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From the Start, Bruin Defense Is Laying It on the Line

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Times Staff Writer

Despite the absence of starting linebackers Spencer Havner, Justin London and Wesley Walker, who are recovering from off-season surgeries, UCLA’s defense has been impressive over the first half of spring practice.

Leading the resurgence has been the defensive front, which had problems because of injuries and struggled with consistency last season. With junior Kevin Brown moving from tackle to noseguard and setting a high-energy pace, the down linemen have shown marked improvement over a year ago.

“We’ve just been looking to see guys one-on-one compete,” said defensive coordinator Larry Kerr, who opened spring practice working on a lot of eight-men fronts to help a defense that finished last in the Pacific 10 Conference against the run.

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“We’ve been trying to keep it simple. I want to find out, who can get off blocks? Who can tackle? Who can make a play? That’s the stuff we’ve really been looking at.”

With that mentality, UCLA did not miss a beat when senior C.J. Niusulu, the team’s most experienced defensive lineman, was suspended indefinitely for violating team rules earlier this week.

“We’ve added a few new wrinkles to our defense ... it’s different for them,” Coach Karl Dorrell said. “Our guys are really coming along very well.”

Senior Kyle Morgan and junior Justin Hickman start at ends and both seem eager to prove that they are better players than they showed last season. Although they combined to make 46 total tackles, neither lived up to expectations.

A surprise has been how well sophomore Brigham Harwell, who started four games at end last season, has made the transition to tackle.

UCLA’s depth, a problem in the past, is a strength. Junior end Kevin Harbour Jr., a starter last spring before suffering a major knee injury that forced him to miss the season, is back, along with sophomores Chris Johnson, William Snead, Nikola Dragovic and redshirt freshman Nathaniel Skaggs.

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“Our defensive line is getting a whole lot of push into the backfield,” Harbour said. “We have guys that are real. Our first and second teams are almost the same because guys are bringing it every day. We have a defense with a whole bunch of athletes now.”

With Havner, London, Walker and sophomore Fred Holmes sidelined because of injuries, the Bruins have been working with a depleted group of linebackers.

Danny Nelson, who started one game last season, has been practicing a little but has a shoulder injury. That has left plenty of playing time for walk-ons Jamel Greer and Mark Cordell, and Christian Taylor, a sophomore who transferred from the Air Force Academy a year ago.

The Bruins have also been pleased with the play of outside linebacker Aaron Whittington and Bruce Davis, a pass-rushing end. They are sophomores.

In the secondary, UCLA has been getting long looks at inexperienced cornerbacks Michael Norris, Rodney Van, Byron Velega and Mil’Von James. They are battling returnees Trey Brown and Marcus Cassel.

Because of the departure of Ben Emanuel II to the NFL, Jarrad Page to baseball and Chris Horton to off-season foot surgery, the Bruins have been working with new starters at safety in sophomores Dennis Keyes and Charlie Schuh.

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Tight end Keith Carter, who has struggled with injuries since a motorcycle accident on April 3, 2003, said Thursday that he’d decided to stop playing football and would pursue a coaching career.

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