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| | Sunday, September 3 Bruins seek to avoid injury bug | |||||
| By Ed Graney Special to ESPN.com Season notes: 1999 record: 4-7, 2-6. Coach: Bob Toledo. Starters returning:13 (6 offense, 7 defense). Outlook: Geoff Schaadt is the head trainer, a man UCLA hopes doesn't work as hard this season. The Bruins started 45 different players last season due mostly to injury. Prior to that, the most starters ever during a Toledo-run season was 31. A return to winning ways will depend largely on whoever emerges at quarterback playing well. Sophomores Ryan McCann and Cory Paus are the candidates, with the former entering camp No. 1. The offensive line returns -- "I'm not so sure if that's good or bad," Toledo said -- to open holes for a super player in junior running back DeShaun Foster. The high ankle sprain that limited him last year is now healed. Also returning is junior wide receiver and kick returner Freddie Mitchell and his 42 career catches. Defense, even when UCLA had 10-2 seasons in 1997 and '98, has remained a crutch. But the Bruins have found consistency in coordinator Bob Field, and Toledo is giddy about this side of the ball. The front has a future NFL pick in senior end Kenyon Coleman (6-6, 278) and two-year starter in tackle Ken Kocher (6-4, 311). The linebackers, led by junior Robert Thomas in the middle, all return. Keep an eye on: The secondary. Sophomore cornerback Ricky Manning (who gained freshman All-American status) is the only returning starter and likely won't see many balls thrown his way early. The Bruins need physical safeties to support the run and someone other than Manning (perhaps senior Jason Bell) to prove they can cover. It's a good season if: UCLA toughens itself in non-conference (Alabama, Fresno State, Michigan) and earns a postseason berth. The Bruins are slowly slipping into the middle of league standings, but still have enough individual talent to pull off seven wins and make one of the better mid-tier bowl games. Ed Graney covers college football for the San Diego Union Tribune. |
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