Freshman Van Gets His Chance

UCLA has been playing a lot of freshmen in recent weeks, mostly by necessity, trying to build for the future but also to keep opponents from piling up yardage.

Rodney Van is among those getting a close look. He had his longest stint of the season last Saturday against California, playing much of the third and all of the fourth quarter at right cornerback.

The former Long Beach Poly star said he was nervous at first but that “after a while it became routine. During the game, it just becomes football again. It’s not college or high school. It’s just football.”

Perhaps, but the players are stronger, faster and just plain better than in high school. Van, 18, learned that the hard way early in the fourth quarter, when he missed a tackle on receiver Geoff McArthur, who then sprinted down the left sideline for 80 yards and a touchdown that put the Golden Bears up, 35-14.

Cal went on to win, 45-28, but the 6-foot-1, 185-pound Van, who logged four solo tackles, gained needed experience.

“He’s got a great future ahead of him,” said Gary DeLoach, who coaches defensive backs. “He missed a tackle that one time, but Rodney’s going to be a good player. I like everything about him. He’s got the height and he’s got some toughness too.”

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When asked about the Bruins’ inability so far to stop the run, Coach Karl Dorrell said the inexperienced defensive line was improving but acknowledged that development took time.

“There’s no magic secret,” he said. “There’s no formula. There’s no, ‘I drink the Kool-Aid and it’s all better.’ You just gotta go and continue to work on getting better with the fundamentals of the game.”

UCLA ranks 116th among 117 Division I-A teams, just ahead of San Jose State, in rushing defense.

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Wide receiver Craig Bragg, who has been sidelined since suffering a dislocated shoulder Sept. 18 against Washington, said he was fit enough to play an entire game, if asked. But the coaching staff isn’t asking.

Dorrell said, “He’s not going to start and he’s not going to play half the game. He’s going to play a little bit.”