Defense Will Be Put to the Test

The Bruins have given up 116 points in three Pacific 10 Conference games, so the last thing the UCLA defense needs is a game against an opponent with an unconventional offense. Unfortunately for the Bruins, Oregon State arrives Saturday with a one-back offense that spreads receivers across the field, spacing defenders far apart and creating the potential for huge gaps in coverage.

“It’s like a run-and-shoot or a wishbone,” UCLA Coach Bob Toledo said. “They make you play a different defense than you want to. They make you play some players that haven’t played as much.”

The Bruins will use five and six defensive backs at times, so second-stringers Audie Attar, Kevin Brant, Joe Hunter and Jason Stephens all could see significant playing time.

Sophomore linebacker Marcus Reese should also play extensively behind starters Ryan Nece, Robert Thomas and Tony White. Linebacker coach Marc Dove said he was pleased with the run defense in last week’s loss at California but disappointed with the pass defense. Nece, Thomas and White have started 64 games among them, but Dove said the group was too slow to react to the new plays with which Cal surprised the UCLA defense.

“With as much experience as we have, we’ve got to be able to adjust to those things,” Dove said.

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Backup quarterback Ryan McCann said he would not play this week and is scheduled for a second MRI exam next week to help determine how to treat a partially torn labrum in his throwing shoulder. McCann is not necessarily out for the season; the Angels’ Ramon Ortiz pitched the entire season with a partially torn labrum in his throwing shoulder. For now, junior Scott McEwan will back up Cory Paus. . . . Toledo said he expected defensive end Rusty Williams to play Saturday even if he does not practice all week. Williams has a sore right foot. . . . Thomas missed practice Tuesday because of a sore throat. . . . Freddie Mitchell leads the NCAA with an average of 122.7 receiving yards a game. Mitchell is on pace to break Danny Farmer’s school record of 1,276 receiving yards, set in 1998. . . . Jeff Sagarin, whose mathematical rankings are factored into the bowl championship series standings, ranks UCLA 35th this week, behind Division I-AA schools Delaware and Portland State.