Tuesday practice report: "Tuesdays are usually the hardest day"

UCLA head football Coach Karl Dorrell spent most of Tuesday’s practice working with the offense, but was pleased with progress on both sides of the ball.

"It was a good Tuesday," he said at the close of practice. "We got a chance to put together a great game plan and get ourselves playing much improved football by the weekend.

"Tuesdays are usually the hardest day, because that’s when you’re getting most of the information on the game plan and it seemed like these guys did a nice job of attacking the information and trying to get it to be perfected on the very first rep instead of the third or fourth rep. I was really encouraged with everyone’s focus."

On quarterback Patrick Cowan, Dorrell was pleased to see him in full pads for the entire day: "He’s doing pretty good. He’s still a little sore, but he was able to practice today. He’s getting into better shape. He’s moving his feet better and I think he’s getting healthier. It’s really helpful for any player to practice during the week in preparation for a game and then play on Saturday or Sunday, even at the highest level. I’ve coached some really good players that when they didn’t practice and then played on Sunday, they weren’t quite the same. When you’re practicing well and when you’re able to go out and work on your timing and preparation, it allows you to transfer much easier to the game. It’s important that he practice today and tomorrow and Thursday and be really sharp to be ready to go on Saturday."

The Bruin head coach also was pleasantly surprised by receiver Brandon Breazell. "I didn’t think he’d be able to do much running at all today and he did some routes with me early on with the receivers. I was encouraged, more so today than what I was expecting for him to do." Dorrell believes, at this point, that Breazell will be able to play Saturday.

Asked about Arizona, Dorrell noted that their passing offense has improved significantly during the season. "They have Willie [Tuitama] primarily in the gun in most of their sets," he said. "And they spread you out." As the Wildcats haven’t had significant injuries during the season, Dorrell felt the continuity in their personnel has allowed them to play at a higher level now than in earlier games. "They have a talented group, so we have to make sure defensively that we’re doing what’s necessary for them to earn everything that they attempt to get."

The Bruins will practice in full pads tomorrow and begin tapering off Thursday. The team will fly to Tucson on Friday.