Olson Improves as Decision-Maker

An important aspect of the West Coast offense is having a quarterback willing to throw passes underneath coverage instead of forcing plays downfield.

That was a problem last season for UCLA quarterback Drew Olson, who struggled with making bad throws and taking big hits as he tried to make plays.

Olson has shown a marked improvement in the first three days of training camp.

“He’s a product of everybody,” offensive coordinator Tom Cable said about Olson’s improved play. “With everybody understanding the concept of the system better and staying true to that, they are not out there ad-libbing or doing their own thing. That’s why we’re getting more consistency, but it’s still early and we’ll have to see how we’re doing in two weeks.”

With running backs Maurice Drew and Manuel White, tight end Marcedes Lewis and wide receiver Craig Bragg, Cable said the Bruins have enough weapons to make their offense work. The key is getting them the ball.

“You can’t run this system unless you are utilizing everybody,” Cable said. “You can’t just concentrate on one guy. Craig Bragg is a tremendous talent and he’s caught a ton of balls in his career here. But if you’re holding on to the ball waiting for him, you’re going to get hit.

“The quarterback has to know that he has options.... That was huge problem last year. This offense is about ball possession. A lot of plays and a lot of first downs.”

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Playing time for UCLA’s wide receivers is wide open and freshman Marcus Everett has done a good job of catching the eye of Coach Karl Dorrell.

Everett, who attended West Hills Chaminade, worked with the first team offense for several plays on Friday.

Dorrell said Everett, along with fellow freshmen Ryan Graves of Venice and Pasadena Muir and Brandon Breazell of Fresno Edison, have chances to play this season.

“I like all three,” Dorrell said. “We’re going to need one or two guys to help out this year and Everett is the first guy to step up out front.”

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UCLA practiced in shoulder pads for the first time with linebackers Wesley Walker, a junior, and Fred Holmes, a freshman, making the two biggest hits of the day. Walker, who has been impressive in the middle with his aggressive play, ended Everett’s practice early with a tackle during a team red-zone drill.... Drew sat out his second consecutive practice because of a groin injury and Lewis suffered a mild hamstring injury late in Friday’s workout.