Players Can See Difference in Dorrell’s Demeanor

Karl Dorrell, who starts his fourth season as UCLA’s coach today, has impressed senior defensive end Justin Hickman with his growth.

“Like the players, coaches get wiser and they get better,” said Hickman, whose father, Charles, was an offensive lineman at USC from 1974 to ’76.

“At first, Coach Dorrell wasn’t as personable.... It wasn’t like you couldn’t talk to him, but maybe because he was new, it takes the players time to get comfortable with the new coach.

“But after not being extremely open back then, he’s almost the opposite now. I can go up into his office and stretch out on his couch. You can see the difference and that just comes with time.”

It also helps that the Bruins were 10-2 last season.

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With senior Eric McNeal’s status for today’s game uncertain because of an incomplete grade, UCLA will use redshirt freshmen Reggie Carter and Shawn Oatis at outside linebacker.

Carter has been working with the first-team unit most of training camp; McNeal was his backup. Now Oatis, who switched from strong safety before the start of spring drills, will be No. 2.

“I told him things happen when guys get injured, you have to be ready to play,” Dorrell said about Oatis. “When he knew there was a chance for him to play this week, he really stepped up and tried to learn everything. He’ll be ready. I don’t know if he’s at the level of Reggie Carter, but he will be ready if called upon.”

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Utah Coach Kyle Whittingham made his name as an aggressive defensive coordinator before replacing Urban Meyer as coach after the 2004 season.

“Our M.O. will still be to bring pressure,” Whittingham said. “That has been the case for several years now. We’re not going to deviate from that.

“We are who we are defensively and it has been a successful recipe. With that, you still have to pick your spots and you can’t be careless.”

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UCLA defensive players say Utah runs the spread offense better than any team that the Bruins have faced.

The closest thing to the Utes that UCLA has seen in recent years is San Diego State, which lost to the Bruins, 44-21, in last year’s opener.

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Dorrell said UCLA’s secondary depth would get a boost with the return of Matthew Slater, the son of former Rams lineman Jackie Slater. Matthew, who can play either cornerback or safety, had been sidelined because of a shoulder injury. But he returned to practice this week and did enough to earn a place backing up Trey Brown at cornerback ahead of freshman Jeremy McGee.... This is UCLA’s 25th year playing at the Rose Bowl, where the Bruins are 14-4 under Dorrell.

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lonnie.white@latimes.com

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KEYS TO THE GAME

Utah at UCLA

Today, 4 p.m.

TV: FSN Prime Ticket

Radio: 570

1 Pressure Ratliff: UCLA’s defense has to get a consistent pass rush on Utah quarterback Brett Ratliff, who has a strong arm and moves well in the pocket. The Bruins know the best way to shut down the Utes’ air game is to not give Ratliff time to throw, and if the UCLA defensive line is ineffective, first-year coordinator DeWayne Walker may have to use more blitzes, thereby exposing the secondary to man-to-man coverage.

2 Test Taylor: Utah’s spread offense is known for its passing, but expect the Utes to run at UCLA middle linebacker Christian Taylor, a junior making his second college start. Two former Orange County high school stars, running backs Mike Liti (Santa Ana Foothill) and USC transfer Darryl Poston (Huntington Beach Edison), should get plenty of early work against the Bruins’ run defense, which ranked among the nation’s worst last season. An interesting matchup to watch will be whenever Utah’s 311-pound tackle, Tavo Tupola, a four-year starter, goes against UCLA’s 237-pound right defensive end, Bruce Davis.

3 Earn field position: UCLA’s kicking game is better than average because of senior Justin Medlock, one of the best in the nation. Medlock gives the Bruins a chance to score every time they cross midfield, but they’ll also need a strong effort from sophomore punter Aaron Perez, who struggled at times last season. Sophomore Louie Sakoda will handle both punts and field-goal attempts for Utah. One of UCLA’s return men -- Chris Markey, Alterraun Verner or Jeremy McGee -- could be a difference-maker.

-- Lonnie White