BERKELEY, Calif. - They worked throughout the summer, seven-on-sevens against local junior colleges, against their own teammates, against nothing but air. UCLA, with two first-year quarterbacks in Ben Olson and Patrick Cowan, added a day to their quarterbacks' work schedule and they went at it four days a week instead of just three, trying to develop a comfort level with each other as well as within the West Coast offense. They went through checks and route adjustments, ran set plays one after the other. And yet, eight games into the season, the Bruins' passing game remains in disarray. UCLA is ranked eighth in the Pac-10 in yards per pass and seventh in completion percentage (58.2) going into a conference game Saturday at Cal, a team that is ranked last in the conference in pass defense but with 18 interceptions has a knack for forcing turnovers in the passing game.
They at least have a sense of urgency, finally. "We know we need to work. We know we need to improve. We know we need to execute. We know we need to move the ball offensively. We know those things have been a struggle," Coach Karl Dorrell said. "We know all the things that are issues up to this point. Now it's about getting it done and this is a great opportunity to get that done now." But even against a Golden Bears' defense that has allowed 246.5 passing yards per game, the Bruins would seem hard-pressed to improve. Over their past three games, losses at Oregon and Notre Dame and to Washington State, backup quarterback Patrick Cowan has completed only 49 percent (49 of 100) of his passes with four interceptions and three touchdowns. The Bruins have had trouble with protection issues up front and with backs in blitz pick up. They have had difficulty remaining on schedule in the offense, where timing is crucial. The tight end position, regarded as vital in the Bruins' version of the West Coast offense, has accounted for only six receptions in those games. And starting running back Chris Markey and fullback Michael Pitre (11 combined) have almost as many receptions through that stretch as starting flanker Brandon Breazell and split end Marcus Everett (13).
The Bruins do not have any definitive answers to their struggles. "It's just a learning process. Every team puts in a lot of work, but it's not something that's going to happen over night or even in one year sometimes," split end Matt Willis said, "And going from one quarterback to another quarterback ... I mean, they know the system, but they both have different styles and that kind if throws things off a little bit. ... You've just got to roll with it and know that it's going to happen. Every play is not going to be perfect, anyway. ... It's just part of the game and you just roll with it, you work to get the most out of every play." The return of Olson, who will miss a fourth consecutive game after suffering a tear in the medial collateral ligament in his left knee in the Bruins' victory over Arizona (their last victory) could help. But after a solid start in which he completed 25 of 33 passes (75.8 percent) for 318 yards and three touchdowns in the Bruins' opening victory over Utah, Olson struggled as well. He completed 59.3 percent (54 of 91) of his passes after the Utah victory, and also threw five interceptions and only two touchdowns. "We've had our times where we've been good," Olson said. "But a lot goes into the game. You know, it's kind of like a puzzle. Every piece has to be in sync and everybody has to be on the same page. And if somebody messes up - the quarterback or it could be somebody else - it could mess up the whole play. Everybody has got to be on the same page and sometimes we're not on the same page. And you've got to get to that point where it's like clockwork. ". . . And when you do that, it looks fine, it looks easy. That's just the way it is."
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