UCLA football: Coleman runs on and on

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Christian Ramirez was injured. Johnathan Franklin stepped in. Milton Know gets steadier. Damien Thigpen wows coaches with speed. The UCLA tailback position seems to have a lot of names and more than a few questions. The one constant has been a slimmer, quicker Derrick Coleman.

Coleman, a 6-foot, 235-pound sophomore, is the one tailback on the team who has game experience. He was the Bruins’ No. 2 tailback a year ago, finishing with 284 yards rushing. More impressive was that he averaged 5.4 yards per carry. The Bruins averaged 2.6 yards per carry as a team.

So while Franklin is getting more and more time, and Knox picks up his game, Coleman remains a commodity that UCLA coaches can rely on.

“He’s a steady back,” running back coach Wayne Moses said. “I’m pleased with all those guys.”

Coleman came to camp having redistributed his weight. He was faster, sprinting through holes instead of plowing through them. That he had actual holes to run through helps, but having a year’s experience has helped.

“I’m kind of the one who knows how the tempo goes in games,” Coleman said. “Practice and game are two different speeds. We got to get them to the same level.”

Coach Rick Neuheisel season plan to “run the ball or die trying” will involve a host of runners. Ramirez, who came to camp at the top of the depth chart, is doubtful for the Sept. 5 opener against San Diego State. Franklin, Coleman and Know will get the work, though Neuheisel said that quick Thigpen has “too much lightning in his bottle not to use him.”

How the tailback committee will be used is in Moses’ hands.

“I think Wayne has a great feel for that,” offensive coordinator Norm Chow said. “Whoever is hot will get carries, or if a situation dictates, one back might get the carries.”

In other practice notes:

--Starting guard Stanley Hasiak sat out drills with a sore shoulder. He is expected to be back on Thursday. Jeff Baca, the starting left tackle, and Brandon Bennett alternated at right guard with the first team. Mike Harris played Baca’s tackle spot.

--Fullback Chane Moline sat out practice with a hip flexor. Freshman Jayson Allmond and former walk-on Trevor Theriot filled Moline’s spot when the bruins actually used a fullback.

--UCLA worked on its two-minute drills at the end of practice Wednesday, though initial results were hardly desirable. On the first play for first team, quarterback Kevin Prince had a pass deflected, intercepted and returned for a touchdown. On the first play for the second team, quarterback Kevin Craft had his pass intercepted and returned for a touchdown.

--Korey and Kyle Bosworth are expected to return to practice on Sunday. The two went to Oklahoma to see their ailing grandfather, who died this week.

--Wide receiver Gavin Ketchum reinjured his hamstring during practice and was held out of drills. He is day-to-day.

--Chris Foster