2003 Statistics

Quarterback
Moore is no more at UCLA. With Matt Moore's transfer, it's junior QB Drew Olson's job once again. Olson grabbed the starting spot after quickly mastering the offense, only to steer it feebly to 19.1ppg. Don't put all the blame on Olson for the Bruins' offensive woes. He possesses excellent field vision and leadership, stemming from quality big game experience since his freshman year. New QB coach Jim Svoboda, a Division II offensive guru, will help him utilize his accuracy with better reads. Olson came on strong with over 60% completions in his last five starts and showed poise in the red zone. Moore's transfer will minimize controversy and give JUCO transfer David Koral, the only other QB on scholarship, a chance to grasp the system. Koral transferred from Santa Monica College in January and was a PrepStar All-American out of high school. His 2,202 yards passing and 18 TDs in 2003 was good enough to earn him a No. 8 ranking for JUCO QB's. The classic drop-back passer has a good arm and makes the right decisions. He'll not only push for back-up duty, but possibly the starting job. All of this bodes well for the position.

Running Back
The loss of another transfer, TB Tyler Ebell, hampers depth, but this also gives sophomore TB Maurice Drew a chance to shine. The diminutive Parade All-American at fabled Concord De La Salle High can run inside despite his height (5'8") but prefers to hit the corners with speed. In a quarter of as many starts as Ebell had, Drew still out-rushed him and led team with five TDs. His 176 yards against Arizona, including a dazzling 83 yarder, was a sign of big things to come for the talented all-purpose back. The power in this balanced backfield comes from Manuel White. He combines TB quickness with FB size and strength and, despite injuries, he led the Bruins in yards per game. A decent blocker but a better runner, he'll move the pile and stay on the field in some one-back sets. Senior FB Pat Norton is the blocking specialist, which will ease the transition of White becoming a full-time TB.

Wide Receiver
Senior SE Craig Bragg deserves the All-America hype he'll receive. A combination of good speed and a "go-to" receiver's confidence nabbed him the first back-to-back 50+-catch seasons in Bruin history. He will get a third, not to mention another 1,000 yards Even with defenses keying on him, he's still found a way to catch a pass in every game since his first at UCLA, including ten on the vaunted '03 Sooner D. The bigger question is who else will step up. Junior Taylor (fittingly a junior) has been showing off his speed ever since scoring on a 49 yard reverse the first time he touched the football. He can line up wide or in the slot, and will hurt teams in a variety of ways. Idris Moss was a prep All-American corner and receiver, but, like all the young receivers, he must improve technique and route running.

Offensive Line and Tight End
Over 100 combined starts among an all-junior and -senior group doesn't inspire the confidence it should after a miserable campaign. The line lost its confidence and toughness midway through '03 and allowed 16 more sacks than anyone in the Pac-10. The bowl game loss to Fresno State was hopefully rock bottom for a group too talented not to improve. Eyoseph Efseaff has become one of the best guards out west and has played almost every snap since arriving at UCLA. LT Steven Vieira is big, aggressive and will also command pre-season notoriety. Assuming he recovers from a fractured ankle, Mike McCloskey is one of most athletic centers in the Pac-10 and is comfortable making all the calls. Third-year sophomore Robert Chai stepped in a year ago following McCloskey’s injury and started the final eight games of the year. Despite nagging knee miseries, he played virtually every snap down the stretch. McCloskey and Chai figure to compete for the starting job throughout the Spring. The largest Bruin Ed Blanton (6'9", 330) has also been the most improved and is a battler at RT. Size and versatility waits in the wings for a group that could excel with confidence and coaching. Former hoops star Mercedes Lewis was the top prep TE in '02 for a reason. He separated himself from the bunch at TE with a package of size, speed, strength and soft hands and finished second on the team with 30 catches.

OFFENSIVE BREAKDOWN
Where else can the Bruins go but up? Coach Karl Dorrell reshuffled the coaching staff to breathe new life into a comatose unit that never asserted itself. The line was the major problem, not only with its porous pass blocking, but also with its inability to get a talented backfield more than a conference-worst 91.9 yds/gm on the ground. Their improvement will decide the Bruins' fate. If the line discovers its 2002 form, Bragg and Drew will both have 1,000 yard seasons, and Olson will have time to run an offense that showed glimpses of its explosive nature against Washington. Dorrell is on the hot seat and will have to adjust to defenses much faster on game day.

Defensive Line
A line that was the Bruins' backbone incurs huge losses with the departure of so many talented seniors. Defensive coordinator Larry Kerr's aggressive schemes will require even more frequent blitzes to generate pressure up front. No seniors return; the only junior is C.J. Niusulu, and he, too, has limited experience. He has shown maturity during his rapid development and if nothing else, he's the wide body the Bruins need in the middle. Former prep All-American Kevin Brown has a chance to be special but needs to relearn the finer points of the tackle position after a stint on the O-line. He has added muscle; still, filling gaps could be problematic. Prep star dream-teamer Junior Lemau'u has similar potential to accompany his 6'5" size and speed on the corner. DE Brigham Harwell was one of the few recruits who could contribute right away. Expect significant growing pains, but, by late season, talent will overcome inexperience.

Linebacker
Perhaps the most critical position in the Bruins' pressure 4-3 system, the linebackers will have to turn their playmaking ability up a notch. Look out for junior Spencer Havner. He's averaged a whopping 30yds per return on his six INTs, going for two TDs. The former Pac-10 "defensive freshman of the year" will be on the Butkus watch list again, and gives the Bruins big play capability on the strong side. Quick and aggressive Justin London is back to patrol the middle. In just his first year as a starter, he recorded 98 tackles. Wesley Walker leaves Spring listed No. 1 at the outside spot, but he will have plenty of competition for the starting job. A good all-around athlete who appeared in every game, he made 15 tackles a year ago. Glendale CC-transfer Patrick Pierre-Louis makes every play count after missing time due to a series of injuries. His real strength will be disrupting plays in the backfield. The group will blitz from everywhere.

Defensive Back
Matt Ware's early NFL departure raises questions in an otherwise solid secondary. CB Matt Clark proved himself opposite Ware and showed how his quick feet and ability to close on the ball offset his minimal size. Junior Marcus Cassel almost won the job over Clark with his sure technique and sound understanding of the system. He'll have to give up short completions to keep receivers in front of him. Nnamdi Ohaeri is the frontrunner for the open cornerback position. He is an aggressive performer who possesses the athletic ability to play anywhere in the secondary. Last season, he played extensively as the nickel back and also contributed on special teams. The real strength is at safety. Ben Emanuel II has flourished since moving from SS to FS, allowing him to roam and show off his tremendous instinct and tackling ability. Junior Jarrad Page's development made that possible. The former freshman All-American is an intimidating hitter and will set the tone for a tough group that won't be too far off their Pac-10 leading pass-defense ranking.

DEFENSIVE BREAKDOWN
The Bruins may have had the top pass defense in the conference, yet, much of that was attributable to such an outstanding front-four. Without that constant pressure and a shutdown corner in Ware, this defense becomes considerably more vulnerable. Havner will help the secondary by stepping in passing lanes over the middle. Even then, the tackles must knock opposing lines back, or London might have to make 200 tackles as teams will pound the ball up the middle until UCLA can make this path undesirable. The young group will rely on emotion; a few early stops and then they'll know how to shut almost anyone down. However, allowing a couple quick TDs will possibly open the recently-closed floodgates.