TGS 2007 Football Preview Bonus: UCLA Bruins

UCLA - What gives in Westwood these days? Why are UCLA football fans so much happier after last season’s modest 7-6 mark than they were a year ago when coming off a 10-2 campaign that matched a school-record for single-season wins? The reason is simple—one of last year’s triumphs was a 13-9 stunner at the expense of mucho disliked USC, ending a painful 7-year losing streak in the bitter crosstown series and keeping the Trojans out of the BCS title game. Indeed, most UCLA fans seemed to care less that the Bruins laid an egg in the subsequent Emerald Bowl vs. Florida State. Local order, in their minds, at least, had been partially restored.

Therein, however, was a valuable lesson for HC Karl Dorrell; like it or not, most UCLA supporters would rather have a 7 or 8-win football team that beats SC than a 10-win squad that serves as roadkill vs. the Trojans, as did the 2005 edition. Predecessors Terry Donahue and Pepper Rodgers will confirm as much. Indeed, Dorrell can probably maintain a solid base of support in Westwood as long as he can hold his own against hated Troy.

Dorrell, however, is aiming a bit higher this fall, and for good reason. Ten starters return on each side of the ball, not to mention miracle-working d.c. DeWayne Walker, who resisted overtures from elsewhere after whipping one of the nation’s worst defenses into a gnarly platoon last year, shaving over 150 yards and 14 points per game from the often-invisible 2005 stop unit. Included was rush “D” that finished last in the nation in ‘05 and jumped to a startling 9th in ‘06, allowing a mere 91 ypg and 2.8 ypc in the process. A bigger and more aggressive DL certainly helped, and physical DTs Brigham Harwell (right) & Kevin Brown return to form half of an all-sr. front that also includes pass-rush specialist DE Bruce Davis, who recorded a Pac-10 best 12½ sacks LY. Four seniors also populate the 2ndary, where 3-year starter Trey Brown is regarded as one of the top cover CBs in the nation.

Still, Dorrell hasn’t quite been able to get both sides of the ball clicking in the same season, as LY’s “O” dropped off dramatically from ‘05's potent strike force. The revolving o.c. door continued in the offseason, when Jay Norvell arrived from Nebraska to become Dorrell’s 4th coordinator in 5 years. Norvell’s revamped playbook is expected to feature more shifting and shotgun looks, and the spring QB derby between jrs. Ben Olson (who missed 7 games with a knee injury LY) and more-mobile Patrick Cowan, a hero of the SC win, has apparently been decided in Olson's favor. Don’t expect Norvell’s version of the West Coast “O” to rely as much on workhorse RB Chris Markey (left), who led the Bruins in both rushing (1107 yards) & receiving (35 catches) in ‘06. It would help if a gamebreaker emerged at WR, although we’re not sure srs. Brandon Breazell (injured knee in spring) & Joe Cowan (out all of ‘06 with hamstring woes) are up to it. Ironically, the one position where graduation poses the most concern is at PK, where Justin Medlock was near-automatic in recent years, and his potential replacements struggled in spring.

Summary...Although Dorrell is still basking in the glory of last December’s upset of USC, Pac-10 observers suggest this is the year we’ll find out if Dorrell is truly a prime-time coach. The table is certainly set, with 20 projected starters (16 of those seniors) returning from ‘06, a relatively favorable schedule, and another ornery-looking defense. The piece that still has to fit into the puzzle, however, is Norvell’s revamped offense. We’ll see what happens.

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