Punt Returns Still a Disappointment

The offense is scoring points, the defense is keeping the other guys from scoring them. UCLA has won five games in a row and all systems are go.

Right?

Well, not really, because every opposition fourth down continues to be a good-news, bad-news situation.

Good news, because the defense has made another stop. Bad news, because it’s time to receive a punt.

“The thing that’s probably most disturbing is our punt returns,” Coach Bob Toledo said for the umpteenth Saturday in a row after UCLA had beaten Oregon State, 34-10.

“Obviously, we’ve got to get somebody who can catch the ball, No. 1, and then who can make some runs.”

The No. 1 problem is “No. 1.” The Bruins have tried four punt returners in seven games, and all have had fumble problems. Their most sure-handed return man is Jim McElroy, a wide receiver who was supposed to be held out of special-teams play Saturday because he had suffered a concussion the week before.

After watching first Jermaine Lewis, then Mark Reynosa fumble punts--Lewis for the second time this season--UCLA used McElroy anyway, for one punt. He returned it eight yards to set up a Bruin scoring drive.

Once the game was out of reach, Reynosa went back in to return the ball.

He leads the Bruins in punt returns, but it’s nothing to brag about. Reynosa has returned seven punts for an average of 7.3 yards and has the season’s longest, 17 yards, achieved Saturday in the second quarter.

Look for McElroy to return kicks Saturday against California.

*

A deep thigh bruise continues to nag strong safety Larry Atkins, whose practice time is limited but who has not missed a defensive play during a game because of it.

“It hurts,” said Atkins, who has five interceptions and three fumble recoveries in leading the Bruins in opportunism. “But when you’re playing, the adrenaline takes over and you kind of forget about it.”

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NEXT FOR UCLA

WHO: California

WHERE: Rose Bowl

WHEN: Saturday, 12:30 p.m.

TV: None

RADIO: AM 1150