UCLA Lays It on (Offensive) Line

Whip the butter. Careful with the syrup. Eleven a.m. on a weekend is a great time for pancakes.

UCLA offensive linemen have been getting their fill, averaging about 40 on Saturdays the last three weeks.

Even a loss to Colorado last week didn’t spoil their appetites. The Bruins were held to 52 rushing yards and 17 points, but the line recorded 39 pancakes--football-speak for knocking a defender off his feet.

UCLA (2-1) visits San Diego State at 11 a.m. The pregame meal is at 7, but the linemen will be ravenous by kickoff.

There will be one empty seat at the table, however. The Bruins learned Friday that senior tackle Mike Saffer won’t play because of a broken rib.

Saffer, recognized as the team’s best lineman, reportedly injured the rib against Colorado, but kept quiet about it and practiced all week. The pain became too great Friday and he informed trainers of the injury, which could sideline him from two to six weeks.

Replacing Saffer might take some juggling. Steve Vieira is listed behind him on the depth chart, but Vieira starts at guard. If Vieira moves to tackle, Shane Lehmann could start at guard.

However, Lehmann has been in Coach Bob Toledo’s doghouse of late, so it is possible that Paul Mociler or Robert Cleary could step in at guard. Another option is to leave Vieira at guard and have one of two freshmen--Alex Potasi or Ed Blanton play tackle.

Regardless of how the lineup is shuffled, losing Saffer is a big blow. The other starters--tackle Bryce Bohlander, guard Eyoseph Efseaff and center Mike McCloskey--must make up the difference.

A strong performance from the line is crucial because the Bruins hope to chew up time with sustained drives to keep the potent Aztec offense off the field.

“I don’t mind getting into a shootout, I like high-scoring games,” Toledo said. “But if we control the ball and give our defense a breather, that can only work in our favor. San Diego State really has some weapons.”

Under first-year Coach Tom Craft, the Aztecs (0-4) have done everything except win.

Quarterback Adam Hall pilots Air Craft and has successive 500-yard passing efforts. Wide receivers J.R. Tolver and Kassim Osgood rank first and third in the nation in catches and receiving yards.

“We wanted to bring back the element of the pass,” Craft said. “I’ve been surprised at how well we’ve moved the ball because there are eight new starters on offense.

“But every week, something has kept us from winning.”

A semblance of defense, mostly. But a shaky kicking game and questionable poise are also concerns.

The Aztecs lost to Fresno State when a short field goal was blocked on the last play of the game.

Their special teams broke down in a loss to Colorado in which the Aztecs had 401 total yards.

They blew a three-touchdown second-quarter lead in a loss to Arizona State and a two-touchdown second-quarter lead in a loss to Idaho.

“We were really outmanned in three of the four games,” Craft said. “Now we play UCLA, by far the most talented team we’ve seen.

“Their size up front is impressive. We will have quite a hard time against them.”

If not, Toledo will have quite a hard time coming up with an explanation.

His teams have a habit of crumbling after their first loss and he spent this week pretending the 31-17 loss to Colorado never happened, slapping a smiley face on his team’s performance and moving on.

“Our primary goal this season is to put the last game behind us and focus on the upcoming game,” he said. “And that’s what we are doing.”

Never mind that Colorado scored on five consecutive possession beginning late in the second quarter.

Or that the Buffaloes rushed for 325 yards a week after USC held them to 37.

Or that UCLA managed only 62 rushing yards in 28 carries and got into the red zone only twice.

“I just want to remain positive,” Toledo said. “We are still a young team. We are growing up and getting better. I like this team. We will win more games.”

Fortuitous for the Bruins is a quirk in the calendar that allows for a 12-game season. Instead of beginning the Pacific 10 Conference schedule today, UCLA is able to play a fourth nonconference game for the first time in school history.

“I’m definitely looking at it like a plus,” quarterback Cory Paus said. “We have one more opportunity to go out and play before conference. I’m glad to be able to play one more game, win or lose, so we are hitting on all cylinders going into Pac-10.”

If the offensive line is hitting on every play--knocking down linebackers on running plays and protecting Paus on passes--the Bruins should be able to keep pace with San Diego State on the scoreboard.

The Aztecs have given up more points each week, from 16 to 34 to 39 to 48, but their defense poses problems for Bruin blockers--especially without Saffer. The linebackers blitz frequently and ends Amon Arnold and Akbar Gbaja-Biamila are quick and rangy.

“We’ve got the experience to make adjustments,” Vieira said. “Every week is a different challenge.”

Besides Saffer, Bohlander and Efseaff are also returning starters from a line that ushered tailback DeShaun Foster into Heisman Trophy consideration last season. Vieira is the most improved lineman and McCloskey, a redshirt freshman, has developed rapidly.

“This has the potential to be the best line I’ve had here,” said line coach Mark Weber, in his sixth season at UCLA.

The line has gained so much respect it is actually getting publicity. Saffer is featured on the media guide cover and on billboards around Los Angeles. Posters of Vieira and Bohlander are pinned on walls around campus.

However, there seems little danger of the linemen getting complacent today. Not while trying to make up for the loss of Saffer.