Toledo Plans Some Wrinkles

With so much attention on shoring up the Bruin defense, Coach Bob Toledo and offensive coordinator Kelly Skipper have been able to tweak the offense in relative privacy.

Minor changes are in store, primarily to maximize the potential of certain players.

“The changes will be so subtle the average fan won’t recognize them,” Toledo said.

A split-back formation will be utilized on occasion, with reserve tailback Manuel White replacing the fullback and joining DeShaun Foster in the backfield. White, a 6-foot-3, 245-pound redshirt freshman from Valencia High, displayed a bruising running style during spring practice.

The tight ends might catch more passes, especially if accomplished receiver Mike Seidman recovers quickly from the arthroscopic knee surgery he had Friday. The starter will be senior Bryan Fletcher, who led Bruin tight ends with 10 catches and two touchdowns last season.

“I think we will look for the tight end more often,” quarterback Cory Paus said. “We’ve got good receivers there.”

Until Seidman’s return, freshman Keith Carter, sophomore Blane Kezirian and senior Dennis Fox are listed behind Fletcher.

“Carter caught the ball well” during freshman-only practices, Toledo said. “He’s a tough guy and I think he’s going to be a good player. If he’s better than the other backups behind Fletcher, we’ll play him. If not, he’ll redshirt.”

*

Sophomore Tab Perry set Bruin records with 29 kick returns for 598 yards last season, but Toledo said he will run back fewer kicks because he will be the starting flanker.

Craig Bragg, a redshirt freshman who might be the Bruins’ fastest receiver, will return some kicks in addition to backing up Perry at flanker. Bragg also will occasionally spell Ricky Manning as the punt returner.

“Tab did such a great job of returning kicks last year, but maybe we’ll have him and Bragg rotate and take every other one so they can get more reps offensively,” Toledo said. “We want to get Craig’s hands on the football. He is the type of player who can make big plays. He will be a big part of our receiving and special teams corps.”

*

Ben Olson of Thousand Oaks High, rated by some experts as the top high school quarterback in the nation, will sit in on a Bruin quarterback meeting and attend practice this morning.

Olson, a 6-5 left-handed passer, said UCLA is one of about 20 schools that have offered a scholarship, but that the Bruins are in his top four along with Brigham Young, Stanford and USC.

“My mind is open,” he said. “I’ve always liked UCLA. Most likely, I don’t want to go too far from home.”

Olson will attend a practice at USC on Tuesday.