Ryan Moya

UCLA quarterback Kevin Prince suffered the right shoulder sprain that knocked him from the Bruins' 28-7 loss to USC on Saturday night at the Coliseum on the series before he had a second pass intercepted. "I was scrambling and I landed on my shoulder and felt it pop out a little bit," said Prince, who completed 10 of 22 passes for 90 yards. "I told [Coach Rick Neuheisel ] I could go and I felt like I could still go." Neuheisel relented and Prince came back out for the Bruins' next series.

UCLA quarterback Kevin Prince suffered the right shoulder sprain that knocked him from the Bruins' 28-7 loss to USC on Saturday night at the Coliseum on the series before he had a second pass intercepted. "I was scrambling and I landed on my shoulder and felt it pop out a little bit," said Prince, who completed 10 of 22 passes for 90 yards. "I told [Coach Rick Neuheisel ] I could go and I felt like I could still go." Neuheisel relented and Prince came back out for the Bruins' next series.

Kevin Prince , UCLA's quarterback, has a handle on what is expected of him: the world. "I'm adjusting to more criticism on a bigger stage, accepting the fact you can't please everybody," Prince said. "A big part of the game is mental, being able to move on and not worry about what people are saying." What UCLA fans are saying is that they hope Prince's second half last week was an evolution, not a hiccup. Prince threw for 323 yards in a 26-19 loss to Oregon State, 198 in the fourth quarter as he rallied the Bruins from a 16-point deficit to tie the score.

Kevin Prince , UCLA's quarterback, has a handle on what is expected of him: the world. "I'm adjusting to more criticism on a bigger stage, accepting the fact you can't please everybody," Prince said. "A big part of the game is mental, being able to move on and not worry about what people are saying." What UCLA fans are saying is that they hope Prince's second half last week was an evolution, not a hiccup. Prince threw for 323 yards in a 26-19 loss to Oregon State, 198 in the fourth quarter as he rallied the Bruins from a 16-point deficit to tie the score.

Glenn Love practiced yoga. Tony Dye decided to get physical. Both UCLA players are well aware of what they have needed to do to challenge for the strong safety position. This is the only spot on the defense that appears to be wide open, with the competition expected to go well into camp. Love, a redshirt sophomore, has had his time limited the first two seasons because of hip and shoulder surgeries. Dye, a true sophomore, spent last season as the team's nickel back.

The first issue about UCLA's paper-thin depth has been presented to Bruins coaches, who are trying to plug the hole created by the injury to tight end Logan Paulsen. Paulsen, a 6-foot-6, 260-pound senior, suffered a fractured right foot while making a catch on the Bruins' first offensive series against Tennessee. He is expected to be out at least eight weeks, and might sit out the rest of the season. It leaves the Bruins crunching numbers at tight end. Ryan Moya, who plays the Bruins F back -- a receiver/blocker who is moved around -- and true freshman Cory Harkey will now try to fill that void.

As UCLA's football team opens official practice today in preparation for its Sept. 5 opener against San Diego State at the Rose Bowl, here's a look at the positions where there is the most -- and least -- competition for playing time: Jobs open Offensive line: The only thing more in need of reshaping is the U.S. auto industry. Center Kai Maiava has a role. Everyone else has to audition -- with good reason. Last season, the Bruins couldn't run block or pass block. Runners averaged 2.6 yards a carry, and quarterbacks were sacked 35 times.

The image was poignant. There was UCLA quarterback Kevin Craft, surrounded by the media, talking about remaining calm. There, on the Rose Bowl's giant video screen, was Bruins Coach Rick Neuheisel being anything but sedate, whipping fans into a frenzy. The reason for both photo ops could be seen in the faces of the Tennessee players as the 18th-ranked Volunteers trudged off the field following UCLA's 27-24 victory in overtime. "Look at Coach Neuheisel," Craft said. "He's driving them nuts."

All the pressing questions about UCLA's football team are about the offense. Mostly, whether the Bruins would do things differently from last season, when they appeared to use a run-and-shoot-run-again offense. That seems to be changing, judging from spring practice and the first day of training camp Monday. UCLA fans had to rub their eyes and hope it wasn't a mirage: Bruins receivers went up field and got the ball.

Junior Chris Joseph and sophomore Kenneth Lombard led a group of eight UCLA players selected to the 2006 Pacific 10 Conference All-Academic football team. USC had a second-team selection in linebacker Clay Matthews. Joseph, a starting offensive guard, and Lombard, a reserve defensive lineman, were named to the first team for the Bruins, who had six players earn second-team and honorable mention honors.

Glenn Love practiced yoga. Tony Dye decided to get physical. Both UCLA players are well aware of what they have needed to do to challenge for the strong safety position. This is the only spot on the defense that appears to be wide open, with the competition expected to go well into camp. Love, a redshirt sophomore, has had his time limited the first two seasons because of hip and shoulder surgeries. Dye, a true sophomore, spent last season as the team's nickel back.

As UCLA's football team opens official practice today in preparation for its Sept. 5 opener against San Diego State at the Rose Bowl, here's a look at the positions where there is the most -- and least -- competition for playing time: Jobs open Offensive line: The only thing more in need of reshaping is the U.S. auto industry. Center Kai Maiava has a role. Everyone else has to audition -- with good reason. Last season, the Bruins couldn't run block or pass block. Runners averaged 2.6 yards a carry, and quarterbacks were sacked 35 times.

The first issue about UCLA's paper-thin depth has been presented to Bruins coaches, who are trying to plug the hole created by the injury to tight end Logan Paulsen. Paulsen, a 6-foot-6, 260-pound senior, suffered a fractured right foot while making a catch on the Bruins' first offensive series against Tennessee. He is expected to be out at least eight weeks, and might sit out the rest of the season. It leaves the Bruins crunching numbers at tight end. Ryan Moya, who plays the Bruins F back -- a receiver/blocker who is moved around -- and true freshman Cory Harkey will now try to fill that void.

The image was poignant. There was UCLA quarterback Kevin Craft, surrounded by the media, talking about remaining calm. There, on the Rose Bowl's giant video screen, was Bruins Coach Rick Neuheisel being anything but sedate, whipping fans into a frenzy. The reason for both photo ops could be seen in the faces of the Tennessee players as the 18th-ranked Volunteers trudged off the field following UCLA's 27-24 victory in overtime. "Look at Coach Neuheisel," Craft said. "He's driving them nuts."

Junior tight end J.J. Hair was more relieved than worried when he learned that UCLA had recruited three freshmen at his position. "Last year, we didn't recruit any tight ends and then we had some injuries," said Hair, who caught two passes last season as Marcedes Lewis' backup. "So, my first reaction was, 'Great, now we finally have some help.'

Coach Karl Dorrell plans to give many of UCLA's freshmen a chance to contribute this season. On defense, safeties Robert Kibble and Bret Lockett, linebackers John Hale and Kyle Bosworth and lineman Chase Moline have been impressive. On offense, wide receiver Gavin Ketchum, running back Kahlil Bell and tight ends Ryan Moya and Logan Paulsen have drawn attention. "Those are the guys that are being key factors, who I think will help us in our two-deep," Dorrell said.