Buster Sports

This post is part of the series 2009 Football Countdown

College football can be a crazy business. Somebody please explain how a coach like Karl Dorrell is run off campus despite leading his team to a bowl game in each of his five seasons, while his successor turns in a 4-8 year and folks remain upbeat and positive?

To say that Ricky Neuheisel’s coming-out party was a dud is a bit of an understatement. After all, none of the four wins came against winning teams. Of the eight losses, only two were by single digits. Yet for some reason, Bruins fans think they’re on the cusp of witnessing greatness.

Offense: It’s one thing for a school to be down to its third-string quarterback over the rigors of the season, but UCLA began its year with number three at the helm. Kevin Craft did manage seven scores to go with seven picks in his first seven games under center. Then came the heat of the schedule, and he wound up tossing 13 interceptions without a score in the final five. Craft returns, but he’ll start the year behind freshman Kevin Prince, who really didn’t look all that good in spring. Injuries to the receiving corps mean there is a good deal of experience from which to draw, but the main threat is tight end Ryan Moya. Four starters return to the line, but providing protection last year was a pipe dream at best. Still, three of the four were freshmen last year and should be vastly improved with a year under their belts.

Defense: With the offense struggling, it was up to the defense to offer up the success. As its record indicates, UCLA’s defense stepped up against teams that lacked firepower, but quickly wilted against the better offensive machines. Now the hope rests with seven returning starters to keep the improvements coming. One major change is that Chuck Bullough is the new coordinator after DeWayne Walker left to take over the New Mexico State program. There is experience along the front line in the form of tackle Brian Price and end Korey Bosworth, who combined for 12 sacks last year. However, it’s time for the beefy linebackers to step up and start hitting. UCLA did field a decent secondary despite the lack of heat up front. However, it will be up to redshirt freshman Aaron Hester to fill a void at cornerback. 

Overall: Kai Forbath is among the best kickers in the nation, but the punter will be new. Terrance is a dependable return man for both punts and kickoffs. While quite a bit of potential returns to see solid improvement, the fact that the Bruins struggled so much against the upper tier of the Pac-10 should lend caution to expanding expectations. Yes, Neuheisel has a stellar staff to which to turn in developing that potential, but at some point the talent has to finally emerge from the shadows.

OUTLOOK: This year’s slate for UCLA provides an awesome opportunity for a quick turnaround right off the bat. The Bruins begin their year by sandwiching a trip to Tennessee around home games against San Diego State and Kansas State. After that the Bruins get a bye week before jumping into league play with a short jaunt up the coast to Stanford. UCLA began its season in a 1-3 hole last year. But 2009 looks much better, and that should allow Mr. Neuheisel to take his team bowling.

Brad Dopke is the national football writer for Buster Sports and can be reached at bdopke@bustersports.com.

Football, Headline, Pac-10, UCLA