Brown Tests Well but Aims Higher

It wasn’t quite the equivalent of a seventh grader acing a calculus exam, but freshman lineman Kevin Brown earned better-than-passing grades in his first game at right guard against Arizona State last week.

Brown, a converted defensive tackle who played each way at Long Beach Poly High, graded out at 80% when Bruin coaches looked at films, meaning he was successful on eight of 10 plays. It’s not perfect, but it was more than enough for Brown to earn a second start, and most of the playing time, ahead of Paul Mociler today against Stanford.

“I got 80%, but I only played half the game,” Brown said. “It wasn’t bad for the first time out, but I feel I could do a lot better with my technique.”

Considering Brown had only dabbled at offensive guard the week of the California game Oct. 18 and made the switch the week of the Arizona State game, Coach Karl Dorrell said Brown had played just fine.

“He struggled early with the speed of the game, but for him to watch the game on film Sunday and see some of the issues he’s dealing with, I think he’ll be a lot better this week,” Dorrell said.

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During UCLA’s five-game winning streak, the Bruins have led at halftime only once, against Cal, and were tied once, with San Diego State. But they allowed only three touchdowns in the second halves of those five games and only two in the last four, meaning some good adjustments are being made at halftime.

“We’ve been really, really fortunate in that the staff has done a nice job focusing on certain areas in the second half, and the players have done a good job of executing, of wiring in on those issues,” Dorrell said.

UCLA has outscored opponents in the second half, 114-64.

“Which is definitely nice, because we’ve been explosive in the second half,” quarterback Matt Moore said. “But we need to start the game with that fire.”

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Moore will renew acquaintances today with one of his best friends, Stanford backup quarterback Kyle Matter, who graduated from Newhall Hart High a year ahead of Moore.

The two talk regularly, but Moore said there was no “gentlemen’s bet” between them for today’s game.

“That would be an NCAA violation,” he said. “When we talk on the phone, it’s usually not about football. It’s about girls and stuff like that.”