Karl Dorrell loves coming out after expected victories and saying how he "answered the bell." Now Ted Miller from the Seattle Press Intelligence notes how Saturday’s game could "ring the final bell" for either Stoops or Dorrell. We are certainly expecting this to be Dorrell’s last road trip outside California as the head coach of UCLA football program.
Dorrell and his defense will have to take on Arizona’s red hot Willie Tuitama:
The buzz around Tucson this week remains the performance of Arizona quarterback Willie Tuitama, who threw for a team-record 510 yards Saturday in a 48-41 overtime victory over Washington.
Tuitama presents UCLA with the nearly the same challenge two weeks in a row. The Bruins were overwhelmed by Washington State's version of the spread offense in a 27-7 loss Saturday.
"The one Arizona runs is a little different," defensive end Bruce Davis said.
But . . .
"If they run out three or four wide receivers, that's fine with us," Davis said. "We got great cover guys back there, bar none."
Actually Bruce our "cover guys," who make up the pass defense ranks 5th in the conference. And Chris Foster from the LA Times zeroes in on our CBs today:
Tuitama presents UCLA with the nearly the same challenge two weeks in a row. The Bruins were overwhelmed by Washington State's version of the spread offense in a 27-7 loss Saturday.
"The one Arizona runs is a little different," defensive end Bruce Davis said.
But . . .
"If they run out three or four wide receivers, that's fine with us," Davis said. "We got great cover guys back there, bar none."
UCLA, which ranks fifth in the Pacific 10 Conference in pass defense, has an experienced secondary, though the Bruins are a little undersized at cornerback. Trey Brown is listed at 5 feet 9 and Alterraun Verner at 5-11.
Still, Brown leads the nation in passes defended with 12 breakups and three interceptions. Verner is tied for fourth with 10 breakups and three interceptions. He was also called twice for pass interference against Washington State.
Those problems were subtly dealt with in film sessions this week.
"You can see if you could have turned and looked back at the ball a little bit," Brown said. "Maybe you could get in position better. But you don't want to take away your aggressiveness out there. That's what we do."
Still, Brown said, "We don't want any yellow hankies on field."
It will be interesting how our D handles Zona’s spread offense this weekend. IIRC Walker after the WSU game made excuses about how he wasn’t worried about the yardage and that he was more focused on keeping "the points down." In other words, the much hyped DeWayne Walker was essentially playing the much maligned bend don’t break defense we got sick and tired of during the Donahue era (the one devised by losers like Bob Field who brought us Karl Dorrell).Still, Brown leads the nation in passes defended with 12 breakups and three interceptions. Verner is tied for fourth with 10 breakups and three interceptions. He was also called twice for pass interference against Washington State.
Those problems were subtly dealt with in film sessions this week.
"You can see if you could have turned and looked back at the ball a little bit," Brown said. "Maybe you could get in position better. But you don't want to take away your aggressiveness out there. That's what we do."
Still, Brown said, "We don't want any yellow hankies on field."
Well whatever Walker decides to do, Bruin defense can’t afford to do what it did last weekend, when they were ultimiately broken by a pathetic Cougar team.
Meanwhile, on the offense front, training Jay is saying injuries shouldn’t be an issue tomorrow:
A lot of these players have played in this offense throughout the fall," offensive coordinator Jay Norvell said. "This is just something you have to do in football. Guys have to come in, we practice plays, we get continuity together and then we go play on Saturday.
"When they're not in there they have to pay attention and see what the other guys are doing. That's part of our practice routine, and a lot of these guys are in meetings all year long and watching the other guys, getting mental reps.
"Pat (Cowan) didn't play for a month and came back and played pretty well because he paid attention. He studied and he listened. It's possible and it can be done."
We can’t agree more with Jay. We don’t care who is missing tomorrow, players will simply have to step up, and we don’t want to hear injury excuses from any of the coaches after the game."When they're not in there they have to pay attention and see what the other guys are doing. That's part of our practice routine, and a lot of these guys are in meetings all year long and watching the other guys, getting mental reps.
"Pat (Cowan) didn't play for a month and came back and played pretty well because he paid attention. He studied and he listened. It's possible and it can be done."
And speaking of injuries Markey is ready to go tomorrow:
Since taking an injection to combat turf toe in his right big toe more than a month ago, UCLA tailback Chris Markey has carried 17times for 45 yards.
The toe is still bothering Markey, but with leading rusher Kahlil Bell out with a torn knee ligament, and UCLA's depth at running back in a critical state, the senior is planning to take the bulk of the carries Saturday at Arizona.
"If the toe starts hurting, I'm going to fight through it," Markey said. "It's not a big deal. I felt pretty good last game. I was just a little rusty."
Markey, who rushed for 1,107yards and was UCLA's leading receiver last season, fumbled once and looked sluggish at times during last week's loss at Washington State. He ran 15 times for 41yards, and even dropped a pass while wide open in the flat.
"I hadn't played in three weeks, so I think that was it," said Markey, who has 449 rushing yards on 96 attempts. "I feel I have to get it going this weekend. When the running backs perform, the team does well. We're taking it upon ourselves, as a group, to carry the load."
That group also includes Chane Moline (25 carries, 90 yards) and Christian Ramirez (11 carries, 60yards), who are expected to play important roles, considering Markey is still less than 100 percent.
"(Markey) has had his best week (of practice) since his injury," UCLA coach Karl Dorrell said.
Awesome. Another good week at practice!The toe is still bothering Markey, but with leading rusher Kahlil Bell out with a torn knee ligament, and UCLA's depth at running back in a critical state, the senior is planning to take the bulk of the carries Saturday at Arizona.
"If the toe starts hurting, I'm going to fight through it," Markey said. "It's not a big deal. I felt pretty good last game. I was just a little rusty."
Markey, who rushed for 1,107yards and was UCLA's leading receiver last season, fumbled once and looked sluggish at times during last week's loss at Washington State. He ran 15 times for 41yards, and even dropped a pass while wide open in the flat.
"I hadn't played in three weeks, so I think that was it," said Markey, who has 449 rushing yards on 96 attempts. "I feel I have to get it going this weekend. When the running backs perform, the team does well. We're taking it upon ourselves, as a group, to carry the load."
That group also includes Chane Moline (25 carries, 90 yards) and Christian Ramirez (11 carries, 60yards), who are expected to play important roles, considering Markey is still less than 100 percent.
"(Markey) has had his best week (of practice) since his injury," UCLA coach Karl Dorrell said.
Karl is ready to ring the bell!!
I already feel great about tomorrow’s game.
GO BRUINS.