Lanis leaves UCLA team because of knee soreness
UCLA FOOTBALL REPORT
Junior tackle's departure exacerbates an already worrisome situation with Bruins' inexperienced offensive line.
The difficult task that UCLA faces in building an offensive line got a little harder Monday, after tackle Aleksey Lanis left the team because of continuing soreness in his left knee.
The Bruins' inexperienced line has been the main concern in spring practice. The loss leaves tackle Micah Kia and center Micah Reed as the only linemen who played last season.
The first unit includes Scott Glicksberg, a converted tight end, and Darius Savage, a converted defensive tackle. Losing Lanis leaves Sean Sheller, a sophomore, as the other starting tackle.
"It takes time, it takes patience and it takes the consistent, repetition of technique" to build a line, Bruins offensive line coach Bob Palcic said. "I think it's getting better every day. I think they did a commendable job in the first scrimmage."
The first offensive unit, with Patrick Cowan at quarterback, moved the ball effectively in Saturday's scrimmage. The first offensive line allowed only one sack.
But Coach Rick Neuheisel said that depth is the main concern.
"The first offensive line graded out OK, but the second offensive line still has a long way to go," Neuheisel said. "We've really got to do a lot of work in the last seven days of [spring] practice to make sure our offensive line can be productive."
More time seems to be needed to create the line depth Neuheisel desires. That chore increased when Lanis met with him Monday morning.
Lanis started six games last season and 12 in 2006 before suffering a fractured bone in his left forearm. He also underwent surgery on his left knee this past off-season.
"Two surgeries on his knee has gotten too burdensome," Neuheisel said. "That's a hit to us. But we wish him well."
Lanis had participated little during spring practice. That had provided an opportunity for Sheller, who did not play in a game last season.
Still, even with Lanis in the picture, the 6-foot-5, 282-pound Sheller intends to win the job.
"I looked at that spot as my spot," said Sheller, who played at Walnut High. "Nobody was going to take it from me after spring. I wanted this spot for two years now. Now my youth is gone, so it's time step up."
As a high school senior, Sheller was ranked 18th among tackles nationally by Rivals.com. His progress was slowed by a knee injury his freshman year at UCLA.
