Expectations are great, but Bruins haven’t been

Those pesky expectations.

The UCLA Bruins are still adjusting to the front-runner status placed on them, with many picking them to win the Pac-12. Everyone in Westwood is trying to find their footing, even Coach Jim Mora.

Asked whether close calls against Virginia and Memphis could help knock the Bruins back on track, Mora said, “Knock us back on track? No, maybe just refocusing a little bit, getting back to the roots of who we are. We’re an underdog, that’s who we are. We like it when people doubt us. That helps inspire us. I’m not saying it should, but it does. I feel like we’re a focused team.”

Trouble is, those days are gone. No one is doubting the Bruins. They were heavily favored in the first two games. After back-to-back brow-wipers, many are just waiting to see whether they can achieve the predicted success.

And there was the rub Tuesday.

In the morning, Mora was asked during the weekly Pac-12 conference call about how he handles it when a team does not play up to expectations.

“It depends on whose expectations you’re talking about, you talking about outside of our own?” Mora said.

The reference, Mora was told, was to his and the team’s expectations.

“How do you know we haven’t played up to our expectations?” Mora said.

Asked if they have, Mora said, “That’s something we talk about internally. We don’t really pay much attention to outside expectations. Those really don’t matter to us. What matters is our own expectations. I’m not going to talk about what we say to the team.”

Case closed . . . except by early afternoon those outside expectations were an issue, at least when Mora was asked about the first two games.

“I think we were just tight,” he said. “I think that we let the outside expectations become a little bit of a burden to us. I said after the first game that we were trying to be too perfect. I still felt it a little that second game, then felt it start to relieve itself a little bit. I feel like we’re back to where we need to be. So, we’ll see if I’m wrong or right.”

That answer will be revealed Saturday against Texas at AT&T Stadium, where the Bruins will not be underdogs. They were 7 1/2-point favorites as of Tuesday afternoon.

Goforth in doubt

Mora said the Bruins still were awaiting final tests on safety Randall Goforth, who suffered a separated right shoulder against Memphis on Saturday night. Goforth, who has separated his left shoulder twice, was not at practice Tuesday and appears unlikely to play this week. Tahaan Goodman would start in his place.

The possibility of losing Goforth also caused some movement. Adarius Pickett, who had moved from defensive back to running back during training camp, was back with the defensive backs Tuesday.

Line up

One guy’s return seemed to take the spotlight off the offensive line.

Jake Brendel was back at center against Memphis, allowing Scott Quessenberry to shift to guard. It left the Bruins significantly more experienced. Brendel had started 29 consecutive games before missing the opener against Virginia because of a knee injury. Quessenberry started six games at guard last season.

“Obviously, having Jake helped in terms of making calls, having guys trust him and making them more comfortable,” offensive line coach Adrian Klemm said.

Brendel downplayed his importance, saying, “There’s a little more responsibility at center, but you’re still an offensive lineman. You’re still part of a team.”

The Bruins allowed five sacks at Virginia and one against Memphis. While Virginia was a considerably more talented team, UCLA reduced the mental errors as well. The Bruins had five false-start penalties against Virginia and two against Memphis.

“Jake is a three-year starter, a team captain. When he’s in, it runs smoother because he knows how to keep everyone on track,” tackle Caleb Benenoch said.

Hard knocks

Texas wide receiver Jaxon Shipley has a head injury that could keep him out of Saturday’s game. Shipley was injured last Saturday in a 41-7 loss to Brigham Young. The Longhorns did not release details on the injury or when Shipley was hurt.

Texas is already without quarterback David Ash, who missed most of last season with concussion problems and reported new symptoms after the first game against North Texas.