Leader pass

Published: Thursday, October 30, 1997

Thursday, October 30, 1997

Leader

pass

FOOTBALL: Perfection and patience is what makes Cade McNown the ideal quarterback

By Vytas Mazeika

Daily Bruin Staff

UCLA, meet your quarterback.

He wears a blue-and-gold uniform most Saturdays, from the start of September to the end of November. You can spot him if you look for No. 18. It's easier to pick him out in practice because he wears a red jersey - but he still sports the No. 18. His name: Cade McNown.

McNown has a rather laid-back personality that radiates confidence. He knows what is needed from him on and off the football field. In the past, he may have tried to do too much, but you won't catch him making many mistakes this season. You see, McNown is the top-rated quarterback in the nation.

With a pass efficiency rating of 169 (which is higher than the NFL average), McNown surpassed fellow Pac-10 quarterback Brock Huard of Washington (168.2). He ranks ahead of Heisman Trophy candidates Peyton Manning of Tennessee (146.2) and Donovan McNabb of Syracuse (165.4). McNown is even better than probable future NFL quarterbacks Tim Couch of Kentucky (147) and Ryan Leaf of Washington State (164).

"I'm excited for him," UCLA head coach Bob Toledo said. "He has more than reached my expectation level. To have 16 touchdowns and only four interceptions, and to make some of the plays he's making - for a junior he's playing as well as I thought he'd ever play. I'm really proud of him."

But don't expect McNown to take much of the credit. His quiet nature won't allow him to gloat over his success. If anything, McNown would rather have everyone else realize that it is due to his teammates' efforts that the No. 12 Bruins enjoy a six-game winning streak.

"No. 1 pass efficiency, I think, is a credit to the offense, not just one person," McNown said. "The receivers have to catch the ball, and the line has to protect for me to be effective. It's really a culmination of everyone on the team."

McNown stands 6 feet 1 inch and weighs 215 pounds. Not really what the NFL considers your ideal quarterback. Nevertheless, McNown makes believers out of most, with plays like the one against Cal in the third quarter of Saturday's game.

Flushed out of the pocket and with a defender draped all over him, McNown rolled to his left and threw a perfect strike to senior flanker Jim McElroy. Toledo called it "one of the best plays of his career." McElroy caught the ball in full stride and scored on the 58-yard play. Plays like this one are what made McNown a great field general.

"I think his leadership has gotten a lot better - particularly with his success," UCLA offensive coordinator and quarterback coach Al Borges said. "I think the best leadership is by example, and he has exemplified a quarterback who knows what he is doing. There is a carryover to the rest of the team, and they know he knows what he is doing ... They have confidence that he can get the job done, and that is the best leader."

McNown wasn't the starting quarterback during the beginning of his freshman year, but by the end of the Terry Donahue era in 1995, he found himself first-string. The experience gained that first year has helped McNown develop.

Yet Toledo and Borges are quick to point out that McNown has gone through two freshman seasons. Last year, when a new offensive system was integrated by Borges, McNown struggled to make reads and committed many mistakes - as shown by his 16 interceptions, as opposed to his 12 touchdowns, on the season.

"I was concerned with his inconsistency, but I've coached for a while, and I've coached quarterbacks most of my life," Toledo said. "When you put in a new system, it's not easy. I think when you're playing with a young guy who's inexperienced, it takes him a little while to get going. I knew that with his work ethic, his character and the pride he had that he would be better than he performed. It was just a matter of time."

The success that both the Bruins and McNown have had this season is reflective of McNown's grasp of the offense and his decision-making abilities. Toledo emphasized last week that McNown touches the ball on every offensive snap, and the fate of UCLA rides on his efficiency.

However, as evidenced by the 16 touchdown passes to four interceptions this season, McNown now finds himself more at ease with his role in the offensive scheme.

"I think I'm more comfortable in the huddle," McNown said. "I've been here for a while, and it's nice coming in here and seeing familiar faces. Guys that I've been to war with. It's a familiar atmosphere in that huddle."

McNown has a strong belief that his wide receivers - like McElroy and redshirt sophomore Danny Farmer - will get open, if he waits long enough. McNown has a career low minus 72 rushing yards this season because he stays in the pocket until the fourth read in many plays. To him, that statistic only portrays his commitment to the team.

"I'm trying to stay away from ill-advised throws," McNown said. "If something is not open, I'm just going to swallow it, or throw it away, or something and live to find another day. Interceptions just hurt a team too much."

McNown expressed his frustration when forced to throw away the ball in games like the one against Cal. He tends to get upset - not at himself - but at the situation.

The patience employed by McNown on the field, though, only enhances the improvements in categories like accuracy and game management. Nevertheless, McNown knows that he is far from perfect.

"Obviously I'm not a perennial All-Pro in the NFL, so I've got plenty of work to do," McNown said. "Actually, even those guys have some work to do once in a while. I'm in a position where there is room for growth - room for getting better. So if I'm not completing just about all my passes, I'm going to be a little upset."

Borges describes McNown as a perfectionist, "just like the entire coaching staff." McNown has high expectations of himself, and Borges believes that, due to the self-criticism, McNown has developed into the perfect quarterback for UCLA.

"I know (McNown) fits what we want and he does what we want," Borges said. "To say that a lot of quarterbacks can (run our system), I don't know that a lot of quarterbacks can do it. But I know he can do it, and he's got all of the physical and mental qualifications that we are looking for in the position."

McNown may not be a Heisman candidate, he may not be a future NFL quarterback - although his efforts this season may give him a shot - and he may not end the season as the top-rated college quarterback, but for another season-and-a half, he will wear blue and gold as your UCLA quarterback.

AARON TOUT/ Daily Bruin

Quarterback Cade McNown shows Washington State why he's the nation's top passer.