Keyes Is Getting More Comfortable

UCLA safety Dennis Keyes rarely makes the same mistake twice. But Keyes, a redshirt sophomore, has been learning a lot on the job in his first season as a starter playing in the offense-minded Pacific 10 Conference.

“I was a little shaky in the first game, but I’ve been pretty comfortable since the second game,” said Keyes, who played sparingly last season.

“Things have been coming around very easily for me right now.”

Keyes is second on the team in tackles with 32, including 21 solo stops. He has four tackles for losses, three pass deflections and one forced fumble.

The toughest adjustment for Keyes has been playing within UCLA’s defensive schemes and picking up the little tricks he needed to know in order to play safety.

“In high school, you just lined up and played ball,” said Keyes, who helped lead Lake Balboa Birmingham to a City title in 2003. “In college, you have to really know what you’re doing. You have to know what your opponent is doing.”

In UCLA’s 47-40 victory over California last week, Keyes had a game-high 11 tackles, including three for losses. The tackles he missed early in the season, Keyes is making them now. He’s even closer to delivering a crunching hit, which is a dream for most defensive backs.

“I’ve just been that one little step behind,” Keyes said. “I’m getting that much closer every week. It’s coming soon.”

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UCLA has won its last two games with fourth-quarter rallies led by senior quarterback Drew Olson. Although Coach Karl Dorrell said, “Drew would tell you that we don’t want to be in position to have to come back,” the Bruins have gained a great deal of confidence from their comeback wins.

“It shows growth that we haven’t had in a couple of years,” Dorrell said about the Bruins, who have been ranked in the top 25 for four consecutive weeks for the first time since 2001.

“It started with Washington [a 21-17 victory]. That was a game that we found enough fortitude to win when we didn’t play well for three quarters. The same thing last week [against Cal].

“We’re learning ways to win. Sometimes you will not have your ‘A’ game but you have to still find a way to win.”

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With freshman linebacker Kyle Bosworth not making the trip to Pullman, Wash., because of a broken left thumb, Dorrell said senior tight end Matt Raney would fill the open travel spot.

“We’re a little bit nicked in a couple of areas and Raney will be able to help at backup tight end,” Dorrell said.

UCLA will fly into Spokane today.