Bruins Stop and Go With Hybrid Power

Among the reasons UCLA’s football team has opened with three victories is the play of the defense, which is giving up an average of 351.7 yards a game -- third-best in the Pacific-10 Conference and nearly 80 yards better than last season.

Of course, a skeptic might point out that those victories have come against offensively challenged opponents.

* San Diego State is 0-3 and averaging 3.4 yards a rush.

* Rice is 0-2 and coming off a 51-10 loss to Texas, which limited the Owls to 209 total yards.

* And 1-2 Oklahoma is off to its worst start under Coach Bob Stoops, who relies perhaps too heavily on the running of Adrian Peterson.

Indeed, doctors could not have ordered a better setup for a young Bruin defense that needed time to jell and build confidence at the start of the season.

“Our defense has been coming up with big stops,” Coach Karl Dorrell said. “They had their best game of the season. They did a tremendous job of limiting Oklahoma’s rushing attempts, particularly Adrian Peterson.”

In the Pac-10, which features five teams averaging more than 44 points a game and two averaging more than 627 yards of offense, the undersized Bruins -- who were able to crowd the line of scrimmage and gamble against the pass against run-dominated Rice and Oklahoma -- will be tested.

“We’re still not quite the size we want,” Dorrell said. “I would rather be 280 inside [at defensive tackle] and 260 outside [at defensive end]. But we’re 270 and 240.”

To make up for their smallish front, the Bruins will continue to feature multiple looks with players in dual roles.

One example is Jarrad Page, who has started at strong safety but at times is positioned more like a linebacker. Another is Spencer Havner, who is listed as a starting inside linebacker but who is positioned on the perimeter more than half the time.

The most versatile Bruin defender doesn’t even start. Bruce Davis II, who lines up either at defensive end or linebacker, is fifth on the team with 13 tackles, which includes three for losses and one sack. Davis also has broken up a pass.

“It’s a big bonus to have a guy who can do that,” Dorrell said of Davis. “It’s a great quality you don’t see much unless you’re in the NFL.”

Davis, a 6-foot-3, 230-pound redshirt sophomore whose father is a former UCLA and NFL lineman, was a defensive end in high school and his first year with the Bruins. But last spring he was moved to outside linebacker, and this season he plays some at both spots.

“I feel that I’m the fortunate one because I can play both positions,” Davis said. “I just do whatever the coaches want me to do. I can play more defensive end one game and then more linebacker the next. ... Not starting does not bother me. If I’m on the field, I don’t care. They could put me on the offensive line and play me at tackle.”

John Hale is another tall, rangy and quick defender whose skills have forced Bruin coaches to find time for him.

The 6-4, 225-pound freshman splits time at outside linebacker with Davis and Aaron Whittington and got the start against Oklahoma after Whittington started the first two games. Hale was credited with only one tackle against the Sooners, but his physical presence helped UCLA’s defense against Peterson.

“John Hale is an exception to the rule because he’s a true freshman who belies his experience,” defensive coordinator Larry Kerr said. “He picks things up well. He’s smart, he’s strong and physical.”

Hale was burned early in the Oklahoma game, allowing Travis Wilson’s 56-yard touchdown run on a reverse to his side. The play gave the Sooners a 7-0 lead.

“On that play, I was very aware [Peterson] had just come into the game and was coming down the line looking for a cutback,” said Hale, from Los Alamitos High. “After that play, we made an adjustment to have me stay back. It worked out well from then on.”

Dorrell said that he planned to play Hale, Davis and Whittington in a rotation the remainder of the season.

“We’re finding guys with roles,” the coach said about a defense that has forced six turnovers. “Whether that’s a trend that we’re going to use, I’m not sure. But we’re going to use a rotation in there like we’ve been doing with dual role guys, particularly Bruce Davis.

“We’re doing some things where we’re trying to make our defense quick. Putting guys in position where they can help us defensively.

“We’re getting closer to what I envisioned us to be -- more athletic from sideline to sideline.”

*

Running back Maurice Drew did not practice Tuesday and has been excused from the rest of the week because of his grandfather’s funeral today in Northern California.

“He’s been playing with a heavy heart,” quarterback Drew Olson said of Drew. “We’re all there for him. We’re feeling what he’s feeling.”

Drew, who has six touchdowns this season, is expected to return to practice next week. He leads the Bruins with 278 yards rushing and is third in the nation in punt return average at 30.2.