Offensive Kinks Remain

UCLA is averaging 41 points, seventh-best in the country and first in the Pac-10, because of the things you don’t see.

“We’re not making the major mistakes we made a year ago,” offensive coordinator Al Borges said. “We’re still making mistakes that can keep you out of the end zone though.”

The big mistakes, easily seen by fans, were missed blocks, blocking the wrong defensive player, fumbles, intercepted passes, wrong pass routes and bad quarterback reads.

Replacing those have been small things often overcome during the course of a play: off timing, adjusted routes by pass receivers, occasional missed communications.

In other words, things coaches are more likely to see.

The difference is experience, Borges said, particularly that involving an offensive line that has played together for a year, and a quarterback, Cade McNown, who has had a year with UCLA’s new offense.

“But we’re still not a team that can just show up and score 40 points,” Borges said. “There are still some things we can improve.”

Chief among them is the ability to complete long passes.

NEXT FOR UCLA

Who: Houston

Where: Rose Bowl

When: Saturday, 3:30 p.m.

TV: Fox Sports West 2

Radio: AM 1150