UCLA football: Bruins face Pacific 10 Conference have-nots
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If there was ever a time for UCLA Coach Rick Neuheisel to be relentlessly positive, it would be now.
The Bruins are coming off a feel-good moment in a 26-19 loss to Oregon State, where they overcame a 19-3 deficit to tie the score in the fourth quarter. UCLA now heads into the comfy section of its schedule, facing Washington, Washington State and Arizona State in consecutive weeks.
Those teams have a combined 4-11 record in Pacific 10 Conference play.
Still, Neuheisel sticks to the coaching quote manual heading into this stretch.
“The schedule is what the schedule is,” Neuheisel said at his weekly news conference. “I just know we will get a chance to play on Saturday and regardless of who is on the other sideline, we have to play our best.”
That team this week will be Washington.
The Huskies’ upset of USC is long ago. They have won only one of their last five games, and that came on a fluke play, when a pass bounced off of an Arizona player’s foot and was intercepted and returned for the game-winning touchdown.
Washington has allowed 30 or more points in six games this season. The Huskies, who are coming off a bye week, also have concerns at quarterback as Jake Locker is bothered by a bruised thigh. He is listed as questionable.
Washington State starts the week tied with UCLA for last in the conference. Arizona State is 2-3 in conference play, but the Sun Devils’ victories are against Washington and Washington State.
“I think focus just has to be on the team we’re playing,” Neuheisel said. “Hopefully we broke the lid off the offense in the fourth quarter against Oregon State and can come out playing like that for four quarters.”
Price is the issue
While freshman Sheldon Price is expected to develop into a quality cornerback, he is at the moment the target of opposing offensive coordinators. Oregon State went at Price often. Price gave significant cushion to receivers at times and, at 163 pounds, continues to struggle with physical aspects of the game.
“Until we stop them, we’re going to have to face the facts there,” Neuheisel said. “Sheldon’s going to have to continue to improve and we’ll have to try to create competition there.”
One option that may not be available to the Bruins is Aaron Hester, a starter when the season began. Hester, who missed six games after suffering a broken right leg in the season opener, reinjured the leg against Oregon State. X-rays were negative and Neuheisel said, “Hopefully he will be available.”
Neuheisel said “the guy who plays the best in practice” will play, but when asked what Price is doing that they are not seeing from backup Courtney Viney, Neuheisel said, “that’s a better question for [cornerbacks coach] Carnell Lake or [defensive coordinator] Chuck Bullough.”
But Neuheisel did toss in his two cents, saying, “We’re not down on Sheldon. … If he gives us the best chance to win, I know we’ll feel comfortable.”