LOS ANGELES - Football practice opened for UCLA on Wednesday with a Jay-Z song, "Show Me What You Got," which opens with the line, "This is a state of emergency . . . "
The Bruins offensive line could take that to heart. The situation is such that Jess Ward, a defensive tackle who has been recovering from knee surgery, was cleared to practice Wednesday and immediately placed on the second unit at right guard.
Tackle Micah Kia was at practice but did not participate because of a broken left hand. Coach Rick Neuheisel said Kia would be ready for the opener against Tennessee on Sept. 1, but said, "How effectively he can play, we'll have to wait and see. Pain will be an issue, but more importantly, can he grab and use his hand?"
An MRI exam revealed freshman offensive lineman Jeff Baca has a "small" injury to his medial collateral ligament. He should be back in a couple of weeks, Neuheisel said.
Using Freshmen: A decision about which freshman might get the first chances for game time was a topic during coaches meetings Wednesday afternoon.
There doesn't seem many areas where freshmen are ruled out.
Asked where rookies might find positions, Neuheisel said, "Receiver, maybe running back, tight end, defensive end, defensive back, possibly linebacker."
That would leave out only quarterback and offensive line.
Rahim Moore is the only freshman with a job. He will start at strong safety against Tennessee while Bret Lockett serves a one-game suspension. And Moore will probably remain in the rotation after that.
At tailback, there is Kahlil Bell, provided he remains healthy - he is coming off knee surgery-- with Raymond Carter and Chane Moline behind him. But the Bruins could use two freshmen from the quartet of Andre Dean, Johnathan Franklin, Milton Knox and Derrick Coleman.
Coleman is out two to three weeks following arthroscopic surgery on his knee. Knox has been slowed in practice by minor injuries.
"There will be a couple freshmen who are going to have to come in and at this point we haven't quite decided which two it will be," running backs coach Wayne Moses said. "The injury situation itself could sort things out. We're ready to start work for Tennessee, and if you're hurt . . . ?"
Franklin, whose speed and cutting ability have been impressive, said, "As far as me competing, I feel I have done all I can. It's not just running with the ball, you have to get the blocking down and protect and catch passes. You have to show you're an all-around running back and not a limited one."
Meanwhile, other freshmen have been moving up the depth chart. Defensive end Datone Jones is getting time with the second team. Cory Harkey is getting more time at tight end.
Westgate Swings: Freshman Sean Westgate was given a quick look at safety early in camp, but has been moved back to linebacker, where he has started to catch some eyes.
Westgate, who is 5 feet 11, 205 pounds, has worked with the second team this week, and was used with the first team the last two days with starter Kyle Bosworth out with a minor ankle injury.
"He's a small linebacker, but he's smart and quick and fast and tough," defensive coordinator DeWayne Walker said
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Comments » 36
volnbig11land writes:
sorry, but I'm not buying into the "gloom and doom" everyone is trying to paint west.
Worry about our laundry Vols and let them warsh theirs.
Stay focused and go out there and erase the memories of the last time we ventured into pack 10 land.
vol88 writes:
i agree volnbig11...Watch for ambush!
T0MMYJACK writes:
As usual, this article paints UT into the corner of having to beat this UCLA team by 50 . Otherwise, the geniuses will be complaining that the Vols didn't perform well.
Oh ... and of course, if UT does beats UCLA, then the win won't be legit because of all of the Bruins' troubles.
There you go, guys. I just saved you the trouble of posting. You now have enough time for another fritter.
volboy81#211803 writes:
Lets hope Tennessee goes into the game with the attitude of KICK EM WHILE THEYRE DOWN! If we think we're going to waltz in and win because they have so many injuries, we'll get beat! Keep your game-faces on, Vols, and have a GO FOR THE KILL mindset!!
GO BIG ORANGE!
arkyvol writes:
i figure this is one of two scenarios. one, that the ucla team is genuinely decimated and sucking wind, or two, they've suffered some of the nicks and bruises and even some of the incapacitating injuries all d-1 teams suffer before the season gets under way and are overblowing them into what the military calls 'disinformation.' i go for number two.
scvolalum writes:
We're playing a pac 10 team in the Rose Bowl in a different time zone. They're the underdogs and will be hungry. Take nothing for granted and play like they're 'bama.
Go Vols!
BigOrangeWillie writes:
"Take nothing for granted and play like they're 'bama."
Not last year's Bama though. ;)
Couchdummy writes:
Has anyone seen a betting line and the over/under for the game?
TommyJack writes:
It's the Col. Custer strategy. We've got'em right where we want 'em.
No dupe here. UCLA has real problems. Chill the Red, PD.
MrBamSeydu writes:
No holding back. I don't care if they have so many injuries they start playing cheerleaders on the O-line. I want to beat them by 40 pts and send a message.
TommyJack writes:
Good point, YEMMUSDARB.
RockyTopVolFan writes:
I was there in 1994 when we got beat, I am hopeful for a different outcome this time. Be careful and do not take these people lightly, knock them down and place your foot on their necks, they will get back up and fight you and win if you don't go for the jugular. Do not pay any notice to all the injury and lack of depth gloom and doom... they have plenty of athletes!!!
volnbig11land writes:
agree yemmusdarb!
BigOrangeWillie writes:
"Carbon copy of last year."
SEC Championship game? I'll take it!
Ralph_Crampton writes:
Its an old saw among many coaches...Rick has always been a complainer...if you think you are going to have a cake walk...lookout. Bruins plan to run the Vols to exhaustion in the horrid heat. Chow, according to what little has leaked out, plans to tire Vol defense out in first half. UCLA will field fast determined team, with option running attack with quick hitters down the middle...Beware Vols.
tndrum#214683 writes:
I don't know; we've not been too good against back-up quarterbacks the last few years. That and the long trip always worry me, regardless of the team's perceived strength or weakness. I'll take a nice, solid win where we control the game, but I don't care about the final margin as it's a "W" and we look sharp doing it.
Ralph_Crampton writes:
The key to the winner of the Vol-UCLA game will be in my opinion will how the Vol defense performs. At the end of lasy year the Vol defense was not a solid defensive team. What worries me is the fact Kentucky scored 52 points and had moved the ball into Vol territory to win the game with 34 yard field goal. the field goal missed..but it just as easily could have been made. It looked for awhile like we were going to put Wisconsin away...but we won only with last minute pic...at the goal line...last play of the game. HOW do we know our defensive line is better this year.
BigOrangeWillie writes:
UK also did that with a QB who is currently on an NFL roster (at least for now). I think UCLA's current starting QB is only starting by default.
leedsvol2007 writes:
I agree that going in defense has got to be the key for us in winning this game.
With a new QB and offensive coordinator it may take a few games for a consistent offense to develop. In the interim the defense will have to play well.
Last year things were very unsettled on the defensive line and in the secondary. The loss of Jerrod Mayo doesn't help but otherwise we should be better at every defensive position on the field in terms of experience or athletic talent.
Going into the season I believe this team can end up being of championship caliber. I'm anxious to see us play.
As for UCLA we can't control their situation so we need to worry about ourselves.
GoVols!
THE_VOL writes:
This game is pretty much irrelevent. It will only determine if TN loses 5 or maybe 6 this year.
jasonn1970 writes:
The Vols should go into this one thinking shutout and hopefully getting the ball back quickly so the offense can get some work in for consistency down the road. If this is a close game it could be a very bad omen for the SEC schedule because UCLA is genuinely hurting.
BigMix writes:
The only way this game is close is if Coach Fulmer pulls back on the reigns. Like others have said, if we beat them by 50 they(the experts) will say we should have won by 50. If we win by 30 the experts will claim we have underlying problems that will be exposed in three weeks by the greatest player to never win more than 8 games. A shut-out would be the only way we get any credit for this win.
GoVol writes:
, can he grab and use his hand?"
Sounds like are teaching Kia to hold?
Coach N isn't faking or ambusing anyone. He's setting the stage with excuses knowing UCLA is going to get their tails kicked by us.
GO VOLS!
cjraney writes:
yemmus-
If UCLA puts their cheerleaders on the O-line I definitely say put 'em on their backs.
SFOrange writes:
Gameplans include talent evaluation and identification of strengths and weaknesses. So, pressure the 3rd team QB and pass downfield.
UT 38 UCLA 14
GatorHater326 writes:
it's all speculation until kick off regardless we're all in for one hell of a night
GatorHater326 writes:
listen to iam4ua: he knows how easily an unsuspecting team "Lousiana Monroe" can whoop that arse if you don't play to win. I hear you "ua" I hear you... and all of your other blow hard bama fans.
BigOrangeInCarolina writes:
Don't pay attention to anything the media says or anybody from the land of fruits and nuts says about UCLA being down or hurt or whatever. Go to the Rose Bowl and play Tennessee Volunteer football (i.e. the Cal game year before last), come back home, and prepare for the rest of the season. There are waaay too many potential distractions with this game, and the focus should be on exploiting UCLA's weaknesses, playing to our strengths, and laying the wood to UCLA to set the tone for the season. GIVE EM HELL, VOLS!!!!!
ULTIMATEVOLUNTEER writes:
Neuheisel will probably keep the playbook close to the vest (sweater vest that is)
Ralph_Crampton writes:
Some of you younger fellows do not pay attention to History of the Volunteers when they play on the West coast. In all the many yrs visted lala land they seem to be shell shocked once the game begins. I don't want to say they are scared....intimidated...mind on other things, or what. They have laid so many eggs in lala land...it is some thing that few if anyone could ever explain. Unlike other teams who play on the coast thru the years...they accept it as another game. Look at the Braves, Reds, Cardinals...I know they are pros...but they could care less if they are playing in lala land...care even less about Hollywood, which is a myth. They travel out there to win a game..they stay FOCUSED. I know you anti-bama folks don't want gto hear this...but Bama has been to lala land many times starting in the 20s and have dominated West coast teams in the Rose Bowl and the Coliseum..in fact the last time an SEC team played in a rose bowl game, the Tide whipped SO. California so thoroughly that the embarassed West coast writers suggested that Big 10 teams only should be invited., So started the Big-ten-Pac ten rose bowl tieup that endured over 50 years. ...Which effectively eleminated the SEC teams from playing in the Rose bowl since 1946. Maybe we ought to learn how to focus on games played out there from the Crimson Tide.
Ralph_Crampton writes:
Remember, The Vol-Bruin game..means that for this game that ALL SEC TEAMS ARE PULLING FOR TENNESSEE VICTORY. POUR IT ON THEM VOLS!!!!
Bigger_Al writes:
Gloom and doom... Poor mouthing... Big Time Setup... Trojan Horse...
We better be focused on playing our best.
magicbyswh#221420 writes:
Don't believe everything you read
Madkels writes:
Look guys...this team will remember the Cal game from last season and blow UCLA out. They will not drop an egg. Believe me...these kids are hungry and will shutup the naysayers. Book it! When all the hype is on UF and UGA, they will rise to the challenge. Go get'em VOLS!
Check out his story from foxsports.com
http://msn.foxsports.com/cfb/story/84...
arkyvol writes:
if the vols win, and i hope they do, i'd bet good money that every national commentator prefaces the score with, "but u.c.l.a. was playing with most of its starters out..." the vols never get a break from these guys.
DannyVol writes:
The UCLA defense is going to be strong and their offense is going to be pretty bad. With the 7 point spread, Vegas is indicating a low scoring game - something like 17-10. Probably also means they expect a UCLA special teams touchdown or for Crompton to give up a pick 6.
The hell with Vegas. That 7 point spread is Christmas on Labor Day for you bettin' folks. 30-10, Vols.
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