UCLA buffs up on Stewart

Facing a Colorado offense that is coming off its best performance of the season - a 48-29 dismantling of struggling Arizona - the UCLA defensive strategy is simple.

Play keep-away from Rodney Stewart.

The Buffalo back had 24 carries for 181 yards and three touchdowns against the Wildcats, the last thing a Bruin defense that ranks 95th nationally against the rush wanted to see.

"When we look at opponent, I think the thing we try to do is always make them play left-handed," UCLA linebackers coach Clark Lea said. "We try to take away what they do best. That can focus around schematics at time, or more time than not it focuses around people."

The problem is, it works both ways, as UCLA discovered last Saturday in a 31-6 loss at Utah, a defeat that dropped them back to .500.

The Utes took away junior quarterback Kevin Prince's zone-read option in the Pistol offense, limiting him to just 10 yards on 12 carries, after he gained 224 rushing yards during the two previous weeks.

With the Bruins struggling in the run and Utah's deficit growing, Prince had to turn to the pass, and he did so with poor results, completing just 12-of-24 passes for 146 yards while throwing two interceptions, including one returned for a touchdown.

"You're passing game is going to suffer a little bit, but you just have to make sure when you do throw it, you're efficient," running game coordinator Jim Mastro said. "That when you're throwing it, you're hitting home runs."

Against a Colorado pass defense that ranks 10th in the conference in defense and 11th in pass defense efficiency, the Bruins will get their shot.

But with an offense that is capable of big plays behind quarterback Tyler Hansen and targets all over the field in Stewart and wide receivers Toney Clemons and Paul Richardson, the Buffaloes are going to swing away, too.

"One thing that's unique about this conference is just really good skill in general," Lea said. "Most weeks you can look on the opposing roster and see an elite receiver, an elite runner, an elite quarterback."

Last week, UCLA saw a heavy dose of Utah's John White IV, who gained more than 150 yards for the fifth time this season with his 167-yard performance against the Bruins.
Now Stewart brings his multi-faceted game to the Rose Bowl, as in just nine games, the senior has 1,528 all-purpose yards, ranking second in the Pac-12 in yards per game with 169.8. Among those in the top-10, Stewart is the only one with more than 700 yards rushing (742) and more than 500 receiving (525).

"It's over looked a lot; the Pac-12 is a quarterback league," Lea said. "But it really has been a running back league, full of really talented special guys. Not just talented, but you see a little bit of everything."

Even with 2-9 Colorado, which should bring a bit of swagger into the Rose Bowl after the big win over Arizona.

"It's that kind of conference, we've known that since we've been here," Neuheisel said. "There's no game you line up for in this conference that you can take lightly. If you do you're gonna get whacked."

For Colorado, there might be ulterior motives at play, even more incentive.

A win on Saturday would go a long way in boosting the Buffaloes' recruiting profile, though with the high level of talent in Southern California, Colorado certainly was mining for gold already. The Buffaloes have 29 players from the Golden State on their roster, but during Pac-12 media day, Embree said he wanted to make sure they got more.

"They were working in extensively in Los Angeles anyway," Neuheisel said. "You don't have to be in the Pac-12 to recruit in LA. Every team in the country is here and for good reason; there are lots and lots of talented youngsters here who are ready for that level."
UCLA has enough trouble with its local rival on the recruiting front.

A win over Colorado will help keep the borders somewhat closed.

A win in the Bruins' regular season finale against USC? That would work wonders.
Neuheisel is not worried his team is looking ahead toward USC, though.

Not with Senior Day on Saturday and bowl eligibility a win away and the conference championship still somehow within reach.

"None whatsoever," Neuheisel said when asked if he had any worries about his team's mindset. "We have a huge game this weekend and I think everybody knows it. I'd be shocked if anybody was looking past this particular weekend, not with what's at stake."