Getting grounded is a priority for Bruins

Reporting from Manhattan, Kan. — 

UCLA coaches borrowed their new “pistol” offense from Nevada because they needed to improve a running game that had all but ground to a halt the last two seasons.

The Bruins ranked 97th out of 120 major-college teams in rushing last season, an upgrade from their standing at 116 in 2008.

But a dramatic rise is promised by those doing the actual running.

Rotating in the single-back formation will be sophomore Johnathan Franklin, junior Derrick Coleman and freshmen Malcolm Jones and Jordon James.

Confidence is high.

“Our group is very versatile,” Franklin said. “Derrick is a power back, I have speed, Jordon James is quick [and] Malcolm is a straight-ahead runner. We all bring something new to the table. We all give the defense a different look.”

The result of which will be?

“I told Derrick that we both need to get 1,000 yards this season,” Franklin said. “We have to put egos aside and play for the team. We need each other.”

Nevada had three 1,000-yard rushers last season, but the Bruins won’t get to three. They are not expected to run quarterback Kevin Prince enough to allow him to reach 1,000 yards.

“There are different ways to run this offense,” Prince said. “We want to keep the defense a little more honest, show a look where they have to put a defender on the quarterback. It evens things up.”

As for concerns about his health — he’s already been slowed by an injured muscle in his back — Prince claims that he will curtail his daredevil running style.

“If we need that first down, I’ll try to get it,” Prince said. “If not, I’ll slide and live to play another down.”

Chow on this

Norm Chow is still the offensive coordinator whose reputation was made with the forward pass. So who would be surprised if the Bruins threw the ball around Saturday against Kansas State?

But improving the running game has been the top priority recently.

“When you’re 97th in the nation, that tells you that you have to do something,” Chow said.

The Bruins averaged 22 points a game last season, up from 17.7 in 2008. Those are the lowest season averages of Chow’s career as an offensive coordinator.

His legacy, though, was not on his mind.

“

“Whatever people say, they are going to say anyway,” Chow said.

By the numbers

Rick Neuheisel is 8-2 in season openers as head coach at Colorado, Washington and UCLA. He is 2-0 as UCLA’s coach. . . . Neuheisel has a 3-3 lifetime record against Kansas State, including season’s 23-9 victory at the Rose Bowl. . . . More than half the players on UCLA’s two-deep depth chart are sophomores or freshmen, 24 out of 44. . . . Only twice has UCLA had a running back go over 100 yards in a game since Neuheisel became coach. Franklin gained 119 against Kansas State and 101 against California last season.

chris.foster@latimes.com

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