Walker Finally Has Caught Up

UCLA senior linebacker Wesley Walker has played in four games this season, but he said he feels as if today’s game against Stanford will be his first.

“I didn’t know how tough it is on a player when you miss camp,” said Walker, who had surgery in August after tearing cartilage in his right knee on the first day of camp.

“It’s taken me a couple of weeks, which would have been my camp, to get ready to play.”

Walker, who sat out the first three games of the season, played a reserve role against Washington, California and Washington State. He started last week in the Bruins’ 51-28 victory over Oregon State but said he still felt a little rusty.

“But I’m ready to go now,” said Walker, who is expected to start alongside fellow seniors Justin London, who has been slowed by injury, and Spencer Havner as a linebacker unit for the first time this season. “I feel comfortable in everything we run now and I’m back in playing shape. It’s good to know that you can play a whole game and not worry.”

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Freshman John Hale, who started four games at outside linebacker before moving inside last week to replace London, will play inside again today against the Cardinal.

“He does seem to fit better inside,” UCLA defensive coordinator Larry Kerr said of Hale. “He’s more of a guy who works well in a box. He’s a big strong hitter, and I think that’s going to be his position of the future.”

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Coach Karl Dorrell on playing in Stanford Stadium, which will undergo an $85-million renovation at the end of this season: “This is a difficult place to play and I don’t know what makes it difficult. It’s not like Pullman or any other loud place. It’s not about the crowd noise. It’s just the experience I guess.”

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Center Mike McCloskey (shoulder), receiver Marcus Everett (knee) and defensive lineman Kenneth Lombard (ankle) are expected to play today despite minor injuries.

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BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX

WHEN UCLA HAS THE BALL

Even with center Mike McCloskey back in the lineup -- he suffered a shoulder injury last week -- the Bruins have to protect quarterback Drew Olson against a good Stanford pass rush. UCLA’s offense always works well when tight end Marcedes Lewis is catching passes and Maurice Drew is getting the ball in the open field. Look for wideouts Marcus Everett, Joe Cowan and Gavin Ketchum to have big games.

WHEN STANFORD HAS THE BALL

Kickoff return specialist T.J. Rushing is a major weapon and the Cardinal counts on him to provide good field position. Former receiver Anthony Kimble starts at running back, but the best rusher for the Cardinal may be quarterback Trent Edwards. Receiver Mark Bradford, who has five touchdown catches in six games, is the main target in the passing game.

KEYS TO A UCLA VICTORY

1. Dominate up front. The Bruins need to control the line of scrimmage on defense in order to stop Stanford’s ball-control offense.

2. Pick off Edwards. The Bruins lead the Pacific 10 Conference in turnover margin but have only five interceptions -- one from a starting defensive back.

3. Wear down Stanford. The Bruins have owned the fourth quarter and the Cardinal gave up 28 second-half points to Arizona State last week..

HOW THEY COMPARE

*--* UCLA Stanford 44.4 Scoring 27.8 27.4 Points allowed 29.0 272.7 Passing offense 201.0 167.9 Rushing offense 110.2 440.6 Total offense 311.2 207.4 Passing defense 281.0 222.7 Rushing defense 155.7 430.1 Total defense 436.7

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