ESPN

The Bruins defense enters this season with some big holes to fill after losing key players such as Brian Price and Alterraun Verner to the NFL draft and losing top returning lineman Datone Jones to a broken foot, but even so, the Bruin defenders seemed to have the upper hand in Saturday evening's scrimmage.

Freshman safety Dietrich Riley had two interceptions, linebacker Akeem Ayers made several big hits and the Bruins defense allowed only one score and two plays of more than 10 yards.

"We’re ahead of where I thought we’d be," All-American safety Rahim Moore said. "Our IQ game is better. We’re smarter, we’re more physical, we’re faster. We know our goals. We’re more hungry."

But did the defense dominate Saturday, or did it just take advantage of an offense that made some crucial mistakes?

"I wouldn’t say the defense dominated the offense or that the offense dominated the defense," Moore said. "They put up some plays and we put up some plays. I would just say that we had a good day of competing. That’s how I look at it."

Defensive coordinator Chuck Bullough said the best part of his unit's performance was the attitude it took to the field.

"I was pleased with the effort," he said. "There was some hitting going on. There were some good hits. There are still some things we need to clean up, but this is early in season. That’s going to happen."

Former UCLA defensive tackle Brian Price was selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with the 35th overall pick in the NFL draft Friday night.

Price, who left after his junior season, had initially been projected as a first-round pick by various draft analysts. He recorded 23 1/2 tackles for loss and seven sacks last season on his way to being pegged as the Pac-10 Conference Defensive Player of the Year.

Tampa Bay took fellow defensive tackle Gerald McCoy (Oklahoma) with the third overall selection, meaning Price and McCoy form a young tandem for the Bucs.

UCLA did not have any players selected in last year's draft.

In the trenches, the strongest players on the football field collide. The battle is often referred to as a war between interior linemen, a fight for position between an invader and a protector, a duel for territory.

This spring, UCLA is without Brian Price, the most destructive tank in the Pac-10 Conference last season and a projected first-round selection in the NFL Draft later this month. Price's early departure left a gaping hole on the defensive line -- one that promises to be up for grabs until the last day of Fall Camp.

"Everybody is trying to get there right now," said David Carter, a senior defensive tackle who is a leading candidate after seeing action in all 13 games last season. "The big guys are the leaders. We have to be that strong point, that spot that everybody can look to and depend on."

Carter is the most experienced of the bunch, recording nine tackles and two sacks in a backup role last season. Coach Rick Neuheisel also likes what he has seen from redshirt junior Nate Chandler -- who came in as a tight end, switched to offensive tackle and moved back to tight end before volunteering to make yet another switch.

Three position changes in as many years? Moving to the defensive side of the ball? Chandler has taken it all in stride.

"As we kept working out, I kept maturing and kept getting bigger," Chandler said. "I thought the position switch would help the team out."

The unselfish decision has unraveled rather smoothly, so much so that it took all of two weeks for Chandler to earn the nickname "Nasty" from fellow defensive linemen. That must be a record or something.

"He doesn't have mercy on anybody," Carter said referring to Chandler. "Nate is strong and aggressive, he's a monster, he's just nasty in there. It's not hard for him because he's already a beast."

Chandler admits that the switch has not been as hard as he anticipated it to be. Gaining 30 lbs. to become an offensive lineman was hard. Moving back to tight end and being thrown into the rotation while weighing 280 lbs. was hard. As a defensive player, Chandler no longer has to learn about certain coverages. The playbook is much thinner.

Chandler still has things to improve on, such as using his hands and staying low in his three-point stance. But he believes the skills will come with time and more repetitions. For now, it's just buckle down and go.

"I feel like I'm learning something new every day," Chandler said. "I'm not saying the D-line is easy because the physicality took some getting used to."

That's where Carter comes in.

"It's my senior year and my last spring, so I feel like I have to progress more than I ever progressed before," Carter said. "No matter how the spring goes, I'm a leader. I have to be, I have to go above and beyond what I've done before."

Replacing Price's conference-leading 23.5 tackles for a loss and team-leading seven sacks might be impossible, but Carter sees the void Price left in a positive way.

"Right now all positions are open," Carter said. "You have to fight."

An interesting scrum is brewing in the trenches.

Spring has sprung at UCLA -- at least that's how football coach Rick Neuheisel put it during a teleconference with reporters on Monday.

"Spring is even more important, maybe more than before," Neuheisel said. "It's about really testing things out and finding out who exactly is going to be capable in the fall."

It wasn't that way during his first two springs. After he took over for former coach Karl Dorrell in 2008, Neuheisel used the time to introduce the players to his new coaches and their philosophies. The hope is that there is less teaching and more playing this time around.

"Not that we won't teach and explain, but we have to find time for legitimate playing -- who can play this game and who can play it with the intensity that this conference demands," Neuheisel said.

Here are four things to keep an eye over the next three weeks, as UCLA kicks off its spring session today at Spaulding Field.

1. Who will fill the gaping hole at defensive tackle?

-- Someone will have to now that Brian Price, a projected first-round pick in next month's NFL Draft and the defending Pac-10 Conference defensive player of the year, is gone. That leaves the Bruins without one of the nation's best interior lineman. UCLA can't really replace Price's 23.5 tackles for loss and seven sacks, but the coaching staff will keep a close eye on senior David Carter, who aside from Price and Jerzy Siewierski (also gone), saw the most action last season.

"David Carter has got to pick up where he left off," Neuheisel said.

Carter played in all 13 games, recording nine tackles and two sacks. Nate Chandler, a converted tight end, will also be analyzed closely.

2. Will anyone snag the go-to receiver spot?

-- Apparently, quarterback Kevin Prince doesn't need a top target.



There hasn't been a defined go-to wideout at UCLA since the days of Marcedes Lewis. The current batch includes Nelson Rosario, Taylor Embree and darkhorse Josh Smith, who sat out last season after transferring from Colorado. "I want to see what receivers can jump to the front," Neuheisel said.

Many feel that Rosario can do just that. At 6-foot-5, he has the size to be a threat in the red zone. Embree has arguably the best hands amongst the group, while Smith put his versatility on display for the scout team last fall. "Josh is an exciting player," Neuheisel said. "He can make a lot of plays, both as a returnman and a receiver. I'm excited for him to have those opportunities."

3. Can the offensive line turn the corner?

-- If there's one thing the line has going for it, it's that it returns every starter except for Xavier Su'a-Filo, who left on a two-year Mormon mission following last season. Here are Jeff Baca's thoughts heading into the spring:



Redshirt freshman Nik Abele will get the first chance to fill in for Su'a-Filo at left tackle. Baca (left guard), Kai Maiava (center), Eddie Williams (right guard) and Mike Harris (right tackle) round out the line.

The Bruins ranked No. 97 in the nation last year in rushing offense with an average of 114.62 yards per game. That's just not going to cut it if offensive coordinator Norm Chow wants to open up the playbook.

4. Will the defense be as good as it has been?

-- We mentioned Price before, but he's just one of the departed starters. Alterraun Verner, Reggie Carter, Korey and Kyle Bosworth and Siewierski are gone too. All-American safety Rahim Moore is back, but will he have much help? Neuheisel feels that linebacker Akeem Ayers can develop into a special player as well.

"I can't tell you exactly where he'll come from, but I just know he'll be given a chance to put his ears back and get after the quarterback," said Neuheisel, hinting that Ayers may be used as a hybrid defensive end and linebacker.

With the veterans gone, Moore feels that it's his time to step up in the leadership department:

Click here for the official Spring Practice schedule.

All eyes were on former UCLA defensive tackle Brian Price toward the end of Pro Day on Tuesday afternoon. Tucked away at the northeast corner of Spaulding Field, Price lined up against former teammate Jerzy Siewierski and went to work. Price didn't do much since he worked out for scouts at the NFL combine, but he hopes to crack the first round in next month's NFL draft.

Afterward, Price spoke about how he fared at the NFL combine, his goals for Pro Day, what he wants to improve, where he thinks he'll go and why he deserves to be a first-rounder.

Here's the video clip:

With about a month left until the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis, four UCLA players competed in Saturday's East-West Shrine Game in Orlando, Fla., hoping to showcase their talents.

Halfback Ryan Moya, who played tight end for the Bruins, caught a touchdown pass from Brigham Young's Max Hall with seven minutes left in the fourth quarter to put the West ahead 10-6.

But the East rallied. With 12 seconds left, UCLA linebacker Reggie Carter prevented a touchdown by stopping Northwestern's Mike Kafka at the West's three-yard line. After a timeout, Kafka sailed a pass over Carter's outstretched arms to connect with Penn State tight end Andrew Quarless in the back of the end zone. The East won 13-10.

UCLA receiver Terrence Austin caught two passes for 18 yards and posted 40 return yards on special teams (two punt and two kick returns).

Cornerback Alterraun Verner made three tackles and deflected a pass but muffed a punt early. Carter finished with five tackles.

Junior Brian Price, the Pacific 10 Conference defensive player of the year, is the only UCLA player expected to be taken on the first day of April's NFL draft. The NFL scouting combine begins on Feb. 24.