Time for Olson and the Bruins to Get Real

There have been times during UCLA’s preparation for today’s season opener against Oklahoma State when junior quarterback Drew Olson looked unstoppable.

If he wasn’t completing deep passes to his top returning receiver, Craig Bragg, Olson was finding tight end Marcedes Lewis open across the middle, or dumping off short throws to running backs Maurice Drew or Manuel White.

Now it’s time for Olson and Co. to play a real game at the Rose Bowl, and the Bruins figure to have their hands full against a formidable opponent. The Cowboys are coming off a 9-4 season that included a Cotton Bowl appearance.

“We’re ready to get that taste out of our mouth by getting out there and playing a game against somebody else,” said Olson, who will be making his 15th start at UCLA.

“This will be a great test.... Oklahoma State’s secondary is really fast, with some good athletes. They are smaller guys who may not be the most physical but they will try and get physical.”

UCLA finished next to last nationally in total offense last season with an average of 294.9 yards a game, and the success of Coach Karl Dorrell’s West Coast offense this season will depend heavily on Olson’s production. With senior receiver Tab Perry added to the attack, Olson will have plenty of options at his disposal. Perry, who was academically ineligible and sat out last season, was cleared to play by the NCAA on Friday.

“We have high expectations for our offense this year,” Olson said. “Last year is last year and whatever happened, happened.... I feel more comfortable in this offense now than ever before. There’s no way I should put us in a bad play or throw an incomplete pass. That’s how I feel in this offense.”

The key for Olson will be the play of the offensive line. Junior center Mike McCloskey leads a group with good potential under new offensive coordinator and line coach Tom Cable.

Although the front five does not include a Jonathan Ogden or a Kris Farris, the Bruins do have a group of hard workers who compete. Seniors Steven Vieira and Paul Mociler had impressive training camps and work well together on strong-side plays.

Junior Robert Cleary will start at weakside guard, with Robert Chai waiting if he falters. But the most important lineman for the Bruins will be 6-foot-9, 345-pound tackle Ed Blanton. If he plays up to his size today, UCLA should be able to run the ball with sophomore Drew.

A year ago, Drew was a true freshman who got lost in the shuffle when the Bruins lost their season opener at Colorado. He carried the ball once and lost two yards on the play.

“I know what to expect now,” said Drew, who led UCLA in rushing with 620 yards last season. “I know how fast the game is and how to read defenses on the run.”

The Bruins are not nearly so certain of their defense, especially on the line.

With junior tackle C.J. Niusulu sidelined because of knee surgery, UCLA will start a front four that has never started before on defense.

Sophomore tackle Kevin Brown, who started three games on offense last season, is the dean of the line and he’ll start next to freshman Kenneth Lombard, who will replace Niusulu. Redshirt freshman Bruce Davis and sophomore Justin Hickman, a junior college transfer, will start at end.

In reserve, the Bruins will rotate Kyle Morgan, Brigham Harwell, Robert Garcia and William Snead against an Oklahoma State offensive line with four returning starters.

Junior linebackers Spencer Havner and Wesley Walker and sophomore transfer Danny Nelson are expected to be busy trying to slow the Cowboys’ running game with backs Vernand Morency and Greg Jones.

“We have some young guys, but they can play,” Havner said. “Because of injuries, they’ve got a lot of work in camp.”

In the secondary, UCLA has three returning starters, cornerback Matt Clark and safeties Ben Emanuel and Jarrad Page. Marcus Cassel will make his first start at the other cornerback spot for the Bruins, who will be looking to frustrate Oklahoma State redshirt freshman quarterback Donovan Woods.

“We’ve had a good camp and now it’s time to play,” Dorrell said. “I believe that we’re ready.”