Offensive Line Finding Its Way

UCLA junior Noah Sutherland is one of four offensive linemen who were fill-ins last year but are now full-time starters for the Bruins.

In last week’s victory over Utah, Sutherland was solid in helping UCLA finish with 425 yards in offense, but he knows that sometimes statistics are deceiving.

“Our effort was good, and we played well for long stretches,” said Sutherland, a former defensive tackle, who started three games last season at strongside tackle when Brian Abraham was out. “But with our running game, we have to block a little better and make sure that we’re going to the right people.... It’s just a bunch of little things that we’ll work out with the more games we play and practices we have.”

UCLA gained 107 yards on the ground against the Utes, averaging only 2.6 yards per rush -- disappointing numbers for an offense that wants a physical running game.

“We want an overall performance offensively that is more balanced,” Coach Karl Dorrell said about the Bruins, who have the best passing offense in the Pacific 10 Conference after one week.

Despite the poor rushing total, offensive line coach Jim Colletto said he was pleased with the effort of his starters, center Robert Chai, guards Shannon Tevaga and Chris Joseph, and tackles Aleksey Lanis and Sutherland. Tevaga is the only returning starter from last year.

“They did better in pass protection than I expected,” said Colletto, who has 39 years of combined experience coaching in college and the NFL. “With our running game, Utah did a lot more line twists on running downs and we had not even practiced against that.

“The thing is, we don’t have the experience at this point yet to adjust that fast. But overall, I liked the way they played the whole game. They never got frustrated and when they were on the sideline, I had all of their attention.”

Colletto, who joined Dorrell’s staff this year after working the last seven years in the NFL with the Oakland Raiders and Baltimore Ravens, gave his linemen a lot to learn over a short period in training camp, which Sutherland said was not easy to execute.

“It was a little complicated at first,” Sutherland said about Colletto’s blocking schemes. “But once you get it, it actually makes things a lot simpler. We understand defensive fronts a lot better, so anything [a defensive front] goes into, we should know what is going on.

“We’re starting to get more comfortable playing with each other. You can see that we’re starting to jell a little bit.”

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After sitting out UCLA’s opener because of a suspension, sophomore linebacker John Hale will be back in the lineup against Rice on Saturday. Hale, who started seven games last season, will back up Aaron Whittington at strongside outside linebacker.

“It was good to be out there supporting the guys, but I wanted to be out there playing,” said Hale, who along with freshman defensive tackle Jess Ward was kept out of last week’s game as punishment for their involvement in a fight at Ward’s family home in Running Springs this year.

“It was rough, and I didn’t like it. But I understand. I just have to work my way back on the field.”

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Cornerback Michael Norris (knee) performed individual drills on Wednesday, but Dorrell said it was unlikely that he would Saturday. Lanis was held out of practice to rest his nagging right knee. Abraham worked with the first team at strongside tackle.... Former UCLA players who were placed on NFL practice squads this week include: quarterback Drew Olson (Baltimore), linebacker Spencer Havner (Washington), running back Manuel White (Washington) and offensive tackle Ed Blanton (New York Jets).

lonnie.white@latimes.com