Saturday’s game was not a total reversal for the UCLA football team as the offense was about as bad as it has been all season, but it was certainly a defensive reversal. The Bruin defense, which had allowed less than 300 yards per game in its first five games this year, allowed a total of 515 to Washington State in the 37-15 loss. A defense which had made its name by pressuring the quarterback and not allowing big plays managed only three sacks and was burned by big passing plays a number of times. “It was definitely our worst performance as a defense,” linebacker Christian Taylor said. “Thirty-seven points, you think, ‘Man, they got their ass kicked.’ “(But) we really didn’t. Guys were in position to make plays and they just didn’t make the plays. They had 85 yards (after catch), which is unacceptable.” Cornerback Rodney Van was one of the main culprits among those who did not make plays. Van missed several tackles despite being in position to make them. Toward the end of the game, he was replaced by freshman Alterraun Verner, but coach Karl Dorrell stopped short of saying Van would be replaced to start this week against Cal. “Rodney played OK,” Dorrell said. “He covered well. He did not tackle as well as he is capable of. (A lot of the passes completed on him) were really low-percentage throws.” A main reason for the defense’s struggles could have been the fact that they were on the field for a vast majority of the game. The Bruin offense possessed the ball for just 23:01 of the game and for just over eight minutes in the second half. Those are not numbers that would usually mean anything good for a team’s chances of victory. “We were out there for about three-fourths of the time in the second, third and fourth quarter,” Taylor said. “It wears on your body. “Everybody’s tired by this time in the season; it’s game eight. We’ve played three consecutive physical, difficult games. It hurts a little bit more when you lose,” Taylor said. After looking at the tape of Saturday’s loss, the Bruins were struck by one thing: In a lot of ways, their coverage was good. They did not allow for easy plays to be made. In their eyes, Washington State made a lot of good plays and the Bruins simply did not make the necessary tackles. “I was particularly impressed with No. 83 (wide receiver Jason) Hill and their quarterback (Alex Brink),” Taylor said. “They made some great plays. Their guys were covered; it wasn’t like they were wide open. Their quarterback was putting the ball on the money,” Taylor said. Brink finished with 405 yards passing, by far the highest number allowed by the Bruin defense this season.

OFFENSE TAKING BLAME: The offense has itself taken some of the heat for the defense’s troubles in the Washington State game. “(Getting the defense off the field is) what we need to do,” wide receiver Junior Taylor said. “It’s not fair for us as an offense to expect our defense to be out there for 40 minutes a game. “We need to protect the ball and kill some clock. We need to put up more points to help them. Make the block, make the run, make the catch, keep the chains moving. I don’t know how many, but there were way too many three-and-outs.”

INJURY REPORT: Wide receiver Brandon Breazell (rib strain), linebacker Aaron Whittington (sprained ankle) and wide receiver Terrence Austin (strained hamstring) are all listed as day-to-day. Running back Kahlil Bell is likely out for this weekend with a sprained ankle. Quarterback Ben Olson, out with an MCL injury, will likely not play this weekend. “Ben’s progressing nicely,” Dorrell said. “He’s probably about 60 percent, not really full speed yet. Pat (Cowan) will be our starter, I believe, again,” Dorrell said.