Sack-Happy Linemen Give UCLA a Boost

Get an offensive lineman leaning one way, then take a different route to the quarterback. That’s always been the style for UCLA defensive ends Justin Hickman and Bruce Davis II, who have used speed rather than size to become the second-leading sack tandem in the nation.

Hickman, a 6-foot-2, 265-pound senior who covers 40 yards in 4.6 seconds, and Davis, a 6-3, 250-pound junior with 4.5 speed, have become the Westwood Sack Exchange for the Bruins, teaming to average 2.25 a game.

After combining for 11.5 sacks in the last two seasons, they already have nine in four games. Hickman is second in the Pacific 10 Conference with 5.5; Davis is fourth with 3.5. Washington State’s Mkristo Bruce and Lance Broadus lead the nation with 11.

“I love it when I’m coming around the corner about to clear the tackle and get to the quarterback and Hickman gets there first,” said Davis, who has made six tackles for 40 yards in losses this season. “... He’s so explosive. You can’t leave him one-on-one. But at the same time, you can’t leave me like that. We really set each other up.”

In UCLA’s 31-0 victory over Stanford last week, either Hickman or Davis -- and sometimes both -- hit quarterback Trent Edwards on almost every play. Hickman finished with three tackles, including 1.5 sacks; Davis made six tackles, including 2.5 sacks.

“They are probably the two most improved players on their defense,” said Arizona Coach Mike Stoops, whose team will play UCLA on Saturday at the Rose Bowl. “They are healthy up front and they are more active.” He added that defensive coordinator DeWayne Walker “has done an unbelievable job with their group.”

The proof is in the numbers: After four games last season, the Bruins had given up 1,456 yards and 11 touchdowns. At the same point this season, the totals are 886 and six.

Hickman, who has started 19 consecutive games and is the only senior starter on defense, has taken over a leadership role. And the son of Donnie Hickman, a former USC all-conference lineman and NFL player, has taken that responsibility seriously.

“He’s hard-working and he exhibits all of the attitude, effort, hustle, technique, all the things that we are preaching on that side of the ball,” UCLA Coach Karl Dorrell said. “Justin is the first one with all the wind sprints at the end of practice, he’s first with his group. He’s leading in everything that he does and that’s what you want your seniors to do.”

Hickman spent one season in junior college at Glendale, Ariz., before transferring to UCLA in 2004.

After starting eight games as a sophomore, Hickman had somewhat of a breakout year in 2005 when he led the Bruins with 5.5 sacks. But it took first-year defensive line coach Todd Howard to get Hickman to play a total game, and now he ranks fourth in the nation averaging 1.38 sacks a game and is 14th in tackles-for-loss at 1.75.

“He’s probably the biggest reason why I’ve had my personal success,” Hickman said of Howard, who joined UCLA from the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars. “He brings that NFL mentality, which has been perfect for me.”

Howard, a former NFL linebacker and all-conference player at Texas A&M;, said he saw talent and potential in Hickman and Davis when he first worked with them in spring drills.

“They have ability,” Howard said. “All I have to do is coach the technique and you’re getting what you’re seeing.”

Like Hickman, Davis is the son of a former NFL player. His father, Bruce, was an offensive lineman who also played at UCLA. And, like Hickman, Davis has also excelled under the Bruins’ new defensive coaches.

After spending time at both defensive end and linebacker his first three years at UCLA, Davis was put at end during spring drills and has remained there ever since.

“That helped me out a lot, especially with my confidence,” said Davis, who started only two games at end before this season. “When you are bouncing back and forth you never get a chance to get comfortable at one position. You always feel awkward at one or the other.”

UCLA has put Davis in position to be a consistent force by featuring his quickness. Against Stanford, Davis attacked the Cardinal’s offensive tackles all game with outside rushes.

“I had that a little bit last year, but it really wasn’t fine-tuned,” Davis said. “A lot of times last year I got in trouble trying to do other things other than use my speed.” He said Howard told him, “ ‘You have a gift’ and to use it.”

Although UCLA has yet to face the most difficult stretch in its schedule, Hickman and Davis are confident that they will be able to maintain their pace.

“The plays are there to be made and up to this point, we’ve been taking advantage of the opportunities,” Hickman said. “We just have to keep it up.”

lonnie.white@latimes.com