Bruins have a long line of inexperience

Aleksey Lanis retired because of chronic knee problems. Sean Sheller was lost for the season after an ATV accident. Donovan Carter, a community college transfer expected to compete for the starting job, was unable to achieve admission requirements.

Call it the Bermuda Tackle.

"It's been weird," said Nick Ekbatani, who is currently the projected starter at that spot, "but put me on the chart. I'm not worried."

If only Bruins fans -- and quarterbacks -- could say the same.

The question mark looming over the UCLA offensive line starts at Ekbatani's tackle spot and reads right to left. The only returning players with experience are center Micah Reed, a walk-on two seasons ago, and tackle Micah Kia, who lost his starting job eight games into the 2007 season.

Still, this is not some mystic occurrence, beyond the control of the new Bruins' coaching staff. This is recruiting science, also beyond the control of the new Bruins' coaching staff.

UCLA, which produced Randy Cross, Dave Dalby and Max Montoya, has not had an offensive lineman drafted by the NFL since Kris Farris in 1999. The cupboard was particularly bare after last season, a big reason why offensive line coach Bob Palcic was brought in by first-year Coach Rick Neuheisel.

"I can't say I have ever had a challenge like this before," said Palcic, who was the Bruins' offensive line coach during the 1993 season. "It's the most inexperienced offensive line that I have ever been associated with, but they're good kids. They're willing to work, but at this point we have a long, long way to go."

Palcic arrived with an impressive resume, coming off a two-year stint at Wisconsin, where he coached Joe Thomas, who won the Outland Trophy as college football's top lineman.

At UCLA, he was given charge of a crew that has more outcasts than Outlands. And more converts than an old Billy Graham revival.

Guard Scott Glicksberg is a converted tight end. Guard Darius Savage is a converted defensive tackle. Nate Chandler, a backup tackle, is a converted tight end.

It's a night-and-day difference from the last UCLA line Palcic was handed. Craig Novitsky and Vaughn Parker were both All-Americans in 1993. The group also included Jonathan Ogden, the 1995 Outland Trophy winner, and Mike Flanagan.