More practice stuff
There was competition for the strong safety spot, and at one point Bret Lockett caught the wrath of the coaching staff for missing a play. Glenn Love and Tony Dye each got looks there, but it is too early to make a call on how this will play out.
Also, Ben Olson was at practice and in pads, but did not do anything. As was stated a few weeks ago, UCLA coach Rick Neuheisel said the best-case scenario was for Olson to get back in the mix during the bye week, which comes Nov. 1.
Safeties can't make many mistakes and stay on the field because there's usually no one playing behind them. On the other hand, thd defensive stats for the first six games have Lockett 2nd on the team with 26 solo tackles (behind Verner's 29) and Lockett is 2nd in total tackles -- solos + assists -- with 42 (behind Carter's 46). Lockett missed the first game so his average number of tackles per game in both categories actually leads the team.