Second Is Ticking for Dorrell

It’s put up or shut up time for UCLA football Coach Karl Dorrell.

He knows it. His players know it and the UCLA program wears it as an unwanted badge as the Bruins begin fall practices today on the Westwood campus.

If UCLA struggles, as it did last season, Dorrell will certainly feel the heat. The whispers will swell in volume and his job security will become an open topic of debate.

But if the Bruins rebound and challenge for a conference championship, Dorrell will be, if not exactly the toast of the town, at least a respected practitioner of his profession.

“We knew that there would be a learning curve with him and last year was rough,” said Athletic Director Dan Guerrero, who hired Dorrell in December 2002, despite Dorrell’s lack of head-coaching experience.

“I believe most, if not all, UCLA alumni want to see Karl succeed. They know that he represents what we want at the University.... I tell people to give him time and allow him to build a program. The people who have him on the hot seat want to just push a button and immediately go to the penthouse. That’s not realistic. We have to go step by step.”

A year ago, when Dorrell began his first training camp, he thought he had things together. It didn’t take him long to realize that he had his hands full.

“We were getting things in place and learning at the same time,” he said. “It was just hard to move forward. It was like one of those cartoons where you are building a railroad but the train is already

“But now that we have that year behind us, you know what you need to do and you know the preparation. We’re starting this year’s camp with the first 21 days already scripted. We’re that far ahead because we know where we’re going. Last year, we started maybe a week ahead.... That’s what happens with a new staff.”

Dorrell has lost some players since the end of last season. Running back Tyler Ebell and quarterback Matt Moore were not pleased with their roles and left the program. Linebacker Junior Lemau’u and wide receivers Antwuan Smith and Idris Moss are gone because they broke team rules.

But Dorrell could have the services of senior receiver Tab Perry, who said he was close to re-enrolling at UCLA after spending the last year working on academics. Perry is waiting for grades from two summer-school classes.

“As far as I know, I passed all the classes I needed to pass and I should be back in school in the fall,” said Perry, who would fill a key role for the Bruins’ offense after recording 1,172 yards receiving in three seasons.

“As soon as my summer school grades are posted, and that could happen as early as Thursday, I’m hoping that I’ll be able to join the team and start practicing some time this week.”

Getting Perry back would be a boost for the Bruins, but the key to their season may well be the play of junior quarterback Drew Olson, who took over the starting job from Moore late last season.

Olson said he struggled at times with the Bruins’ West Coast offense a year ago because everything was so new to him.

He says that will not be a problem this season under new offensive coordinator Tom Cable, who replaced Steve Axman, and quarterbacks coach Jim Svoboda.

“Things are so different now because everyone is on the same page,” said Olson, who finished last season with more than 2,000 yards passing and 10 touchdowns, with nine interceptions.

“Our offensive execution is going to be much better, just because we know what each one is thinking. That’s huge for an offense like ours.”

Finding motivation has been easy for the Bruins.

Ending a 6-7 season with a five-game losing streak can do that, especially with UCLA’s losing to Fresno State in the Silicon Valley Classic.

“We just had a horrible game,” said Olson, who completed only 11 of 31 passes for 96 yards against Fresno State. “I never felt so embarrassed.... Nothing humbles you more than that.

“It’s weird to see UCLA be the underdog, but I guess we’re going to have to prove people wrong.”

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Center Mike McCloskey, who was sidelined all of spring practice because of a lung ailment, has been cleared to practice and will not have any limitations, according to Dorrell. The Bruins’ top offensive linemen heading into camp are Steven Vieira, Eyoseph Efseaff, Ed Blanton, Paul Mociler, Robert Chai, Marc Villafuerte and McCloskey.

“We’re going to position our best five players to play,” Dorrell said. “Now they may not play in that particular position that they played a year ago.”

Freshman Brigham Harwell is expected to challenge for playing time on the young and inexperienced defensive line.

“There’s a number of players deserving to play,” Dorrell said. “You’re going to see two defensive lines playing like hockey lines like in the NHL. You’ll see it quite a bit this season until someone rises up to the occasion and says, ‘You know, I’m the full-time player.’ ”

The Bruins will practice once a day, starting in the afternoon, until Monday, when double sessions begin. Practices will be held on the UCLA campus and are free to the public.