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Defensive end Bruce Davis has been an impact player for the Bruins this year, ranking second to J

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Junior Christian Taylor has been a driving force behind the defense this year. Taylor has had an

Coming into this season, it was unknown which players would step up to lead the Bruins. On offense, the Bruins lost quarterback Drew Olson, tight end Marcedes Lewis and running back Maurice Drew. On defense, UCLA lost strong safety Jarrad Page, and linebackers Justin London and Spencer Havner.

Last year’s Bruins went 10-2, making them a hard class to follow, especially on offense. Last year was essentially the pinnacle of the Bruins’ offense as they racked up more yards per game than at any point during coach Karl Dorrell’s tenure at UCLA.

Although they struggled tremendously in their two losses against Arizona and USC, in which the Bruins scored 14 and 19 points respectively, the UCLA offensive players left a stamp on the program that would be hard for any players coming after to follow.

The defense, on the other hand, was woeful last year. They played a weak Cover 2 scheme that seemed to allow opposing offenses to rack up yardage at will. They struggled with tackling and put very little pressure on quarterbacks.

Led by defensive coordinator Larry Kerr, the Bruins’ defense was essentially a unit designed to eat up time so the offense could get rested before its next touchdown drive.

Oh, how the times have changed.

This year, the impact players are on the defensive side of the ball. Led by star defensive ends Bruce Davis and Justin Hickman, the UCLA defense has become known as one of the premiere pass-rushing defenses in college football.

New defensive coordinator DeWayne Walker has instilled an aggressive, blitzing style that has appeared to agree with his undersized players.

The leader of the defense, Christian Taylor, has benefited from the new system. Last year, it seemed as if the linebackers were constantly in situations where they had to shed offensive linemen in order to sack the quarterback or make a play on the running back.

This year, the linebackers have been much more free to roam as the defensive line has improved tremendously. Taylor, and his fellow linebackers Aaron Whittington and freshman All-American Reggie Carter, have taken advantage of the opportunities granted by the improved defensive line. The Bruins’ front seven have made this an intimidating run defense that now ranks first in the Pac-10.

In the secondary, second-team freshman All-American Alterraun Verner has been the shining light. In the first game of his career against Utah, Verner returned an interception for a touchdown and went on to do it again later in the year. At times this year, he has appeared to be either the second or third-best defensive back on the team, a remarkable feat for a true freshman.

When cornerback Rodney Van was struggling in the middle of the season, there was talk that Verner would take his starting spot. That did not happen, but Verner, Van and Trey Brown have formed much more of a platoon than anyone could have expected.

On the offensive side of the ball, the Bruins have lacked a true impact player, which has proved costly at times. They lack the big playmaking threat of Maurice Drew or Marcedes Lewis, and instead are stocked with solid, but not spectacular, players. The Bruins are lucky, then, that they have a defense that has emerged to be as strong as it is.

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