Moline has full role again

Chane Moline knows what he's going to be doing each day, a comforting change.

Moline has spent his UCLA football career doing a little bit of this and a little bit of that. Now he has a defined role: fullback.

Moline will play his fourth consecutive game at fullback when the Bruins face Stanford today at the Rose Bowl.

"It's nice," said Moline, a junior. "I get to start games now. I was never really a starter, except when guys were injured. I was always wondering when I would get in and when I would play. Now I know. When they call for the base offense, I'm in."

Moline took over at fullback after Trevor Theriot suffered a season-ending knee injury during practice before the Fresno State game. Moline adds another element to the offense. He has seven receptions for 73 yards from the position, including a 20-yard touchdown reception against Fresno State on Sept. 27.

"Trevor was doing some of the same things, but Chane has brought tailback skills to fullback," running backs coach Wayne Moses said. "We seem to have gravitated more toward the fullback spot."

Moline had gravitated away from it. He came to UCLA as a fullback but was moved to tailback for short-yardage situations. He rushed for only 101 yards but scored five touchdowns as a freshman in 2006.

Last season, injuries to Chris Markey and Kahlil Bell left Moline starting at tailback against Arizona. He gained 62 yards in 15 carries and finished with 196 yards for the season.

"I came here to play fullback and slowly moved away from it," Moline said. "When the new coaching staff came in, I became a hybrid, where I needed to know both positions."

An injury to Bell this season had Moline back in the lineup as tailback after the season opener against Tennessee. He and the rest of the Bruins struggled against Brigham Young, but Moline gained 72 yards the next week.

Then came Theriot's injury.

"I like being in a three-point stance, it gives you better knowledge of the whole offensive scheme," Moline said. "I like getting in there and hitting people now and then."

Moline needs to do a little more of that, Moses said.

"I think he probably needs to have a little better technique in finishing his blocks," Moses said. "He's getting on guys good, he's just not finishing. He needs to try to be more physical. But he's eager and willing."

Ahead of pace

UCLA Coach Rick Neuheisel was hardly surprised by the rapid recovery of wide receiver Terrence Austin, who is expected to play today.