They Put Reputation on Line for Bruins

UCLA’s offensive line is fighting injury and a bad reputation with the promise that its unit will be improved after getting much blame for the Bruins’ 1999 failings.

It was a problem area from the beginning a year ago when a starter, Oscar Cabrera, and a reserve, James Ghezzi, were suspended the first two games for their involvement in the handicapped-parking scam. The running game struggled, even before DeShaun Foster got hurt. Then, Mike Saffer missed a game because of a sprained ankle, returned for five games, and missed the last two because of a knee injury. Troy Danoff tore a knee ligament and missed the last two games. Brian Polak, the standout of the group, played 11 games despite nagging injuries.

Only one Pacific 10 Conference team, California, gave up more sacks. Only Cal gained fewer yards rushing. Making the Bruin weakness more apparent, it came one season after they had the best offensive line in the country, just before graduation and Kris Farris’ early departure to the NFL created a vacuum.

“We didn’t have a good year and we’re the first to admit that,” said Danoff, the center.

The chance for redemption comes without that as the goal.

“I wouldn’t say it’s, ‘We’ve got something to prove,’ ” said Saffer, the right tackle. “It’s not like an offensive line thing. It’s not an offense thing. It’s not a defense thing. It’s a team thing. We’ve all got something to prove.

“It’s not like anybody is looking at it that we’ll show you. It’s not about revenge. We know what we can do. We’ll just go out and prove it.”

Added Mark Weber, the offensive line coach: “They are highly motivated young men and they know what they need to do and they know what is expected of them. They’re doing it for themselves. They’re doing it for the football team. That’s why they’re doing it, because they know that a lot of the success of the team depends on them.”

The fresh start has been mixed. Cabrera, entering his third year as a starter, sprained his ankle on the opening day of camp and will probably miss the first two games and maybe a third. Shane Lehmann, a redshirt freshman, or Blake Worley will replace him.

At the same time, though, Polak, Saffer and Danoff are healthy again, in Danoff’s case even better than the Bruins had expected at this stage.

“Every day I get more and more confidence on it,” Danoff said of the left knee that underwent off-season surgery. “It’s tough. I’m still thinking about it. But every play, I forget more and more about it.”

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Foster played only the first series of Saturday’s scrimmage, worth two carries and 11 yards, but not because of injury. Coach Bob Toledo simply wanted to protect him against one. “It makes me a better coach if he plays against Alabama than if he plays against us,” Toledo said.

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Reserve tailback Mike Vanis and reserve defensive tackle Kory Lombard have been put on scholarship.