EDWARD LIN/Daily Bruin Senior Staff UCLA wide receiver
Brian Poli-Dixon was injured in Sunday’s game
against Washington at the Rose Bowl.
By Hannah Gordon
Daily Bruin Reporter
One team is undefeated, the other winless. Yet the Bruins still
have worries in facing Cal this weekend.
The biggest position concern is at wide receiver.”The
Birds,” as the receiving corps calls itself, will have to fly
to the ball without top-flight receiver Brian Poli-Dixon.
“It’s a loss. Brian is a proven big
playmaker,” wide receivers coach Ron Caragher said of
Poli-Dixon, who will be out with a dislocated shoulder for two to
three weeks. “That said, this gives an opportunity to other
players, Ryan Smith in particular.”
Smith will have his first career start against Cal. He showed
promise in the Ohio State game two weeks ago with 49 receiving
yards. Redshirt freshman Craig Bragg will play as well. He has
51 receiving yards on the year and rushed for a touchdown against
Kansas. Other players who may get play time are sophomore Garret
Lepisto, who moved back to wide receiver from defensive back,
sophomore Terry Bowman and senior Devon Reese.
“We’re kind of slim right now, but we have to show
that we have depth,” sophomore Tab Perry said.
Although UCLA has been largely depending on the run this season,
passing to young receivers may be a weakness in the offense.
“Receiver depth is a real concern,” said head coach
Bob Toledo, who is contemplating the use of different formations to
showcase the talent available at other positions, especially at
tight end.
The receiving corps will be anchored by Perry, who has started
all season. He dropped two balls against Washington, which may
have added to Toledo’s concern. Such drops are rare for
Perry, who averages 65 yards per game on a team that has emphasized
the run over the pass. The drops may have been the result of his
concussion, suffered while playing in a game against Oregon
State.
“I don’t know if I should have played,” he
said. “My head hurt, and I couldn’t concentrate, but I
said I was fine because I can’t stand not playing.”
“The problem was timing,” Caragher said. “He
missed a week of practice. Timing is not something you can snap
right in and out of.”
Poli-Dixon had been having an outstanding day before dislocating
his shoulder at the beginning of the second half. In the first
half, he had 69 yards, including a 33-yard diving catch of an
overthrown ball that enabled the Bruins to score on their second
touchdown drive.
Just as Poli-Dixon was starting to find his rhythm, “The
Birds” must now find their own.
“The interesting part will be seeing how the new equation
works out,” Caragher said of the new team chemistry.
It’s time for the baby birds to spread their wings.