Coaches Are Put in a Tight Spot

The lineup battle at tight end has turned out to be everything UCLA’s coaches expected, with all three contenders still vying for the starting job as the second depth chart of camp was released Thursday.

Gabe Crecion, Bryan Fletcher and Mike Seidman provide great comfort and a tough decision. It could be the last spot chosen for the opening lineup, as late as the night before the Sept. 2 Alabama game, and even then would come as a largely ceremonial choice since all three will play, sometimes together in short-yardage situations. From there, Coach Bob Toledo may alternate starters on a weekly basis.

“Gary Bernardi will never coach a group of tight ends like that again,” Toledo said of the position coach. “That’s what I told him.”

He knows, he knows.

“We really have three guys who could probably start at most any school,” Bernardi said. “There is no set starter and everyone will play. There might be another one out there somewhere who is faster or is stronger, but no one can compare to this as a group.”

No one currently, at least. The comparisons take on more meaning at UCLA since it was just two seasons ago, in the drive to the Rose Bowl, that the Bruins had Mike Grieb and Ryan Neufeld at the same time. Grieb was an All-Pacific 10 selection and Neufeld, the backup, is in the NFL.

*

There were no major developments in the second depth chart. Most of the adjustments came because this was the first to include the true freshmen.

Of note:

* Marcus Reese is again pushing Ryan Nece for the starting job at outside linebacker, a renewal of their battle from the midpoint of last season. They are listed even heading into game week before the opener.

* Oscar Cabrera, once thought to be out for the Alabama game because of a sprained ankle, now might retain his spot in the opening lineup at guard. He has been upgraded to questionable and Thursday practiced with the team for the first time since the opening day of camp. More will be known today, after the medical staff sees if the joint stiffens or swells overnight. If Cabrera doesn’t go, Blake Worley is next in line.

* Tab Perry, the impressive true freshman, needed less than two weeks of camp to leapfrog several more experienced receivers, moving to No. 2 at flanker behind Freddie Mitchell. Perry will also handle kickoff returns with Jermaine Lewis.

* Two other true freshmen also made the two-deep--Brandon Chillar as the backup to Tony White at outside linebacker, as expected, and Keith Short as the backup to Ricky Manning at cornerback. Chillar’s role could be temporary, until Asi Faoa returns from his one-game suspension.