Sunday, August 18, 1996
Slim Bruin squad leaves newcomers ripe opportunityBy Rob Kariakin
Summer Bruin Contributor
The freshmen are coming! The freshmen are coming!
Like the British redcoats of Paul Revere's day, the incoming freshmen of the UCLA football team snuck in under the cover of darkness last Monday with visions of conquest dancing through their heads.
However, unlike the American colonists, the returning Bruins may not be able to fight these guys off. This year's crop enters the picture at a time when relatively few starting jobs are secured and a tough schedule could open the door for a youth movement.
The coach and the uniforms aren't the only things that have changed in the last eight months. Since last season, 11 starters have either graduated or jumped ship early for the riches of the NFL, perhaps leaving the door open for this year's incoming players to make an immediate difference.
The strength of last year's squad was an offense which ranked third overall and fourth in scoring in the Pacific 10. Of that unit, only four starters return: sophomore quarterback Cade McNown, junior split end Eric Scott, sophomore fullback Cheyane Caldwell, and junior right guard Chad Overhauser.
Last season's strongest link was the area hardest hit by the loss of graduating seniors. The offensive line, which had been a source of leadership and experience, now contains mostly question marks as only one starter is returning.
One possible answer is 6-foot-4-inch, 295-pound Oscar Cabrera. Rated the nation's No. 2 center prospect by the National Recruiting Adviser before his senior year in high school, Cabrera showed enough maturity during two days of freshman practice for coach Toledo to have already penciled him in as backup center and guard. With full practice now under way, he could break into the starting lineup any day.
Freshmen might also be needed to help keep the running game on its feet. Junior Skip Hicks led the team in rushing his freshman season, but a series of injuries have severely limited his playing time since.
After spending the summer rehabbing in Westwood, he must now compete with redshirt freshman Ryan Roques for the starting job. Should Hicks go down again, the freshman tailback trio of Keith Brown, Jermaine Lewis, and Durell Price will be needed sooner, rather than later.
The new guy most likely to have an immediate impact on offense appears to be tight end Gabe Crecion. Rated the No. 2 tight end in the West by Blue Chips Illustrated, Crecion clearly impressed the coaching staff during freshman practice, and will immediately challenge sophomore Mike Grieb for the starting spot.
"In the couple days that we had him work out, (Crecion) seemed to be able to run and catch the ball real well. We'll have to see how fast he's going to catch on to the offense and how well he can block, but he seemed to have some ability," Toledo said.
At first glance, the freshmen appear to have less chance of breaking through on defense.
"Defensively, we only have four seniors that, at this point, are starting on defense. We have about eight guys returning that were starters last year, so at least our defense has some experience on that side of the ball," Toledo said.
But is that really good news?
Last year the Bruins finished eighth in the Pac-10 in total defense and sixth in scoring defense, giving up an average of 22.6 points per game during the regular season and 51 against Kansas in the Aloha Bowl.
Maybe some new blood wouldn't be such a bad idea.
Sophomore transfer Brendon Ayanbadejo, the Coast Conference Player of the Year last season while at Cabrillo J.C., could be called upon to fill the void at linebacker created by Donnie Edwards' graduation and Abdul McCullough's move back to his natural strong safety position.
"(Ayanbadejo) ran very well, moved around extremely well. I think he'll hit some people. He was player of the year in the conference up there. We think he's got a chance (to start)," Toledo said.
Help on the worrisome defensive line may come in the form of Josh and Micah Webb, twin All-American linemen who passed up offers from two-time defending national champ Nebraska. Both may fight for starting spots right off the bat.
"They've got good size and they've got good genes. Their dad was a great player in the pros and I think that they might be able to help us," Toledo said, referring to the twins' father, Jimmy Webb, who's NFL career lasted six seasons for the 49ers and Chargers.
But will his sons, or any of the 16 other new Bruins, share similar success? Only time, and perhaps a lantern or two hanging in the North Church tower, will tell.
JUSTIN WARREN/Daily Bruin
Oscar Cabrerra will be expected to contribute on the offensive line for the Bruin football squad.