UCLA Braces for Attack From Paye Today : Overworked Secondary Expects to Be Tested by Stanford Quarterback

Free safety James Washington of UCLA is well aware that John Paye, the Stanford quarterback he and his fellow defensive backs will be facing today, leads the nation in total offense.

Intending no lack of respect, Washington said: “John Paye is not the only great quarterback we’ve faced. We’ve already played some of the best in the country.”

True. Robbie Bosco of Brigham Young is No. 3, and Tony Robinson of Tennessee is No. 5. UCLA won at BYU and pulled out a tie at Tennessee.

Next week, UCLA’s secondary will face Washington State’s Mark Rypien, who is No. 8.

So Washington doesn’t get overly excited about every quarterback’s statistics. He has also learned to accept what those guys are doing to his statistics.

UCLA ranks first in the conference--second in the nation--in rushing defense, but is last in the conference in passing defense.

“I don’t think the stats show how good our secondary really is,” Washington said. “We don’t like the idea of being last, but there are some reasons for why it works out that way.”

First of all, there is the Bruins’ strength against the rush. UCLA is giving up just 59.8 yards a game rushing. If you take away the rush, a team has to pass.

Then, too, UCLA has scored first in all five of its games so far this season and has a record of 3-1-1. Teams playing catch-up have to pass.

And, after all that, it comes back to the quality of quarterbacks.

“You don’t stop a great quarterback,” Washington said. “You try to limit him, contain him, restrict his yardage. But you don’t shut down a quarterback like Bosco or Robinson or Paye.”

John Paye agrees.

“I’ve always said that if I pass for a lot of yards in a game, it’s a good indication that we’re behind and probably going to lose the game,” Paye said. “It’s more ideal to have a more balanced attack.

“I am not misled about their defense because of their pass defense statistics. They’ve played some very good passing schools that were trying to come from behind.”

When Stanford beat UCLA, 23-21, last season, the attack was more balanced. Paye was injured, and Stanford played a ball-control, rushing offense that worked.

UCLA’s rushing defense is better now.

UCLA Coach Terry Donahue said: “Obviously, I’m delighted with our rushing defense. I’m a little disappointed with our passing defense.

“Part of our problem with the pass defense is (1) we’ve played a lot of good quarterbacks, and (2) in order to generate an effective pass rush, you have to blitz, and when you blitz, you play a lot of man-to-man coverage. You have a feast-or-famine situation. . . . You have defensive backs trailing people, like fighter pilots. You risk giving up some big plays in the secondary.

“Generally, it’s more important to stop the rush than the pass. Considering who we’re playing, this week it might be a little different.”

Stanford is passing for an average of 366.8 yards a game, and the Cardinal fullback, Brad Muster, leads the nation in receiving.

Stanford is averaging 31.2 points a game but is giving up almost 32 points a game.

Stanford’s defense was very effective against UCLA last season, but many of the Cardinal’s top players are gone. “We’re very young on defense,” Stanford Coach Jack Elway said.

Stanford gave up 41 points last week to San Diego State, and UCLA is coming off a heady victory over Arizona State.

“The chemistry for this game is perfect for an upset,” Donahue said. “As you know, I believe in chemistry. The team will have to fight very hard to understand just what our position is.”

Bruin Notes UCLA is 3-1-1 overall, 1-1 in the Pacific 10. Stanford is 1-3 overall, 1-1 in the Pac-10 and seeking to break a three-game losing streak. . . . Last Saturday, UCLA beat Arizona State, 40-17, and Stanford lost to San Diego State, 41-22. The last time these teams met, last season at the Rose Bowl, Stanford’s quarterback that day was Fred Buckley. . . . Terry Donahue, the winningest coach ever for UCLA and in his 10th season with a record of 74-30-6, has a 1-3 mark at Stanford Stadium. Stanford Coach Jack Elway is in his second season with the Cardinal after coaching at Cal State Northridge and San Jose State.

UCLA tailback Gaston Green did not make the trip. He practiced during the week but is still not fully recovered from sprained ligaments in his knee. Eric Ball, who started at tailback last Saturday, is not back to 100% after bruising a shoulder muscle, so James Primus is expected to start at tailback. . . . Split end Mike Sherrard did not make the trip after breaking his collarbone last Saturday. Sherrard was injured while catching a 19-yard pass that made him the school’s leader in receiving yardage. He had become the leader in catches two weeks earlier. Missing this game--and maybe the next six--Sherrard will end a streak of 28 games in which he had caught at least two passes.

Stanford fullback Brad Muster suffered a hip pointer last Saturday and missed most of the second half against San Diego State, finishing with just four receptions. His backup, Brian Morris, caught 10 passes for 69 yards. Muster was held out of contact this week, but he is expected to start. . . . Stanford’s starting tailback, Thomas Henley, is the older brother of UCLA cornerback Darryl Henley. Thomas is averaging 122 all-purpose yards a game.

Despite having the game on local television, Stanford officials are expecting a crowd of about 60,000. . . . UCLA’s game next Saturday at Washington State will not be nationally televised but will be televised in Los Angeles on KNBC as a part of the Lorimar network package. . . .The kickoff for UCLA’s Homecoming game against California on Oct. 26 has been switched from 12:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. so it can be televised by WTBS and Channel 13.