UCLA Bruins 5-5 Overall (2-5 Conference)

This Week’s Score: UCLA 43 – Washington State 7

Next Week’s Opponent: Arizona State

Sure, it’s only Washington State; but it was still a whole lot of fun for Bruins fans.

This one was over before it even had the chance to get started. The first three Cougar drives ended in interceptions as Marshall Lobbestael (2/6, 6 yards, 3 INTs) completed more passes to the Bruins than his own teammates. Rahim Moore snagged one and Akeem Ayers grabbed two.

Offensively, UCLA was in complete control, led by Kevin Prince who had a fantastic day (27/40, 314 yards, 1 TD, 0 INT). The highlight of the game (especially from an amusement factor) came early in the second quarter when Prince broke a 68-yard touchdown run. That about sums up just how much control the Bruins had over this game. Chane Moline had three rushes for 25 yards; all three for touchdowns.

While it has been a frustrating season for Bruins fans to drop five straight after winning the first three, the last two games have reminded us that this program is going in the right direction, and has to this point in the season won the games they were supposed to. I wouldn’t consider any of the five losses a disappointment at this juncture. Then again, with the exception of Tennessee, I wouldn’t really consider the other four wins major accomplishments.

That said, for a young team, going out there and not letting one get away against an inferior or evenly matched opponent shows a lot of maturity. They come to play every week, and are getting into good habits.

Now comes Arizona State, the game I’ve had circled since the beginning of the season as one of the most evenly matched for both teams. Both have un-explosive offenses, both have fantastic defenses. UCLA has shown that they aren’t quite ready to compete with the top dogs yet, but they are a tier above the bottom dwellers.

Now they face an evenly-matched foe, at home, with a chance to gain bowl eligibility. How much compete do the Bruins really have? Gut check time!

UCLA Bruins 4-5 Overall (1-5 Conference)

This Week’s Score: UCLA 24 – Washington 23

Next Week’s Opponent: @Washington State

UCLA will NOT go winless in the conference!

That wasn’t too big of a concern with Washington State coming up this week, but it is still good to get the win out of the way.

For most of the season, UCLA’s offense hasn’t given the defense and the team a chance to win, and the Bruins have stock-piled the in-conference losses because of it. This Saturday, the offense seemed to be TRYING to give the game away, but the defense wouldn’t allow it in hanging on for the win.

FIVE turnovers? UCLA simply couldn’t hang on to the ball on Saturday with Terrence Austin, Richard Brehaut, and Jonathan Franklin all losing the ball on fumbles. The Bruins fumbled three other times in the game as well, but recovered those. Kevin Prince and Kevin Craft each threw an interception to add to the turnover woes.

Craft took over for Prince after Prince left the game with an injury late in the first half on a helmet-to-helmet hit. Both quarterbacks had good days, with Prince going 13/17 for 212 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT and Craft going 10/14 for 159 yards with a TD and an INT as well.

The Bruins defense didn’t have much of an answer for Chris Polk or Jermaine Kearse, but they played the bend-don’t-break to perfection, forcing Washington to settle for four FG tries, including one miss in the fourth quarter that ended up deciding the game.

How incredible is Rahim Moore? With Jake Locker marching the Huskies into Bruins territory with time winding down, Moore saved the game with an interception; the Bruins’ only forced turnover of the game. 2nd and 3 on the UCLA 46 with all three time outs, Washington was looking primed to steal this one late. Moore’s interception brought his season tally to eight, tied with Clemson’s DeAndre McDaniel for tops in the country.

It was ugly – very ugly – but a win is a win, and the Bruins were in dire need of one. They should get another this week against Washington State, and then they come home for a key game against Arizona State for bowl eligibility.

Keep in mind that bowl eligibility doesn’t guarantee a bowl; the conference already has six bowl-eligible teams. That said, a six win season and three wins in conference after an 0-5 start would certainly be nothing to sneeze at.

Washington Huskies (3-5) vs. UCLA Bruins (3-5)
Saturday, November 7, 1:30 PM PST
Las Vegas Favorite: UCLA -4.0

Sam’s Take (39 – 15):

The Washington Huskies have lost 10 straight road games, and they haven’t beaten the Bruins in Pasadena since 1995. Meanwhile, UCLA is looking to win their first conference game of the season in an effort to keep their bowl hopes alive for 2009. Let’s call this one the “Desperation Bowl”, as the loser is likely staying home for the holidays.

So who has the edge? A healthy Jake Locker would sway me Washington’s way, but I’m not convinced that he will be himself on Saturday. It certainly helps that UW runs a pro-style offense (allowing Locker to stay in the pocket and limit the strain on his thigh), but will the o-line give him time to throw (UW ranked 83rd nationally in sacks allowed)? I think much of the offensive burden will fall on RB Chris Polk, who must have a big game in order to take the pressure off of Locker.

Bruins QB Kevin Prince has re-asserted himself as the starter for this UCLA team. Prince engineered a great second half comeback that came up just short against Oregon State, and now it appears that he is gaining confidence again. Washington ranks 101st nationally against the pass, meaning Prince should have plenty of opportunities to make some big plays on Saturday.

While the Bruins defense has not looked as ferocious in conference play as it did against Tennessee, the talent is still there. If Locker’s accuracy is missing, I fully expect S Rahim Moore (NCAA-best 7 INTs) and CB Alterraun Verner to take advantage.

In the end I think Rick Neuheisel finds a way to beat his old team, which will set the Bruins up for a realistic shot at a December bowl game (@WSU, ASU, @USC with two wins needed).

Prediction: UCLA 28 – Washington 23

Washington Player to Keep an Eye On: WR Jermaine Kearse – Kearse is an explosive athlete who has made a habit of reeling off 20+ yard catches throughout the season. I expect a stationary Jake Locker to look his way even more this week.

UCLA Player to Keep an Eye On: WR Nelson Rosario - The physically imposing Rosario had a breakout game against OSU (6 rec. 152 yards 1 TD), and he will try to build on that performance this week.

Dave’s Take (42 – 12):

Washington has been a tough team to figure out this year. The combined record of the three opponents Washington has beaten is 18-6, including two top-tier Pac-10 teams (USC and Arizona). Then again, they are only 3-5, including an 0-3 record on the road.

But is UCLA any easier to figure out? After starting off the season 3-0 including the big win over Tennessee. Since, they are 0-5 in the conference. A terrible run no doubt, but @Stanford, Oregon, Cal, @Arizona, @Oregon State is a pretty brutal schedule.

We do know that these two teams along with ASU round out the 7-9 teams in the conference, but the next few weeks will determine in exactly what order they fall.

I really don’t know how this one will play out, but I have to go with UCLA. I’m leaning that way for two reasons; Jake Locker’s deep thigh bruise, and UCLA’s home field advantage. UCLA’s defensive line is going to get its share of contact on Locker, and I have a feeling that the injury will hinder Locker’s ability to find his groove.

Should be a very good game, and the pressure is on Kevin Prince and the Bruins offense to help their defense out and keep the team’s bowl hopes alive.

Prediction: UCLA 21 – Washington 17

UCLA Bruins (3-4) vs. Oregon State Beavers (4-3)
Saturday, October 31, 1:00 PM PST
Las Vegas Favorite: Oregon State -9.5

Sam’s Take (36 – 14):

Both Oregon State and UCLA suffered disappointing losses last week, but for far different reasons. The Beavers gave the Trojans everything they wanted plus some (OSU outgained ‘SC 482-429 yards), and a special teams breakdown may have been the only thing preventing OSU from a 3-1 record in the Pac-10. Meanwhile, UCLA found a way to lose to UA despite generating five turnovers, as the Bruins offense looked hopelessly lost.

It’s hard to envision a UCLA win here, especially with the way OSU’s Sean Canfield is playing (1,734 yards 11 TDs, 4 INTS, 68.2 % completions). Obviously, we know the Rodgers brothers will always get their yards, but when Canfield is throwing well the Beavers can pile up points on anyone. I have been most impressed by the offensive balance from Mike Riley’s team in the last few games, as players like WR Damola Adeniji, and TE Joe Halahuni have given the offense another dimension.

A strong argument could be made that RB ‘Quizz Rodgers deserves to go to New York for the Heisman Presentation. He has accounted for 1,089 total yards (810 rushing) and 15 TDs, including a 113 yard, 1 TD day against a Trojans D that ranks fifth nationally against the run. While UCLA features a stout front seven led by DT Brain Price, I don’t think any defense can stop ‘Quizz right now.

For UCLA, the offense has to find an identity this week. As strong as Oregon State has looked on offense, the defense has proven to be vulnerable (particularly against the pass). I am interested to see what Rick Neuheisel does at the QB position if Kevin Prince struggles early. Will we see QB Richard Brehaut take meaningful snaps in Corvallis? RB Jonathan Franklin has proven to be a reliable playmaker, but the overall lack of explosion in Norm Chow’s offense is very disconcerting.

I still have great respect for the UCLA defense, but until the offense can show some signs of life, the losing skid will continue. I look for Oregon State to come away with a workmanlike victory at Reser Stadium.

Prediction: Oregon State 31 – UCLA 20

UCLA Player to Keep an Eye On: S Rahim Moore – The highly-instinctive Moore has been a bright spot for the Bruins all season, and he enters Saturday’s game looking to add to his NCAA-best seven interceptions.

Oregon State Player to Keep an Eye On: WR Casey Kjos – Kjos only has six catches on the year, but he showed great route-running ability last week against USC and I believe he will contribute more and more as the season progresses.

Dave’s Take (39 – 11):

After yet another respectable game last week (albeit in a losing effort), Oregon State has firmly placed themselves in that “best of the rest” category with Arizona behind Oregon and USC. UCLA on the other hand looks completely lost; even with all of the turnovers last week, the offense never gave the team a chance to win.

As brilliantly as Sean Canfield has been playing, the real story in this one just might be UCLA’s inability to stop the run. Since conference play has started, UCLA has given up over 200 yards rushing in three of the four games they have played, with their “best” effort coming against Stanford where they gave up 174 yards rushing and Toby Gerhart had 134 yards and three touchdowns.

Since that Stanford game, UCLA has given up 719 rushing yards, good for just under 240/game. Going up against one of the premiere backs in the entire country in Jacquizz Rodgers, do you really expect things to get better this week?

Even if the Bruins can find some answers on offense against a less-than-stellar Beavers defense, I can’t see them finding any way to keep up with this offense, which has been outstanding in conference play and should continue to be this week. With two potentially winnable games at home against Washington and ASU as well as a road game against Washington State coming up, UCLA’s bowl dreams aren’t completely shattered just yet; but I don’t think the game in Corvallis is going to help any.

Prediction: Oregon State 34 – UCLA 17

UCLA Bruins 3-4 Overall (0-4 Conference)

This Week’s Score: Arizona 27 – UCLA 13

Next Week’s Opponent: @Oregon State

The Bruins are in a state of regression right now, and Rick Neuheisel will need to put together a substantial coaching effort for the Bruins to right the ship. After an encouraging 3-0 start to the season, UCLA is now staring at a potential 0-5 start to the Pac-10 season. To be fair, the Bruins have faced four of the conference’s best so far (Oregon, Cal, Stanford, UA), and with winnable games on the horizon it’s not time to panic yet.

At the top of the “to do” list for Neuheisel is figuring out the quarterback situation, and quickly. Let’s be honest…QB Kevin Prince is struggling. The freshman has not looked the same since breaking his jaw in the endzone of Neyland Stadium, and his performance in Tucson was especially disheartening (7/15 60 yards). Should Norm Chow consider giving QB Richard Brehaut a shot? I believe the answer is yes. I’m not saying it’s time to give up on Prince for good, as I still believe he can be a productive starter for UCLA. But right now he doesn’t seem to be playing with any confidence, and a change may spark the offense.

While there certainly needs to be more productivity at the quarterback position, UCLA has a variety of other offensive issues. The youth of the offensive line is starting to show, and the receivers have been terrible. I believed the Bruins had more quality depth at wideout and tight end than almost any other team in the conference, but where are the playmakers? I was also very disappointed in the running game against UA, as Jonathan Franklin and Co. were held to 65 yards rushing (2.8 YPC).

Defensively, the Bruins did some good things. While the ‘Cats moved the ball quite a bit on the day (456 yards), UCLA generated five turnovers, including two interceptions by the ultra-intuitive and opportunistic Rahim Moore (who now has an NCAA best seven on the year). I still believe that this Bruins D is good enough to keep the team in games, but its not good enough to win them by itself (defense had a hand in all 13 UCLA points).

UCLA travels to Corvallis this week for a date with another upper-echelon Pac-10 team. Upset the Beavers, and a four game winning streak is a strong possibility. But a lopsided loss could kill the demeanor of the team, as well as the bowl hopes.

UCLA Bruins (3-3) vs. Arizona Wildcats (4-2)
Saturday, October 24, 3:30 PM PST
Las Vegas Favorite: Arizona -7.5

Sam’s Take (31 – 14):

UCLA and Arizona are heading in opposite directions right now. The Bruins have looked lost as of late, and last week’s beatdown at the hands of Cal was especially disheartening. Meanwhile, Arizona is quietly putting together the best offense in the Pac-10, led by a rising star in QB Nick Foles.

Arizona has been a part of two thrillers in a row, losing a heartbreaker in Seattle and then mounting an incredibly exciting comeback against Stanford. This week, I think Mike Stoops will be able to breathe a little easier but this game is by no means a lock.

A strong argument could be made that QB Nick Foles is the best signal caller in the Pac-10, as his numbers have been nothing short of remarkable (1,152 yards passing 9 TDs 2 INTs, 73.9% completions on the season). The rise of Foles has now made the ‘Cats as balanced as any offense in college football right now, as the running game is still extremely potent with three all-conference caliber performers in the backfield. Nic Grisby appears to be fully healthy, so the UCLA defense will have its hands full this Saturday.

For UCLA, there is some reason to believe the offense can come through this week. Schematically, Norm Chow does a lot of the same things as Stanford, particularly in his use of tight ends and fullbacks. Jim Harbaugh’s club exploited a talented UA secondary last week, so the blueprint is there for Chow to take advantage of. If QB Kevin Prince can make good decisions, UCLA will have a puncher’s chance. I would also like to see RB Jonathan Franklin get the ball more this week, as he is the most explosive threat right now for the Bruins.

As good as CB Alterraun Verner and S Rahim Moore are, the other half of the UCLA secondary could be in for a long day against a dynamic UA passing attack. I believe the ‘Cats offense is going to be a little bit too versatile for UCLA’s D this week, and that will be the difference in the game.

Prediction: Arizona 35 – UCLA 27

UCLA Player to Keep an Eye On: TE Logan Paulsen – Paulsen’s play was a bright spot from the Cal game and I think he is the perfect mismatch option for Prince because of his big frame and deceptive speed.

Arizona Player to Keep an Eye On: WR Juron Criner – Any one of six UA receivers could be the player to keep an eye on this week, but Criner seems to be surging right now.

Dave’s Take (35 – 10):

Looking ahead to this game a few weeks ago, it was looking like a clash between UCLA’s stingy defense and Arizona’s high powered offense. Arizona has kept up their end of the deal, slashing through conference opponents on offense ever since Nick Foles has taken over at QB; but what happened to UCLA’s defense?

The Oregon game was not the defense’s fault, considering the fact that they only gave up one offensive touchdown in that one. But that had a lot to do with Nate Costa’s ineffectiveness; the running defense has been awful for three straight games, giving up a woeful 228 YPG since conference play has started. The Cal game was a complete disaster defensively as the Bears just ripped off big play after big play in routing the Bruins at home.

After seeing what I saw last week, I just don’t believe that UCLA is going to magically re-find themselves on defense on the road against one of the conference’s most explosive offenses. The Bruins might also see a healthy dose of Nic Grigsby, Greg Nwoko, and Keola Antolin if they can’t do anything to prove they can stop the run. And if the rushing attack establishes itself and sets up this passing game… oh my.

Offensively, the Bruins took some nice strides last week; and the Wildcats defense has been less than stellar of late. I wouldn’t be surprised to see UCLA put some points up this week; but I don’t see them slowing down Arizona’s attack, and they won’t be able to keep up with it.

Prediction: Arizona 34 – UCLA 20

UCLA Bruins 2-0 Overall (0-0 Conference)

This Week’s Score: UCLA 19 – Tennessee 15

Next Week’s Opponent: Kansas State

This was an outstanding win for UCLA and the Pac-10 conference. The Bruins played in one of the most hostile environments in all of college football and beat a team that was looking for revenge and oozing with confidence. Rick Neuheisel’s infectious personality is starting to manifest itself within this UCLA football team.

The win was especially impressive when you consider all of the young, inexperienced players that Neuheisel used in Knoxville. There will be doubters who believe that UT QB Jonathan Crompton had as much to do with the Bruins success as anything else (he threw 3 INTs), but Chuck Bullough’s D was tremendous at all three levels.

The D-line penetrated Tennessee’s massive offensive line all day, and not just Brian Price. The play of other d-lineman like Bosworth, Holmes, and Jones made life miserable for the Vols. When running gaps did open, Reggie Carter and the linebackers quickly closed them. As good as the front seven was, the secondary was lights out. Rahim Moore is playing at a super-human level (5 INTs in two games, two against Tenn) and teams shouldn’t even bother looking Alterraun Verner’s way. I mentioned Courtney Viney as the player to keep an eye on for UCLA, and he stepped up huge at the other CB spot.

For those people who labeled the Bruins as a soft team, this game should help to erase that sentiment.

Unfortunately, the Bruins big win came with some bad news. QB Kevin Prince is expected to miss 3-4 weeks after suffering a fractured jaw on a third down play in the endzone at the end of the game.

It’s a shame that Prince will miss time considering his performance Saturday. What can I say about the Bruins freshman QB? Prince showed heart, resiliency, and guts while making very few errors (11/23 101 yds 1 TD, 0 INTS). Did he look like a freshman at times? Absolutely. Was he perfect? Not even close. But make no mistake about it; Prince is a budding star who grew up a lot in Knoxville, and hopefully he makes it back soon.

Now, it is very important that the Bruins don’t lose momentum with Richard Brehaut or Kevin Craft in the game. This team can win with defense, special teams, and a solid run game, but the QBs must limit mistakes.

My only warning for UCLA: Remember BYU. One week after beating the Vols last year, disaster struck in the form of a 59-0 beat down at the hands of the Cougars. Neuheisel must make sure to have his young team ready for a hungry Kansas State squad.

UCLA Bruins 1-0 Overall (0-0 Conference)

This Week’s Score: UCLA 33 – San Diego State 14

Next Week’s Opponent: @Tennessee

Sam’s Take:

UCLA started the 2009 season in terrible fashion (down 14-3 to start), but responded well while getting contributions from a variety of exciting new players.

QB Kevin Prince looked like a freshman making his first start, finishing 18-29 for 176 yards passing with one touchdown and two interceptions. SDSU DC Rocky Long threw a lot of looks at Prince, and I was impressed with how he handled himself for the most part. I loved the power running of Derrick Coleman as well as the speed of Jonathan Franklin, and the compact style of Milton Knox should provide a different dimension for the run game in ’09.

On defense, Rahim Moore was tremendous for the entire game and picked off three Ryan Lindley passes. Obviously the defense did not start well out of the gate, but once they settled down it became clear that this unit has the potential to be special in 2009. Price, Carter, and Verner looked good as usual, but the injury to Hester is an absolute depth killer at corner.

With a solid win to begin the year, UCLA will now make the trip to Neyland Stadium to take on Lane Kiffin’s upstart Vols. Tennessee looked good this weekend, so a win in a hostile SEC stadium would be huge for the Bruins.

Dave’s Take:

Defense, defense, defense. After getting caught flat footed on the first two drives of the game (including inexplicably allowing WR Vincent Brown to get behind everyone on the second drive leading to a 78-yard touchdown pass), the Bruins settled down and completely shut down the Aztecs for the rest of the game.

Rahim Moore’s three interceptions led the way on defense, and Alterraun Verner capped off a nice day with a field goal block return for a touchdown. The defense was every bit as good as advertised save the first two drives of the game.

Kevin Prince was far from perfect in his debut, but regardless of the final line, he was a noticeable upgrade over Kevin Craft. He’ll have to be better next week for UCLA to have a shot at beating Tennessee, but either way it will be a great experience for him to get a hostile road environment under his belt before Pac-10 play begins.

Derrick Coleman’s big day set the tone for a nice day on the ground for UCLA, racking up 69 yards and a touchdown on only four carries. All things considered, it was a nice opener for UCLA, and the final score wasn’t really indicative of how much the Bruins controlled this game from the second quarter on.

With a sturdy defensive line led by All-American Brian Price, and arguably the best linebacking corps in the conference, this promising secondary could make UCLA’s defense downright frightening for opposing offenses in 2009.

The Bruins defensive backfield played very well last season, finishing 8th nationally in pass defense. Although the unit lost two starters to graduation (CB Michael Norris and S Bret Lockett), many believe the DB’s could be even better this season.

The group is led by an All-American cornerback looking to finish off his tremendous career in style.

Alterraun Verner returning an interception for a TD

Cornerbacks

Decorated senior Alterraun Verner returns for his final year at UCLA. The fourth-year starter is one of the Pac-10’s best players, and a true shutdown-corner. Last season, Verner led the nation in passes defended (18 deflections, 2 interceptions for 20 total PDs), and finished second on the team with 73 tackles on his way to second-team All-Pac-10 honors.

Verner has ended each of his previous three seasons with some form of post-season honors (freshman All-American in 2006, honorable mention All-Conference in ’07, second team All-Conference in ’08). Recently, he was named to the ESPN.com pre-season All-American team, as well as being named to watch lists for the Bednarik (Top Defensive Player) and Thorpe (Top Defensive Back) Awards.

Verner has also drawn high praise in the classroom. The math/applied science major was voted first-team Pac-10 All-Academic for the last two seasons.

At 5-11 180 pounds, Verner uses a potent combination of speed and agility to smother an opposing receiver. But it is his vision and intuition that separate Verner as one of the nation’s most polished corners. He plays with great technique when pressing a receiver at the line, and his zone cover recognition skills are also very good.

The cerebral senior is rarely caught out of position, and has enough recovery speed in case it ever does happen. He is also a dangerous playmaker once he gets the ball in his hands with three of his eight career interceptions resulting in touchdown returns.

Verner is the only upper-classmen in the cornerback rotation, and he will therefore be counted on to mentor a developing group. This past spring, his teammates voted him as one of the Bruins team captains. The Carson (CA) native has looked sharp in fall camp so far, and appears primed for an outstanding last season in Westwood.

With most teams throwing away from Verner in 2009, redshirt freshman Aaron Hester will need to be ready for a lot of action.

Last season, Hester spent time learning the defensive system, and after an impressive spring, he has claimed ownership of a starting spot.

At 6-1 203 pounds, Hester is one of the most naturally gifted defensive backs on the roster. His technique still needs work, but his upside is undeniable. Hester has excellent size for a corner, while also possessing very good speed (4.43). He would make an ideal press corner because of his tenacious and physical style, and could also be an asset in run support.

Like Verner, Hester breaks on the ball very well and can cover space in a hurry.

He also has the bloodlines to succeed, as his brother is Chicago Bears and former Miami Hurricanes standout Devin Hester. Rivals and Scout.com rated the Compton (CA) native as a 4-star prospect during his prolific prep career at Dominguez High School.

Hester has looked spectacular in fall camp, and he enters 2009 as a potential breakout performer on the UCLA defense.

The most experienced corner besides Verner has only played for one season and it’s sophomore Courtney Viney. Last season, Viney played mostly as a nickel back and finished with 17 tackles while also contributing on special teams. Two years ago, he was the Scout Team Player of the Year.

At 5-8 160 pounds, Viney is small even by cornerback standards, but he plays with aggressive determination and never stops coming. Coaches have praised Viney for his competitiveness and work ethic. He has tremendous leaping ability, and the quickness to cover an opposing team’s speediest receiver. Viney is also a surprisingly good tackler with deceptive strength. The Fresno (CA) native was given four-star recognition from Scout.com while he was at Edison High School.

Viney enters the season as a key part of the cornerback rotation.

Two true freshmen corners that have looked outstanding in fall camp are Sheldon Price and Marlon Pollard.

The 6-2 163 pound Price has a long frame and should put on considerably more weight during his career. He has wasted little time impressing the coaches, and could become a pivotal part of the defensive backfield as the season progresses.

Price provides the Bruins with another corner (along with Hester) that can cover taller receivers. The Chino Hills (CA) product was given 4-star recognition by Rivals.com, and was a PrepStar All-American selection while at Bishop Amat High School.

The 6-0 158 pound Pollard also has a lot of physical developing to do, but he has been very impressive this fall. He is an explosive athlete with great ball skills and also possesses excellent quickness. Rivals and Scout.com rated him as a 4-star prospect, and he was also a PrepStar All-American selection. The San Bernardino (CA) native could factor in for the Bruins as a nickel back and on special teams.

Safeties

Rahim Moore celebrates an interception

The starter at free safety will be sophomore Rahim Moore. Moore arrived at UCLA with high expectations and he didn’t disappoint totaling 60 tackles (4th on team) and three interceptions (tied for first on team) as a true freshman starter for all 12 games.

At 6-1 197 pounds, Moore is a true playmaker at safety, combining great size with elite speed (4.4). He can close space down quickly, and understands when to break on the ball. More than anything, Moore is a versatile athlete, who can disrupt an offense with his cover skills, run-stopping ability, and instinctive timing.

Moore was named to multiple Freshman All-American teams, and should compete for Pac-10 honors this season. The Los Angeles (CA) native was rated as a 5-star prospect by Scout.com and has lived up to the billing thus far. Moore could conceivably hold onto the free safety spot for his entire career at UCLA.

The strong safety spot is wide open, but sophomore Glenn Love has been working with the first team during the fall. Last season, Love played as a reserve making 23 tackles and contributing on special teams. With a year of experience under his belt, he now enters the spotlight at SS.

At 6-4 210 pounds, Love has linebacker size and defensive back fluidity in his movement. His ball skills are outstanding and he also has great leaping ability. He may need to work on staying lower though, as that is always a concern for a taller defender.

The Chandler (AZ) native is the slight leader for the starting role at this point in fall camp.

The other option at strong safety is sophomore Tony Dye. Last season, Dye played as a primary nickel back in 11 games, making 15 tackles on the year. At 5-11 199 pounds, Dye does not possess ideal size for a safety, but he makes up for it with his coverage ability and physical tenacity.

The Corona (CA) native was given 4-star recognition by both Rivals and Scout.com, and was selected to play in the Under Armor All-America game during his prep career at Santiago High School (CA).

Other players competing for time are: freshmen Brandon Sermons, Stan McKay, Andrew Abbott, Alex Mascarenas, and senior Aaron Ware.

My Take

This UCLA defense really could be special if everything comes together. There doesn’t seem to be a weakness anywhere, and my only hope is that the D isn’t overworked like last year (that part is up to you, Bruin Offense).

Kudos to Rick Neuheisel for putting a lot of this talented secondary together in two years of recruiting; his efforts are already paying off big time.

Having said that, I’m sure Neuheisel is happy to have No.1 (Alterraun Verner) around for one more season. Verner is the consummate student-athlete, and a great role model for the underclassmen. I expect him to close out his excellent career with another productive season, and he will be in the discussion for post-season awards (Thorpe, Bednarik) all year long.

I am also excited to see Hester, especially since the ball will probably be coming his way a lot this season. He does not lack confidence and his skill set is tremendous, so now it’s time to see if he’s ready.

At safety, Moore is on the verge of becoming a star in the conference. His freshman season was very impressive considering he was the first Bruin rookie to start all 12 games since CB Matt Ware in ’01. I think Moore will be better this season, and he should contend for all-conference honors. The battle at strongside may go on for a little while, but both Love and Dye are capable.

Overall, expect the inexperienced new starters to make a few mistakes early, but by midseason this Bruins secondary should soar.