UCLA comes up with long haul

All UCLA’s receivers want is a chance to prove they can make big plays.

Brandon Breazell, eager to answer critics who think UCLA’s receivers either can’t run very fast or don’t know what a long pass is, caught a 56-yard touchdown pass from Patrick Cowan in the first quarter and had a 36-yard touchdown reception in the fourth quarter Saturday night in the Bruins’ 24-12 Pacific 10 Conference victory over Arizona State at Sun Devil Stadium.

It comes one week after Marcus Everett caught a 45-yard touchdown pass from Cowan. That’s an encouraging sign for a group of receivers pleading to assume a more influential role in UCLA’s attack.

“It’s been pretty frustrating, but we have to understand we have two young quarterbacks learning the system,” Everett said. “We have to be patient.”

UCLA’s erratic passing game was on display against the Sun Devils. Cowan completed all four of his passes in the first quarter for 73 yards. But by halftime, the passing attack had disappeared.

Cowan finished 14 for 24 for 187 yards with no interceptions.

Cowan threw only two passes in the second quarter, both incomplete. By the fourth quarter, the passing attack was on life support -- until Breazell broke free to make a one-handed catch in the end zone with 6 minutes 41 seconds left and UCLA (6-5) clinging to a 17-12 advantage.

There has been much speculation about what has prevented the Bruins’ passing game from striking deep on a more consistent basis. Was it quarterback inexperience with the nuances of the West Coast offense? Was it the offensive line’s inability to provide adequate protection time? Was it the receivers not having sprinter speed?

“It’s what the defense is giving us,” said assistant coach D.J. McCarthy, who works with the receivers. “Last week, the defense gave us big plays and we took a couple shots. If the defense is giving us underneath stuff where we catch and run, that’s what we’ll do.”

Breazell’s 56-yard touchdown reception came on a second-and-three situation from the Bruins’ 44. He ran a post pattern, beating Justin Tryon. Cowan made a firm, precise pass to Breazell, who ran untouched into the end zone to complete UCLA’s longest pass play this season.

“It really got the offense excited that they could trust the receivers,” Breazell said.

That kind of execution had been lacking as Cowan and previous starter Ben Olson tried to grasp UCLA’s passing scheme.

It’s also a matter of UCLA’s coaches gaining trust in Cowan, who was making his sixth start at quarterback. When the Bruins had the ball on their one-yard line in the first half, there were three consecutive running plays called, leaving little doubt that the staff judged a pass play as too risky.

Perhaps the long pass plays by Breazell and Everett in the last two games are an indication of UCLA’s passing potential.

“We’ve been showing off in practice, so maybe it’s changing thoughts,” Breazell said.

Everett, Breazell, Junior Taylor and freshman Terrence Austin were all considered big-play receivers in high school and want to show their skills.

In two weeks, when Southern California is focused on the USC-UCLA game, the Bruins receivers could end up feeling a little under appreciated when comparisons are made with USC’s well-publicized trio of Dwayne Jarrett, Steve Smith and Patrick Turner.

Everett, though, said he and his fellow receivers deserve respect.

“We do just as many things as they do on the other side of town,” he said.

eric.sondheimer@latimes.com