Holmes gets crash course at fullback

The whistle blew and UCLA running backs coach Dino Babers grabbed Fred Holmes and positioned him in the proper spot, a post-play moment during Friday’s practice.

Holmes spent five minutes after practice with Babers and fullback Michael Pitre going over footwork.

A few minutes later, Holmes got a quick comment from offensive coordinator Jay Norvell.

A work in progress never gets lonely.

Holmes is making the transition from linebacker to fullback. The need increased this week, as Coach Karl Dorrell said that Pitre was not expected to play in the opener Sept. 1 against Stanford.

“I’ve never played fullback before, not even in pee-wee football,” said Holmes, a 6-foot-2, 226-pound senior. “I played a little tight end during spring ball my senior year in high school but never fullback.”

He’s getting a crash course, which means one thing to Babers.

“You get to spend a whole lot less time with the family,” Babers said. “We meet before practice and after practice. We meet after team meetings.”

Dorrell made the move Tuesday, as his fullbacks were spending more time in the training room than in practice. Pitre has been out since Aug. 10, when he re-injured his left knee.

Trevor Theriot, who is second on the depth chart, injured his hamstring last Saturday. Chad Moline had been nursing a leg injury until returning Friday to practice.

Dylan Rush, a converted defensive end, was the only other healthy fullback until Holmes was given a crash course.

“Holmes is a physical guy, a smart guy,” Norvell said. “He’s been around in the program and now he sees a role for himself. We can utilize a guy’s skills, find a place for somebody, if they practice hard and play physical. We feel like we can find a role for them.”

Still, Bruins coaches are not taking any chances. Dorrell said he expected Theriot to be ready for the Stanford game, but the Bruins can use offensive sets without a fullback.

“We cross-train a lot of players,” Norvell said. “We have guys learning a lot of positions.”

Pitre, meanwhile, waits for the condition of his left knee to improve. He had arthroscopic surgery during the off-season and has had swelling in the knee since re-injuring it.

The surgeon who did that operation reviewed Pitre’s latest X-ray and MRI this week. Dorrell said while no significant damage was discovered, Pitre would be out indefinitely.

“It’s day to day,” Pitre said. “That’s the frustrating part about it, when is that day? All I can do is try to do enough to keep myself as close to football shape as possible.”

Quarterback Ben Olson picked apart the defense in seven-on-seven drills.

“He’s starting to be a little more decisive,” Dorrell said. “You can tell he’s a lot more comfortable now that we’re restricting all that information we did in camp and are getting ready for a game plan.

“He will be sharp by the end of next week.”

Guard Shannon Tevaga, slowed because of shoulder and wrist injuries, began practice with the first offensive line unit, going though a full workout for the first time in nearly two weeks.

“[The shoulder] feels good,” Tevaga said.

“I rehab it every day. I had this two years ago and fell on the rehab. You have to be consistent with the rehab. [Offensive line] coach [Bob] Connelly is on me about that.”

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chris.foster@latimes.com