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EARLY
BIRD 2006 COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREVIEW
RELEASED
THANKSGIVING 2005
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UCLA
BRUINS |
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OFFENSE
- 5 |
------RETURNING
STARTERS------ |
DEFENSE
- 7 |
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KEY
LOSSES |
OFFENSE:
Drew Olson-QB, Marcedes Lewis-TE, Mike McCloskey-C,
Robert Cleary-OG, Ed Blanton-OT, Maurice Drew-TB
(NFL) |
DEFENSE:
Wesley
Walker-OLB, Justin London-ILB, Spencer Havner-ILB,
Marcus Cassel-CB, Jarrad Page-SS |
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Running
Back
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Maurice Drew should
be on a short list of early 2006 Heisman
Candidates. Chris Markey has also
proven to be a weapon if needed.
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Linebacker
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UCLA had major
troubles stopping the run in 2005.
Butkus candidate Spencer Havner is
no longer available, nor is Justin
London. The defensive front has to
get better.
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TB
Maurice Drew
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DE
Justin Hickman
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* DEPTH CHARTS were only designed as a simplistic
gauge for listing players that departed and players that
received the most playing experience (consistent starters).
NationalChamps.net recognizes the importance of missing
personnel data not listed such as redshirts, transfers,
injuries, incoming recruits, back ups and alternates.
Their coverage will begin with our full 2006 Preseason
Preview due out this coming spring. |
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UCLA
2006 DEPTH CHART
Returning Starters/Key
Players |
OFFENSE |
QB |
Ben
Olson-So |
.. |
FB |
Michael
Pitre-Jr |
.. |
TB |
Chris
Markey-Jr |
.. |
WR |
Marcus
Everett-Jr |
Junior
Taylor-Sr / Gavin Ketchum-So |
WR |
Joe
Cowan-Sr |
Brandon
Breazell-Jr |
TE |
J.J.
Hair-Sr |
.. |
OT |
Brian
Abraham-Jr |
Noah
Sutherland-Jr |
OG |
Shannon
Tevaga-Jr |
.. |
C |
Robert
Chai-Sr |
.. |
OG |
Chris
Joseph-Jr |
.. |
OT |
.. |
.. |
K |
Justin
Medlock-Sr |
.. |
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DEFENSE |
DE |
William
Snead-Jr |
Nikola
Dragovic-Jr |
DT |
Chase
Moline-So |
.. |
DT |
Brigham
Harwell-Jr |
Kenneth
Lombard-So |
DE |
Justin
Hickman-Sr |
Bruce
Davis-Jr |
OLB |
Aaron
Whittington-Jr |
.. |
ILB |
John
Hale-So |
.. |
ILB |
Christian
Taylor-Jr |
.. |
CB |
Trey
Brown-Jr |
Rodney
Van-Jr |
CB |
Michael
Norris-Jr |
Byron
Velega-So |
SS |
.. |
.. |
FS |
Dennis
Keyes-Jr |
Eric
McNeal-Sr |
P |
Aaron
Perez-So |
.. |
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QUICK
ANALYSIS
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How
many teams can replace their I-A leading QB and
remain just as competitive? Now, how many can
bump in a QB with the same last name but who isn’t
related to the departing guy and then keep winning?
When top-rated hurler Ben Olsen (ESPN and PrepStar
National Player of the Year – 2002) takes
over for Drew, this is likely the scenario. RB
Maurice Drew and WR Joe Cowan will add needed
senior leadership, but TE Marcedes Lewis’
departure as top receiver will change the way
teams play the middle against the Bruins. More
departures on the OL look to have minimal impact.
An abused DL returns fully intact and must retool
its approach to avoid the national cellar for
run stopping. The back seven (especially the LBs)
has enough new faces so that better results appear
probable. Something has to give on D, otherwise,
like we saw in this past campaign, scoring all
the points in the world won’t stop foes
from doing the same. Playing over their heads
and into another top 10 ranking can only happen
until the Bruins travel into South Bend. But without
defense, don’t expect their luck to strike
two consecutive seasons. Being the second- or
third-best team (behind USC and possibly Oregon)
in the conference and a national contender would
please many, but UCLA needs to find their own
identity before they are ready to be the kings
of Los Angeles, let alone the Pac Ten or beyond.
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2006
SCHEDULE
9-2
Utah
9-9 Rice
9-23 @ Washington
9-30 Stanford
10-7 Arizona
10-14 @ Oregon
10-21 @ Notre Dame
10-28 Washington State
11-4 @ California
11-11 Oregon State
11-18 @ Arizona State
12-2 Southern California
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