Drew Accepts Criticism After Season-Low Day

After rushing for a season-low 22 yards Saturday against Arizona, UCLA sophomore Maurice Drew wasn’t in any rush to go over the game tape with running backs coach Eric Bieniemy.

Known for his no-nonsense style, Bieniemy had a few choice words about Drew’s effort, which was his worst since gaining only 17 yards against Arizona last year in his sixth game as a collegian.

“I put it on myself because I was doing things that I shouldn’t have been doing,” Drew said. “There were a bunch of plays where there were holes wide open, but I was being too anxious trying to make big runs by going outside.

“We watched film and Coach Bieniemy got on me real bad for trying to score a touchdown on every play. He told me that I have to get those four-yard runs and then I’ll score.”

It’s understandable if Drew did think he could score every time he touched the ball, considering he had six touchdown runs over 35 yards in his first four games.

“This week, I’m trying to get back into it,” said Drew, who ranks eighth in the nation in rushing at 138.2 yards per game. “Last week, I missed some practices [because of a groin injury] and I tried to go out and prove a point that I could sit out and still have a good game. Well, I proved that I wasn’t ready, that’s why I’m working so hard this week.”

Playing at California will be a homecoming of sorts for Drew, who played at Concord De La Salle High. Drew said he expected as many as 200 family and friends to attend the game at Berkeley.

“I have a lot of family who live up north,” Drew said. “This is a big game for me.”