Only one way to go, and it's up. With only four starters returning and averaging a paltry 22.4 ppg, it's time to produce. Unfortunately, Patrick Cowan tore his ACL and is out for the year, leaving only Ben Olson, who is recovering from a broken foot, to guide the offense. This wouldn't be such an issue except the quarterbacks' injuries are a result of a suspect O-line. Very suspect.
Center Micah Reed and LT Micah Kia are the only returning linemen who have ever played a game. Scary. Real scary. And they have a new O-line coach. Don't look for any real progress as far as blocking and pass rushing. Norm Chow will have to get real creative to overcome the thin O-line.
The running game also took a hit- Chris Markey, Derrick Williams and Michael Pitre are gone. Kahlil Bell and Raymond Carter are both a question mark due to injury. Fullback Chane Moline could see a lot of action in the game.
The wide receiver position at UCLA has always been a source of pride, and last year, Brandon Breazell and Joe Cowan were the unit's leaders. This year, Breazell, Cowan and TE William Snead are gone. Osaar Rasshan, who was used as a quarterback when both Olson and Cowan were hurt last year, could come back to his natural position, but with the current injury-plagued quarterback situation, that's a big if. Marcus Everett returns for his fifth year, and with the dearth of talent in this position, there shouldn't be that much of a drop-off.
Defense.
The D-line looks like it's in good shape. The Bruins lost DE Bruce Davis, DT Kevin Brown and DE Nikola Dragovic, but return stalwart DTs Brigham Harwell and Brian Price as well as DEs Korey Bosworth and Tom Blake. All in all, the D-line is solid.
The linebacking unit will be about the same as last year's unit. Kyle Bosworth returns on the strong side, but the weak side is a little iffy. Reggie Carter, the team's signal caller, will be back in his natural position and is the heart of the Bruins' D.
The secondary is a bit of a mess. Four of the eleven DBs were Spring walk-ons. The one bright spot, Alterraun Verner, is the earth's eighth natural wonder. He is extremely underrated, and a terrific pass defender. And he'll have to be, since the Bruins lost CB Trey Brown, FS Dennis Keyes, CB Matthew Slater and S Chris Horton. Yep, a lot of teams will be passing on the Bruins.
Outlook.
This is a rebuilding year, make no mistake about it. The Bruins have the talent, just not a lot of experience. The quarterback disaster doesn't help the offensive issues at all.
The good news is that the Bruins have a superb coaching staff, and there is excitement in Westwood again.
The bad news is their schedule- not a schedule a rebuilding team wants by any measure. Three of their first four games are against top 25 teams: Tennessee, BYU and Fresno State. They also take road trips to Eugene and Berkeley. The prospects for a winning season do not look good, but it's not due to the talent on the team, it's due to the brutal schedule for such a young team. Look for the Bruins to eek out a six-win season as a goal, perhaps even surprise an unsuspecting Pac-10 champion contender or play the spoiler, and then fasten your seatbelts for next year.
7. Washington Huskies.
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