SF Chronicle: Bruins Say They're Far From Being in Ruins

In case people misread his stoic facial expressions, UCLA coach Karl Dorrell told those in attendance at Monday's news conference exactly how he was feeling. "I'm happier than I usually am on Mondays," he said. "I like the attitude of this football team. There are guys who are going to compete and continue to fight." He answered the questions before they were even asked. After narrowly losing to No. 11 Notre Dame two weeks ago, the Bruins laid a second-half egg last week in a loss to Washington State, and it appeared like UCLA was a team on the verge of falling apart.  Wrong, says the coach.  "We feel confident as a team," Dorrell said. "We had a great meeting Sunday about where we're at and where we need to improve."

Where they are is a three-game losing slide.  Where they need to improve is offense -- if they're going to find two wins during a difficult four-game, season-ending stretch to become bowl eligible.  "It's like the shark theory," Dorrell said. "There's blood in the water, so people are going to come in and attack that."  There's been reason for some of those attacks. Despite sporting a defense that is second in the Pac-10 in points against (18.6) and yards (296.5), the Bruins haven't been able to score enough to win lately.  "Offensively, we're going to continue to go through our growing pains," Dorrell said, "but we're going to continue to work to put our playmakers in the best possible position to make plays."  Unfortunately, most of their playmakers are unavailable.  Gone to the NFL are tailback Maurice Drew, tight end Marcedes Lewis and quarterback Drew Olson, who helped UCLA post a 10-2 record a year ago. This year's starting quarterback Ben Olson, who rushed out of the gates by earning conference Player of the Week honors in the opener, has missed the last three games with a knee injury.

The offense is learning as it goes, and, thus, it has struggled, scoring just 12 touchdowns on 29 trips into the red zone. While leaving the field after being shut out in the second half of last week's home loss, UCLA Athletic Director Dan Guerrero heard the boos from fans who were unhappy about Dorrell.  "With any program, my issue is to provide the resources and the things needed to develop a successful program and that's what we're going to do," Guerrero told the Los Angeles Times. "Last year we had a pretty darn good year, so you don't throw out that good year just because we're struggling right now."  Dorrell led UCLA last year to just its seventh 10-win season in school history. People seem to be forgetting that, at least those outside the program.  "I can assure you, our losses have not come from lack of effort," said tailback Khalil Bell, a Marin Catholic grad. "We're going to keep playing hard for coach."

Briefly: Tickets are still available for Saturday's meeting between Cal and UCLA, the Joe Roth Memorial Game. Roth, an All-American quarterback and the only Bear to have his number retired, died of cancer in 1977, shortly after his collegiate career. His parents and coach Mike White will act as honorary captains. ... Sophomore receiver DeSean Jackson, tailback Marshawn Lynch, cornerback Daymeion Hughes and coach Jeff Tedford are among Bears who have been named semifinalists for national awards. Jackson is one of 14 receivers in the running for the Biletnikoff Award, while Lynch (Maxwell Award: top player), Hughes (Bednarik Award: top defensive player) and Tedford (Munger Award: top coach) are in the mix for other top honors.