UCLA FOOTBALL WATCH : AN INSIDE LOOK

Passing the buck: Freshman quarterback Bret Johnson, who completed six of 15 passes for 101 yards and a touchdown last Saturday in a 17-14 loss to Stanford, should not be blamed for the Bruins’ lack of a consistent passing attack, Coach Terry Donahue said.

So, what’s wrong with the Bruins, who rank ninth in the Pacific 10 Conference in passing offense?

Said Donahue: “If you were taking a multiple-choice test and the guy had a box that said, ‘All of the above,’ you’d check, ‘All of the above.’ ”

Nevertheless, Donahue said that Johnson and sophomore Jim Bonds will alternate at quarterback when the Bruins (3-6) play Oregon (5-4) Saturday at 3:30 p.m. at the Rose Bowl.

Sidelined: Lance Zeno, a junior guard from Fountain Valley who has started all nine games for UCLA, will miss the last two after undergoing an emergency appendectomy Tuesday.

Rick Meyer, who was the Bruins’ starting left guard before moving last month to tackle, will replace Zeno.

Grounded: UCLA, which has not had a back run for more than 100 yards in a game this season, has not gone through an entire season without a back doing so since 1963, when Jim Colletto led the Bruins with 179 yards rushing in nine games. UCLA was 2-8 that season.

Speedy recovery: Wide receiver Reggie Moore, who had cartilage removed last week from his left knee, may be able to return to the lineup in time to play against USC Nov. 18.

Still kicking: Kirk Maggio averaged 39.4 yards a punt against Stanford, but still ranks second in the nation behind Colorado’s Tom Rouen with an average of 45.3 yards.