Defensive Line Shines, Offense’s Play Spotty

No matter who is UCLA’s starting quarterback in the fall, the key to the passing attack will be the play of its mostly unproven receivers.

With Craig Bragg and Tab Perry graduated, UCLA’s most experienced wideout is senior Junior Taylor, who finished with 32 catches for 463 yards last season. In Saturday’s scrimmage at Drake Stadium, quarterbacks completed five touchdown passes, but none were to a wideout.

“At one point with the [first team], Joe [Cowan] and I just smiled at each other in the huddle because on one series, it was like 10 runs to four passes,” said Taylor, who finished with two catches for 38 yards. “That’s the way our offense can be. We just have to make the most out of our opportunities. This was our first scrimmage and that was just the play calling for today.”

Stellar defensive line play -- noseguard Kevin Brown finished with six sacks and forced a fumble -- added to the offense’s inconsistent play.

Senior David Koral threw three touchdown passes, including a 70-yard swing pass to tailback Maurice Drew on the first play. But Koral didn’t get many chances to throw downfield because of conservative play calling and a relentless pass rush. Koral completed four of seven passes for 158 yards.

“I didn’t think [I got enough snaps]; I would have liked to get into a little more rhythm,” said Koral, who completed two impressive touchdown passes to senior tight end Marcedes Lewis. “I got a couple of nice series in the beginning, but there was a big gap in the middle when I didn’t get anything, which kind of threw the timing off.”

Redshirt freshman Patrick Cowan completed nine of 10 passes for 94 yards, including a touchdown to fullback Jimmy Stephens. But celebrated redshirt freshman Ben Olson struggled in his most extensive scrimmage time. He completed two of four passes for minus-one yard with one interception.

Olson said he’s trying not to get frustrated by “remembering that I haven’t played in three years.... What I used to be to now is not very encouraging. But I have to remember that, and it will come in time.”

Coach Karl Dorrell basically grouped the quarterbacks together and said they all played well, including junior Brian Callahan, but each made mistakes.

The offensive line, which played without injured Shannon Tevaga and Chris Joseph, opened holes and made solid downfield blocks for Drew, who gained 57 yards in only four carries.

Lewis also stood out as UCLA continues to look for ways to get him the ball. He finished with two catches for 73 yards.

But if the Bruins are to become a force operating Dorrell’s West Coast offense, wideouts such as Cowan, sophomores Marcus Everett and Brandon Breazell and redshirt freshman Ryan Graves have to produce.

“It’s been different; some of the timing is off,” Everett, who has switched from No. 83 to No. 9, said of playing without injured senior Drew Olson. “But we’re coming along pretty good now.... Everybody is getting used to each other and we’re making progress.”

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UCLA’s young secondary made several momentum-changing plays: Redshirt freshman cornerback Byron Velega returned a fumble 48 yards for a touchdown, sophomore Rodney Van intercepted a Ben Olson pass in the end zone and junior safety Eric McNeal made several exceptional hits and broke up a pass.