Picture Is Developing at UCLA

Karl Dorrell has had anything but smooth sailing since replacing Bob Toledo as UCLA football coach in December 2002.

Injuries, turnovers and disappointing bowl defeats have plagued the program under Dorrell, who has a 12-13 record in two seasons.

But today signals a new season and a fresh start for the Bruins, who say they are confident that their recent misfortunes are behind them as they open fall camp at Spaulding Field.

Playing in a conference considered wide open for every team not named USC, the Bruins like their chances with 16 starters returning, including tight end Marcedes Lewis, linebacker Spencer Havner, running back Maurice Drew and All-Pacific-10 Conference kicker Justin Medlock.

UCLA, which finished 6-6 last season, will even have senior quarterback Drew Olson working with the first team today. Eight months ago, it was questionable whether the two-year starter would return after major knee surgery.

“It’s on all of us now to go forward,” said Dorrell, whose Bruins have a schedule with six home games and only two out-of-state trips. UCLA opens the season at San Diego State on Sept. 3.

“There’s more accountability throughout the program,” Dorrell said. “There’s nowhere to hide now.”

Dorrell’s enthusiasm can be tied to the Bruins’ collection of young talent, whose development was accelerated last season when UCLA played a school-record 12 freshmen. All but three positions will return a player who started at least one game a year ago.

“For the first time in two years, we have depth and a great core in this program,” Dorrell said. “We have competition in all positions and that helps any program. There is no complacency and we expect great things.”

First-year assistant Thurmond Moore, who replaces defensive line coach Don Johnson, takes on the challenge of getting more consistency from a smallish front that was slowed by injuries last season. Much is expected from juniors Kevin Brown and Justin Hickman, but the jury is still out on the rest of the line.

UCLA’s defensive strength will be at linebacker with seniors Justin London, Wesley Walker and Havner, three of the team’s top four returning tacklers. London and Havner will start in the middle with sophomores Bruce Davis and Aaron Whittington competing for the starting outside position.

Walker, who started 11 games at both inside and outside spots last season, will open camp as a backup but has a chance to regain a starting position if anyone falters.

The secondary will be young, with the notable exception of Jarrad Page, a three-year starter at strong safety. Page, who decided not to sign a professional baseball contract this summer in order to return for his senior season, finished tied for the team lead in interceptions and second in tackles a year ago.

“There are a lot of positions on our defense where our younger players are anxious to play and are continually outworking each other to get out there,” Dorrell said. “Our secondary has been an overhauled position. People are trying to find a spot to be earned.”

With seven starters back from an offense that scored 30 points a game last season, the Bruins have the potential to have one of the nation’s most balanced attacks.

Four of the offensive veterans are linemen, led by senior center Mike McCloskey and senior tackle Ed Blanton. Behind first-year offensive coordinator and line coach Tom Cable, the Bruins had the Pac-10’s second-best rushing offense last season, gaining nearly 185 yards a game, and allowed the second-fewest sacks (23) in the conference.

Drew had 1,606 all-purpose yards last season, when he was a second-team All-Pac-10 selection. He ran for a school-record 322 yards and scored five touchdowns in a game against Washington.

Senior Junior Taylor finished strong last season and will be counted on to lead an inexperienced group of receivers. But the main target in the passing game will be Lewis, a second-team all-conference choice and John Mackey Award finalist last season. Lewis led the team with seven touchdown catches and is expected to be more involved this season.

The question is, who will throw Lewis the ball?

With Olson the incumbent starter and ready to play, Dorrell said it’s his job to lose. But he carefully added that there will be competition for the position.

Senior David Koral worked with the first unit throughout spring practice. Redshirt freshman Ben Olson (no relation to Drew), the celebrated transfer from Brigham Young, continues to improve after sitting out two years on a Mormon mission. Also in the mix is redshirt freshman Patrick Cowan.

“Right now, Drew is our guy, but he understands the depth at the position and how guys are trying to unseat him,” Dorrell said.

McCloskey said that although the Bruins are familiar with Drew Olson as the starter, the team understands that the best player will win the job.

“I don’t think people are going into camp wondering who the quarterback is going to be,” McCloskey said. “It’s more like guys are happy that there’s going to be a fight for it.”

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There will be a battle for three starting positions in the secondary for the Bruins, who plan to use more man-to-man coverage this season. Junior Eric McNeal and sophomores Chris Horton and Dennis Keyes will compete for playing time at safety. Sophomores Trey Brown, Rodney Van and Michael Norris and redshirt freshman Byron Velega will vie for the starting cornerback positions. Senior Marcus Cassel, junior Jebiaus Brown and freshmen Aaron Ware, Bret Lockett, Robert Kibble and Shawn Oatis also will be in the defensive backfield mix. ... Senior Kyle Morgan, coming off an injury-plagued 2004 season, is scheduled to start at defensive end, with Brigham Harwell, a 274-pound sophomore, moving from end to tackle. Sophomores William Snead, Chris Johnson and Nikola Dragovic and redshirt freshmen Nathaniel Skaggs and Kenneth Lombard also will get plenty of snaps in Moore’s attacking scheme, which requires multiple linemen. ... Junior Joe Cowan will open camp as the starting flanker but he’ll be pushed by sophomores Marcus Everett, Brandon Breazell and Matthew Slater. Freshmen Logan Paulsen, Ryan Moya and Adam Heater will give the tight end position a boost.