It’s Always a Tricky Time Getting Ready for Bruins

There’s no secret about UCLA and trick plays, but that doesn’t make it any easier to prepare.

“You know they’re going to go for one of those,” USC linebacker Chris Claiborne said. “Big game, ABC television, they’re going to have a play. You’ve got to be ready, but you’ve got to be disciplined.”

Linebacker David Gibson agreed.

“UCLA is notorious for those, but you can’t play your game waiting for two or three plays,” he said.

Coach Paul Hackett said the key is not letting fear of the trick play diminish the defense’s effectiveness.

“The reason trick plays are so effective is that they make the defense lay back,” he said. “You’re laying back all game, waiting for that double-reverse flea-flicker, and you don’t play your kind of natural aggressive game. And they’re marching down the field on you and you’re still watching.”

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It’s still very slow going for R. Jay Soward, who ran on the sidelines for the first time in practice Wednesday, a week and a half after severely spraining his right ankle against Stanford.

“He struggled to run, but as he loosened up he was able to catch some balls and run some routes,” Hackett said. “I feel strongly he’ll be available, but clearly not 100%. It’s going to be in a limited role.

“I was encouraged. It’s not something where Saturday he’s going to go 100 miles an hour.

“When it comes game time, he’ll want to be in there, but his level of effectiveness, it’s hard to say.”

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Defensive tackle Marc Matock, who had hoped to play against UCLA, said his return will be a week later against Notre Dame.