UCLA Bruins Rely on Filthy Five to Do Dirty Work Up Front

If there's one part of the UCLA Bruins football team that's struggled more than any other since the days of Karl Dorrell, it's the offensive line.

Yes, the quarterback position has been a revolving door of injuries and poor play. From Ben Olson to Pat Cowan to Kevin Craft to Kevin Prince to Richard Brehaut, the torch of leadership at the most important spot on the field for UCLA has been dropped and picked up time and again rather than passed cleanly.

Yes, the coaching staff has been in constant flux as well. The mantle of leadership from the sidelines has been tenuous, at best, with assistants changing and losing jobs at an alarming rate.

But really, the offensive line has been the Bruins' biggest hole ever since the team went 10-2 with Drew Olson under center and Maurice Jones-Drew carrying the ball.

A lack of depth and talent, along with a rash of injuries year in and year out, has kept the big guys in the trenches from coalescing into a solid unit.

Until now.

After struggling in the running game last season with an average of 114.6 yards per game, good for 97th in the country, UCLA's backs this year are gaining better than 264 yards per game on the ground, good for 10th-best in the nation after five weeks of play.

That average has been boosted considerably the last three weeks, with totals of 266, 291, and a staggering 437 rushing yards against Houston, Texas, and Washington State, respectively.

While the Bruins' backs—namely Johnathan Franklin, Derrick Coleman, and Malcolm Jones—deserve some credit for the rampant running, the lion's share must be reserved for the group now fondly titled "The Filthy Five."

Once a patchwork collection of players with limited starting experience, this group of chip-on-shoulder types has been the barrel and chamber of Norm Chow's version of the Pistol offense.

This amalgamation of four seniors (Darius Savage, Ryan Taylor, Eddie Williams, and Sean Sheller) and one junior (Mike Harris) came into this season with less than 40 starts between them—a staggeringly small number considering their average age.

Nonetheless, the Filthy Five has truly established itself since the team's shameful shutout loss to Stanford in early September, transforming the Bruins' weakest link into arguably its greatest strength.

How has this group managed to be so successful despite its lack of experience and depth?

As Sheller put it, "We're not just going to absorb blocks. We're gonna be the hammer out there."

Which explains how this group has seemingly switched UCLA's style of play from finesse to smash-mouth.

Rick Neuheisel and offensive line coach Bob Palcic will have to make sure these dirty dudes continue to improve as a unit if the Bruins wish to stay afloat in the Pac-10 and make it to a bowl game this year.

That effort continues this Saturday with a crucial conference matchup at Cal.

If the Bruins want to come away with a huge road win, there's no mistaking who will have to step up.

Judging by their play thus far, there's little doubt the Filthy Five will do just that.