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DB
Chris Horton |
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2006
Statistics |
Coach:
Karl Dorrell
29-21,
4 years |
2006
Record: 7-6 |
|
UTAH |
WON
31-10 |
RICE |
WON
26-16 |
at
Washington |
LOST
19-29 |
STANFORD |
WON
31-0 |
ARIZONA |
WON
27-7 |
at
Oregon |
LOST
20-30 |
at
Notre Dame |
LOST
17-20 |
WASHINGTON
STATE |
LOST
15-37 |
at
California |
LOST
24-38 |
OREGON
STATE |
WON
25-7 |
at
Arizona State |
WON
24-12 |
SOUTHERN
CALIFORNIA |
WON
13-9 |
EMERALD
BOWL |
Florida
State |
LOST
27-44 |
|
2006
Final Rankings
AP-UR, Coaches-UR, BCS-25
|
2007
Outlook |
Karl
Dorrell has quietly, under the guise
of being just the No.2 team in the
city of angels, built a winner here
at UCLA that has BCS potential written
all the ’07 Bruins. The surprise
win over dominant USC 13-9 trumpeted
what can be if this much talent hits
on all cylinders. Both sides return
ten of eleven starters; the nation’s
No.9 run defense looks like it could
even improve; and the starting QB
competition can only help the offense
since both guys already have extensive
starting experience. Dorrell even
went out and got coaching upgrades
in areas where he thought there was
room for improvement – on the
offensive line, at wide receiver and
at the offensive coordinator spot.
There really is no reason not to expect
a 10-win season here…oh, except
the challenging schedule they face.
BYU, (at) Utah and Notre Dame constitute
one of the toughest groups of non-conference
opponents any team has to face. And
the ever-improving Pac-10 had eight
of its members reach .500 or better
last season, giving the Bruins few
weeks off during their three month
slate from September 1st until December
1st. Still, champions are built by
playing the best, a formula not lost
on this year’s squad if they
can achieve their potential and get
UCLA back into the top 10…where
this much talent belongs.
Projected
2007 record: 8-4
|
|
UCLA
*POWER RATINGS |
Offense |
Defense |
QB
- 4 |
DL
- 4 |
RB
- 4 |
LB
- 3.5 |
WR
- 3.5 |
DB
- 3.5 |
OL
- 4 |
.. |
|
RETURNING
LEADERS |
Passing:
Pat Cowan, 145-276-9, 1782 yds., 11
TD
Rushing: Chris Markey, 227
att., 1107 yds., 2 TD
Receiving: Chris Markey, 35
rec., 261 yds., 0 TD
Scoring: Chane Moline, 5 TD,
30 pts.; Marcus Everett, 5 TD, 30
pts.
Punting: Aaron Perez, 62 punts,
42.6 avg.
Kicking: None
Tackles: Chris Horton, 95 tot.,
64 solo
Sacks: Bruce Davis, 12.5 sacks
Interceptions: Trey Brown,
4 for 38 yds.
Kickoff returns: Jeremy McGee,
11 ret., 18.5 avg., 0 TD
Punt returns: Terrence Austin,
8 ret., 13.8 avg., 0 TD
|
|
|
RB
Chris Markey |
|
|
|
UCLA |
|
|
OFFENSE
- 10 |
----RETURNING
STARTERS---- |
DEFENSE
- 10 |
|
KEY
LOSSES |
OFFENSE:
Junior Taylor-WR, Matt Willis-WR, Andrew
Baumgartner-WR, Robert Chai-C, Justin
Medlock-K |
DEFENSE:
Justin
Hickman-DE, Eric McNeal-WLB |
|
|
2007
OFFENSE |
In
hiring new coordinator Jay Norvell away
from Nebraska, head coach Karl Dorrell finally
has a guy who can wring every last ounce
of potential from this extremely talented
bunch. Also the QB coach, Norvell has his
work cut out – Ben Olson, who went
down against Arizona with a knee injury
and never took another snap after new starter
Pat Cowan showed his wares, is back and
ready to reclaim his old job. Both are 6’5
and juniors, but Olsen is more of a pure
passer while Cowan, an ex-hurdler (110m),
averages about four yards per carry (sans
sacks) to expand what the position can threaten
to do. Though Cowan was at the helm in the
huge win over USC, he was also responsible
for a four-game skid, with a few of those
losses against seemingly lesser teams (Oregon,
Washington State). We expect Olsen to be
behind center come September, but Cowan
will see the field on game day, especially
in the red zone. (ala Florida’s Tim
Tebow?) Senior RB Chris Markey and classmate
Michael Pitre at fullback are both viable
options in the flat – Markey led the
Bruins not only in rushing but in catches,
too. Markey and Khalil Bell, a junior, will
have to fend off some rather qualified backups,
including Raymond Carter, this year’s
No.3 all-purpose RB recruit (rivals.com).
The receivers should bounce back fine, but
a few new role players will have to be found.
Well, both starters are already proven deep
threats, so it is the underneath that guys
like Gavin Ketchum (6’4), Long Beach-native
Terrance Austin and New Orleans’s
Jeremy McGee can find the most work. Newbie
Nate Chandler, this year’s No.5 TE
prospect, will push juniors Logan Paulsen
and Ryan Moya, but there is likely room
for all three to thrive in Dorrell’s
system that favors soft-handed TEs. The
line has three senior starters returning
– only junior Aaron Meyer at center
reflects new first-string blood. Soph Aleksey
Lanis soared at left tackle as a hungry
RS frosh, so expect whichever QB to have
a few extra seconds of blindside protection
as he improves even more. Norvell will have
these guys humming right away, and consistency
is their main goal for improvements (more
wins) to be seen.
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OG
Shannon Tevaga
|
|
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UCLA
2007 DEPTH CHART
Returning Starters/Key
Players |
OFFENSE |
QB |
Pat
Cowan-Jr (6-5, 218) |
Ben
Olson-Jr (6-5, 227) |
FB |
Michael
Pitre-Sr (6-0, 244) |
Trevor
Theriot-So (6-0, 226) |
TB |
Chris
Markey-Sr (5-11, 204) |
Derrick
Williams-Sr (5-10, 211)
Kahlil Bell-Jr (6-0, 205) |
WR |
Marcus
Everett-Sr (6-1, 196) |
Gavin
Ketchum-Jr (6-4, 201) |
WR |
Brandon
Breazell-Sr (6-0, 156) |
Joe
Cowan-Sr (6-4, 220) |
TE |
Logan
Paulsen-Jr (6-5, 247) |
Ryan
Moya-Jr (6-2, 234) |
OT |
Micah
Kia-So (6-5, 295) |
Tony
Lee-Jr (6-4, 281) |
OG |
Noah
Sutherland-Sr (6-5, 299) |
P.J.
Irvin-Sr (6-5, 305) |
C |
Chris
Joseph-Sr (6-5, 295) |
Aaron
Meyer-Jr (6-2, 288) |
OG |
Shannon
Tevaga-Sr (6-3, 316) |
Nick
Ekbatani-Jr (6-4, 285) |
OT |
Aleksey
Lanis-So (6-6, 316) |
Brian
Abraham-Sr (6-6, 315) |
K |
Kai
Forbath-Fr (6-0, 193) |
Jimmy
Rotstein-So (6-0, 171) |
|
|
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2007
DEFENSE |
Like
the offense, returning 10 of 11 starters
will mean a better overall seasoned unit
and a better defensive result. It definitely
starts up front for the conference leader
in both tackles for loss and run defense
(second in Pac-10 sacks meant sixth in the
nation). Losing a force like Hickman will
surely have some impact, but not too much
with three seniors who are no slouches themselves
returning to start. End Bruce Davis is sure
to dot a few All-American lists, and insiders
Brigham Harwell and Kevin Brown have surprising
quickness as they play like bulked up ends.
Similarly, the Bruin linebacking corps plays
like a group of bulked up safeties. This
fact has to equal even better underneath
coverage if the defense is to improve overall,
and with the line able to be leaned upon,
this is a must. Seniors Christian Taylor
(MLB) and Aaron Whittington (SLB) are important
to the run stopping efforts, but better
recovery in play-action situations has to
consistently be part of their repertoire.
Senior corners Rodney Van and Trey Brown
are able to be left alone on the outside,
and Freshman All-American (Rivals.com) nickel
back Al Verner finished fourth on the team
in tackles to prove how well his gritty
style of play works. Strong safety Chris
Horton is all-conference material, and fellow
senior Dennis Keyes joins him to form a
capable deep middle. Returning essentially
whole, this defense allowed foes to convert
only 28% of their third-down tries. But
every time opponents went over 20 points
in ‘06, UCLA lost, so consistency
is paramount. Only improvements to their
already decent passing defense need to be
seen for UCLA to have the kind of defense
that can win a conference title (now that
USC can be stopped).
|
|
DE
Bruce Davis
|
|
|
UCLA
2007 DEPTH CHART
Returning Starters/Key
Players |
DEFENSE |
DE |
Nikola
Dragovic-Sr (6-3, 256) |
Tom
Blake-Jr (6-4, 275) |
DT |
Brigham
Harwell-Sr (6-2, 286) |
Jess
Ward-So (6-3, 294) |
DT |
Kevin
Brown-Sr (6-2, 293) |
Chase
Moline-Jr (6-2, 280) |
DE |
Bruce
Davis-Sr (6-3, 237) |
Kenneth
Lombard-Jr (6-1, 261) |
SLB |
Aaron
Whittington-Sr (6-2, 215) |
John
Hale-Jr (6-4, 226) |
MLB |
Christian
Taylor-Sr (6-0, 222) |
Kyle
Bosworth-Jr (6-1, 225) |
WLB |
Reggie
Carter-So (6-1, 218) |
Shawn
Oatis-So (6-0, 220) |
CB |
Trey
Brown-Sr (5-9, 185) |
Michael
Norris-Jr (5-10, 176) |
CB |
Rodney
Van-Sr (5-11, 170) |
Alterraun
Verner-So (5-10, 170) |
SS |
Chris
Horton-Sr (6-1, 210) |
Bret
Lockett-Jr (6-2, 206) |
FS |
Dennis
Keyes-Sr (6-2, 194) |
Aaron
Ware-So (6-0, 192) |
P |
Aaron
Perez-Jr (6-4, 219) |
.. |
|
|
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2007
SPECIAL TEAMS |
Punter
Aaron Perez gets both hang time and distance,
so net efforts need to improve. USA Today first-team
All-American (prep) Kai Forbath looks like the
shizz as the new Bruin placekicker, and he will
have to be to replace Groza finalist and I-A’s
best Justin Medlock. Emerging receiver Terrence
Austin is a burner as the punt returner, and third-string
TB Derrick Williams proves a field-position advantage
on kick returns with his 25+ per try.
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