offense, it's very sophisticated,'' Axman said. ``There's an awful lot to it. You really can't make changes to it if you're going to run it. You can't try and make adjustments to it.''

Brian Dohn, [phone]

brian.dohn(at)dailynews.com