UCLA: Scouting Report No. 3 Alabama at UCLA

* Time: 12:30 p.m.

* Site: Rose Bowl

* TV: Channel 7.

* Radio: XTRA (1150).

* When UCLA has the ball: All 11 Bruins have started, unless the choice at tight end is Mike Seidman, and he played a lot last season. The unusual look for UCLA is the Alabama defense. “They’re more athletic than any defense I’ve ever seen,” quarterback Cory Paus said. “And very physical.” Linebacker Saleem Rasheed is the star, an All-American candidate as a sophomore after being the first freshman to lead the team in tackles. Safety Reggie Myles leads the secondary, tackle Kenny Smith the line. Eight starters are back from the team that finished second in the nation in run defense and ninth in total defense. It should be the toughest test of the season for the Bruin offense (they hope), made all the tougher since it comes without the chance to warm up on a lesser opponent.

* When Alabama has the ball: The Crimson Tide will play two quarterbacks, Andrew Zow and Tyler Watts. That doesn’t count the pseudo-quarterback, flanker Freddie Milons, who has been known to take the snap from the shotgun and run. He will also be used on reverses and punt and kickoff returns. His emergence as a star comes as the Crimson Tide tries to replace two NFL first-round picks, tackle Chris Samuels and tailback Shaun Alexander. Ahmaad Galloway is the projected starter at tailback. Alabama has done some shifting on the offensive line. Dante Ellington, the starter at right tackle last season, has moved to the left to fill Samuels’ former spot, so the right side is the concern. Still, it is a very experienced unit with seniors Paul Hogan, Will Cuthbert and Griff Redmill all having started 26 times.

* Key to the game: The Bruins must be able to counter the speed and aggressiveness of Alabama’s defense. That means the offensive line needs to open holes for DeShaun Foster, and Paus must be able to throw downfield to Freddie Mitchell and Brian Poli-Dixon, instead of short tosses to backs and tight ends. “If their defense stuffs us, we could be in for a long day,” UCLA Coach Bob Toledo said.

* Fast fact: The teams have met one other time, in the 1976 Liberty Bowl. Alabama won, 36-6.

* Line: Alabama by 6 1/2.

HOW THEY COMPARE*

*--*

UCLA Alabama 21.0 Scoring 28.8 28.3 Points allowed 19.2 218.7 Passing 198.2 108.3 Rushing 178.8 327 Total offense 376.9 254.9 Passing defense 222 189.7 Rushing defense 74.5 444.6 Total defense 296.5

*--*

* 1999 statistics