Bruins Prefer Toughing It Out Against Oregon

It’s a scenario any coach would love: Run back the opening kickoff 98 yards for a quick and easy 7-0 lead.

No, thanks.

“I’d probably prefer a 10-play drive,” said UCLA Coach Bob Toledo. “We don’t want it easy. Not so hard we don’t score, mind you, but we need it to be tough.”

It’s been too tough so far for the Bruins, who play Oregon tonight burdened with the knowledge that they have not had a drive of consequence in a game of consequence all season.

Dismissing a 44-0 victory over Northeast Louisiana for the glorified scrimmage it was, UCLA has scored three touchdowns in losses to Tennessee and Michigan. Two of those were scored by the defense--interception returns by Abdul McCullough and Phillip Ward--and one by the offense, on an 88-yard pass play from Cade McNown to Danny Farmer.

Drives have been halted by third-down mistakes--dropped passes, errant throws, fumbles or backs being stopped short. Punter Chris Sailer had more high kicks in September than a Rockette.

The Bruins converted only one of 14 third-down tries at Michigan, and that in garbage time. They were successful on only five of 15 at Tennessee, only five of 13 in the easy victory over Northeast Louisiana.

That’s 11 of 42 third-down conversions, which is more than arithmetic. It’s a nightmare for a defensive team that is becoming used to spending Saturdays on the field while the offense licks its wounds on the sidelines and ponders something--anything--that could work.

The defense had 85 plays at Michigan, the offense 55.

“As we self-destructed on offense, the defense got worn down,” Toledo said.

And now, Oregon.

Toledo called the game crucial for both teams, talking of bowl aspirations. But he has amended that rationale, because the game can have a more immediate impact. If UCLA can’t play with the Ducks, “it could be uphill from here,” Toledo said.

It’s the first conference game for the Bruins, and if they can’t handle Oregon, an injured team with the Pacific 10’s worst defense, how are they going to deal next week with fifth-ranked Arizona State, which is undefeated and playing the best football in the conference.

Oregon is 3-2, but both losses have been in conference games, and the Ducks have given up 97 points in the last two games.

“It’s a must-win game for both teams,” Toledo said. “For them, because they have lost two in a row, and for us, because we have to get back to where we’re feeling good about ourselves.”

The Ducks have junked their innovative defense, called “the edge,” because the edge was going to the opposition. They began the season by lining up defensively a yard or two off the ball, figuring that would give linemen time to read blocks, avoid traps and get involved in tackles.

Instead, it gave offensive linemen a head start on their blocks after the snap, and Oregon players couldn’t tackle anybody. The Ducks gave up 27, 30 and 28 points in the games they won, and have surrendered 480.4 yards a game.

They have won by outscoring people, going long-distance--quarterback Ryan Perry-Smith has passed for 1,287 yards in the last four weeks--for touchdowns. Sixteen Ducks have caught passes, and four have had 100-yard receiving games.

So UCLA will have to score, and probably big, to win, and the Bruins haven’t been able to score all season.

Their game against Michigan was misleading, Oregon Coach Mike Bellotti said.

“UCLA has a better football team than anybody thinks,” he said. “They got worn down in the second half. They’re better than they played.”

They will have to be to win tonight.

“We’ve got to have more concentration in the game, more concentration in practice,” Toledo said. “If these guys don’t do it, we’ve got to try other guys.”

There has already been a bit of a shake-up in the lineup, with Craig Walendy subbing for Cheyane Caldwell at fullback and Jim McElroy for Eric Scott--who has caught one pass for seven yards in three games--at wide receiver.

Skip Hicks started the second half of the Michigan game on the bench and received a stern lecture about his running style this week. His response tonight will go a long way toward determining the Bruins’ destiny.

“[Tonight] we’ll find out what we’re made of,” Toledo said.