Dorrell Shakes Up Practice After Loss

Coach Karl Dorrell has made adjustments in UCLA’s practice routine after the 38-point loss at Arizona dashed hopes for a perfect season.

On Tuesday, UCLA hit more than usual and the tempo was faster. On Wednesday, the Bruins practiced in rainy conditions that likely would have forced them indoors in the past.

“With the weather, we had a change in plans and could not do as much as we wanted and need to do outside,” said Dorrell, whose team plays Arizona State on Saturday at the Rose Bowl. “We had our team [drills] outside, but we missed the individual time.”

Fullback Michael Pitre said the Bruins must apply their practice mentality to games.

“Heading into [the Arizona game], we had a real good week of practice and look what happened,” he said. “You can’t have a great week of practice and then go out in games and not have that same focus.... You have to be able to carry what you do into games.”

UCLA’s slow starts have been troubling. It has trailed within the first 10 minutes in seven of nine games and has been outscored, 86-55, in the first quarter.

*

UCLA ran a few new plays against Arizona and the results were not good. The Bruins struggled early, fell behind and were unable to rally.

“We need to create our own rhythm,” Dorrell said.

“We’ve had some mental errors on our side that would screw up any execution, regardless of what or if a team knows what we’re doing.”

UCLA is second in the Pacific 10 Conference in scoring at 39.4 points and sixth in the nation. Dorrell said the Bruins’ offensive slumps were easy to explain.

“It is the same thing,” he said. “Non-execution and not playing at a competitive level that teams are playing against us.”

*

Quarterback Drew Olson on the Bruins’ mental state after their first loss: “Getting back to 1-0 is so important to us. There was so much emotion after all of those comeback wins and I think it caught up with us.”

*

Center Mike McCloskey (shoulder) and linebackers Justin London (ankle) and Aaron Whittington (quadriceps) will not play Saturday. Cornerback Rodney Van (toe) and running back Maurice Drew (leg) practiced and are expected to play, according to Dorrell.