Carter Will Get Some Time

More than six months after sustaining a broken and dislocated hip in a motorcycle accident in April, Keith Carter will make his season debut for UCLA on Saturday against California.

Once slated to be the starting tight end, Carter, a sophomore, had hoped to return for the Washington game two weeks ago.

He long since has lost the starting job to sophomore Marcedes Lewis, but he remains the more accomplished blocker, and UCLA will find a place for him.

“He will play some,” Coach Karl Dorrell said. “We’ve got a little bit of a role for him in some packages.

“I know he’s excited about getting back on the field.”

Lewis has become the team’s third-leading receiver, behind Craig Bragg and Junior Taylor, averaging two catches and 28 yards a game .

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A shaky series in the second quarter of Saturday’s 24-21 victory over Arizona prompted Dorrell and defensive coordinator Larry Kerr to reconsider their substitution patterns on the defensive line.

But Dorrell said he had decided to stick with four-man units instead of substituting one or two players at a time.

In the second quarter against the Wildcats, ends Dave and Mat Ball and tackles Rodney Leisle and Ryan Boschetti all came out at once.

But with David Tautofi, Kevin Brown, C.J. Niusulu and Asi Faoa on the field together, Arizona responded with consecutive runs of 41 and 29 yards by Michael Bell.

Dorrell rushed his starters back into the game, but Arizona had reached the Bruin 13-yard line in the two plays and closed the drive six plays later with a touchdown.

Nevertheless, the subs will get their chance as a unit again Saturday.

“We’re going to stick with our four-man units, like we’ve been doing all along,” Dorrell said. “Part of it is, this senior group [of starters] we have will all be gone. This younger group needs to play together.”

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With cornerback Matt Ware out because of a sprained left ankle, Dorrell was still deciding whether his replacement would be Keith Short or Marcus Cassel.

Ware is expected to return next week against Arizona State, but his streak of 30 consecutive starts will end Saturday.

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The offensive staff has a plan for when quarterback Matt Moore will enter the game against Cal, but Dorrell declined to make it public.

That way he can adjust according to the circumstances of the game without facing a choice between keeping his word or ignoring momentum or field position.

Never say he hasn’t learned anything from former coach Bob Toledo’s mistakes.

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Times staff writer Mike DiGiovanna contributed to this report.