Melsby Might Take Poli-Dixon’s Spot

A lineup battle is underway at split end, where Brian Poli-Dixon has disappointed coaches and is in danger of losing his starting job to Brad Melsby.

Poli-Dixon was an honorable mention All-Pacific 10 selection last season while leading the Bruins in touchdown receptions (10) and finishing second in catches (44), but he has been unimpressive in the opening days of his junior season. It comes after he missed part of the voluntary summer passing drills to go with teammate Freddie Mitchell to Mitchell’s home in Florida, where they worked out with some NFL players.

“Somebody told me he talked to Randy Moss, but he’s not playing like Randy Moss,” UCLA Coach Bob Toledo said. “He’s dropping too many balls.”

Just what Toledo must have wanted to hear, someone suggested to the coach, Poli-Dixon spending time with Moss.

“Yeah,” Toledo said with dismay and heavy sarcasm, “he’s a great role model.”

Melsby, a senior, is not as spectacular as Mitchell or Danny Farmer, but he is solid. He had 16 catches last season, including arguably the biggest by any Bruin, the game-winning 61-yard play with 21 seconds left for the victory at Oregon State.

UCLA may also use its depth at wide receiver in another way--to redshirt Jon Dubravac and give him three seasons of eligibility after Melsby and Farmer have left. No final decision is expected until after the Fresno State game Sept. 18, the last of the three nonconference contests to open the season, but Dubravac seems to agree it would be for the best.

Under that scenario, the five wide receivers this year would be Farmer, Poli-Dixon, Melsby, Mitchell and Cody Joyce. Should the Bruins decide to add a sixth, it probably would be Devon Reese or Ryan Wilkins.

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Fullback Durell Price is waiting to meet with his attorney before making a final decision but said he has no intention of continuing his case beyond next Wednesday’s arraignment for his role in the handicapped-parking scam. That means a plea of either no contest--as nine of his current and former teammates have already done--or guilty to the one misdemeanor count.

“My whole thinking is, I want it done as soon as possible,” he said. “I go to court on the 25th. I want it over by the 26th.”

Price, the returning starter at fullback, has been suspended for the first two games, no matter the outcome of his legal proceedings.