SF Chronicle: Injuries have forced UCLA into different lineups

Rusty Simmons

UCLA lost its top two quarterbacks to injury before the season kicked off, and the hits keep coming. Defensive ends Reginald Stokes (knee) and Tom Blake (abdominal strain) and defensive tackle Chase Moline (back spasms) will miss Saturday's game against Cal, and the offensive line will start its fourth different lineup after losing left tackle Jeff Baca to a strained hamstring.  "We're running out of players, but we can mix and match," UCLA coach Rick Neuheisel said. "They let you play 11 players, so we'll make sure we run 11 out there."  David Carter is expected to move from defensive end to defensive tackle, and freshman Datone Jones should get more time at defensive end. On offense, Michael Harris will probably make his first college start at right tackle, with Micah Kia moving to left tackle.

Those aren't the kinds of moves UCLA wants to be making since it has lost five consecutive road games and 12 of its last 15. Cal has won 25 of its last 29 games in Strawberry Canyon and has outscored opponents 1,128-552 in that span. "We've got to do better on the road. If you still have that tape, we can just run that quote again and again," Neuheisel said. "As Bill Walsh said, 'If you want to win on the road, you just take the better team.' "  

Bear-Bruin ties: Players with past ties could end up colliding Saturday, if UCLA running back Khalil Bell breaks into the secondary or Bruins receiver Antwon Moutra lines up wide left.  Bell, a 6-foot, 219-pounder from Marin Catholic High in Kentfield, played annually against Cal safety Marcus Ezeff, who went to Montgomery High in Santa Rosa. "It's business on the field, but I'll say something to him afterward," Ezeff said.  Moutra, a 6-2, 183-pound freshman, is the cousin of Cal cornerback Darian Hagan. "I'm definitely going to see if the coaches will let me match up with him when he gets into the game," Hagan said.

Briefly: Cal coach Jeff Tedford still wasn't ready Thursday to announce a starting quarterback. Senior Nate Longshore and sophomore Kevin Riley have been splitting first- and second-team repetitions in practice, and the decision might not be finalized until Saturday. ... Sophomore Jahvid Best (elbow) was a full participant in Thursday's practice and is expected to play tailback but not return kicks. ... Senior defensive end Rulon Davis (leg) participated in sideline drills this week and is "fired up about returning soon," according to Tedford. ... Redshirt freshman receiver Michael Calvin is waiting for the swelling in his right knee to subside so he can have ACL surgery, Tedford said.