SEATTLE – UCLA may be 2-2 coming into Saturday’s contest against Washington and it may be under criticism for a stagnant offense.
But no one doubts the quality of the Bruins’ defensive front seven.
UCLA leads the Pacific-10 Conference in total defense and is 14th in the nation. It also ranks 24th in the nation in rushing defense.
That’s primarily because of a quick, athletic, confident set of linemen and linebackers who largely have been together for three seasons.
“I think their front seven is as good as Ohio State’s front seven,” UW coach Keith Gilbertson said. “We know them, not only from trying to recruit them, but also from coaching against them for years and years.”
The heart of the defense is tackle Rodney Leisle, named a preseason All-American second-teamer in 2002 before he broke his foot and missed five games. He’s bounced back nicely as a candidate for the Lombardi Award. Against Illinois, he made a career-high nine tackles, seven unassisted.
Leisle, however, will sit out the first half against Washington because of a suspension stemming from last week, when he punched a San Diego State player.
“I was hoping he would have punched the guy twice,” Gilbertson said. “He really dominated us, as did their whole defensive front, when we were down there in Los Angeles (in 2001, a 35-13 Bruin victory).”
Linebackers Brandon Chillar and Spencer Havner both are on the Butkus Award lists as the nation’s best at that position.
Chillar, a three-year starter, recorded a then-career-high 13 tackles, six unassisted, against Colorado. He also had one sack on a fake punt attempt, recovered a fumble and blocked a PAT attempt against the Buffaloes.
He followed that up with 13 tackles (eight solo) and an interception against Illinois.
Moved inside this season from his outside linebacker spot, Chillar had 14 tackles against Oklahoma.
“He makes about 10 more plays a game now, a lot more tackles per game,” Gilbertson said.
Havner, a redshirt sophomore, started all 13 games last year as a freshman. Washington fans remember his best as one who picked off a pass by UW quarterback Cody Pickett and ran it in for a touchdown last season.
The quality of the front seven has showed up even through the coaching change. When head coach Bob Toledo and his staff was fired, defensive coordinator Phil Snow caught on with Washington. Now, under new defensive coordinator Larry Kerr, the Bruins haven’t missed a beat.
“Larry Kerr is one of the top defensive people in the country,” Gilbertson said. “He’s shut people down at Colorado State for years and years.”
Garcia out: Offensive lineman Juan Garcia lost his waiver and has been declared ineligible by the NCAA Clearinghouse.
Garcia, formerly a true freshman from Yakima, appealed to the Clearinghouse, believing that four core classes he took at Eisenhower High School would be allowable under NCAA guidelines for students who speak English as a second language.
He had obtained a waiver from the Clearinghouse two weeks ago so that he could practice with the team. Now, Garcia must take four core classes at Eisenhower through the school year. Then, Gilbertson said, the hope is that he will re-sign his letter of intent and re-enroll at Washington next year.
“I’m sad about it,” Gilbertson said. “He’s a wonderful kid. My job is to give people hope and chances. I really just want to go to graduation with him.”
Toledo to sit: UW tight end Joe Toledo will miss the UCLA game because of continued back pain from a bulging disc. Toledo has missed the last two games with the malady.
His replacement, Ben Bandel, should play, but is nursing a neck stinger.
Olson to start: Although Matt Moore appears to be mostly recovered from a knee injury he suffered at Colorado Sept. 6, UCLA coach Karl Dorrell said Drew Olson would likely start at quarterback against the Huskies.
Olson has been less than impressive in adapting to Dorrell’s West Coast offense, with four TD passes and three interceptions while completing just 51.7 percent of his passes. However, he did have an encouraging game against San Diego State completing 18 of 28 passes for 258 yards and two TDs, although he did lose three fumbles.
Because Moore won the starting job in camp and Dorrell stated that injury shouldn’t knock a starter out of his position, it was thought that Moore may jump in and start against the Huskies.
“Matt has been cleared to practice, but he won’t take a snap until (Tuesday), so I don’t know how far away he is, from a game-speed standpoint,” Dorrell said. “Once he’s close to 100 percent, he will be weaned into the game.”
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