The Early Words #3: UCLA Sidebar
By Jon Gold
Staff Writer
Picking a standout defensive player from UCLA's 43-7 win at Washington State on Saturday proved to be a tough task for senior linebacker Kyle Bosworth.
On the one hand, there was Akeem Ayers.
The sophomore linebacker had an interception on the third play of the game and added another pick less than five minutes later off Cougar quarterback Marshall Lobbestael. He also had two sacks and was generally disruptive of both facets of the Cougar offense.
Perhaps not more disruptive than Brian Price, though.
The mammoth junior defensive tackle was in the Washington State backfield almost more than Lobbestael, who was pulled after Ayers' second interception, with just more than 10 minutes left in the first half. Price had three tackles for loss, giving him a Pac-10 leading 16.5 for the season, to go along with 5.0 sacks.
It's quite the quandary for Bosworth.
"BP has always had his name out on the leader board, but with Akeem, it's really good to see him kind of shine today," Bosworth said. "Two picks is huge for anybody, and it's good to see him with those two sacks. I'm happier for him, but BP did great - I know he'll be in the league one these days, and this is one of the games that's going to help him do that."
If Ayers keeps playing like he did against Washington State, he has a bright future ahead, as well.
Ayers alternated between patient and aggressive better than he has all season, and at a new position, to boot.
For the first time this year, UCLA defensive coordinator Chuck Bullough lined Ayers on the defensive line in a three-point stance, allowing Ayers to burst off the ball at the point of contact. He said both of his sacks were from the formation.
That is sure to catch the eye of those in the NFL, as well, as hybrid pass-rushers - those who can play both in coverage and on the line of scrimmage - have become en vogue in 3-4 defenses.
"It wasn't anything really new to me," said Ayers, who played his sophomore and junior seasons in high school at defensive end. "I'm used to being in a three-point and getting a pass rush. I definitely can see myself doing something like that - I'm athletic enough to stand up and drop into coverage, but I'm also able to rush the passer."
With Price and Ayers leading the way, the Bruins harassed the Cougars throughout the game.
In its best defensive performance of the season, UCLA held Washington State to just 181 yards of total offense - 66 in the first half - and seven points, both season lows.
Granted, the Cougars rank near the bottom of the country in almost every offensive category, but that still didn't make them mince their words.
"Washington State hasn't won a game in conference, but they made a statement that if they were going to win a game, it was going to be against UCLA," Bosworth said. "We took that to heart. It was like an insult to our face."
Why spoil a good thing?! Let's share the honors between Akeem, BP, and Chane "The Train" Moline!!! All three played up to their talents!