Being a safety is a tough line of work.

The Oregon State football team settled on two sophomores, Lance Mitchell and Cameron Collins, in those positions with the idea they'll take some lumps as first-year starters and turn into standouts.

Breakdowns in coverage pop up time-to-time, but there have been some impressive plays. As they mature there should be more consistency.

Getting there is the hard part.

"As a whole we are still continuing to grow with every practice and game," Collins said. "We are comfortable back there finally. The main thing is building confidence."

Collins, Mitchell and the entire OSU defense get the opportunity to build confidence today during a 1 p.m. game against Pacific-10 Conference rival UCLA at Reser Stadium.

The Bruins are on a four-game losing streak and have struggled in all areas on offense. An unsettled quarterback situation plays to OSU's favor.

"We just have to execute and play full speed," Collins said. "If we do that, we are capable of doing some unbelievable things. We still haven't put together that full game where everyone is executing without someone missing an assignment. Hopefully, we can put together that complete game against UCLA."

The safeties are coming off a rough outing against at Southern California. Long pass plays, including two for touchdowns, were given up by them in man-to-man coverage.

Safeties typically are used to double receivers or lend some sort of support to someone else. Their name indicates they are the last line of defense.

Not for the Beavers - they are part of the frontline at times. They like playing the secondary in man-to-man coverage frequently so the front seven can rush the quarterback.

Safeties are also crucial to run support. They have to play both ends of the field each play.

By nature of the scheme, great plays and being out-played are part of the game.

"We are getting a ton of good play from the safeties, a lot of tackles and a lot of production," coach Mike Riley said. "They will be put on an island, and they have to do better. And we have to do better on the stuff we do up front."

The part of the defensive equation of getting pressure on the quarterback hasn't been happening. The Beavers have four sacks, which is the second-worst total among the 120 teams in the nation.

Riley points out that some of the long balls given up were when the team blitzed and everyone was blocked. The quarterback had plenty of time to wait until a receiver came open.

So while it looks like the secondary is at fault, the team's lack of execution up front made the safeties look bad.

"It always works that way," Riley said. "If you have a good run defense, and our run defense is still pretty darn good, people will try to throw on you. And then you have to make plays back there, and up front. It always works together, always have and always will."

Knowing that fact doesn't make it easier for the safeties.

They feel they should hold coverage longer so the defensive line can get to the quarterback.

"Any time if I don't do my part or let the defense down, it leaves a sick feeling in my stomach," Collins said. "I can't wait to go out and practice, get better and get that sick feeling out my stomach. I'm anxious to play the next game."

Mitchell and Collins, however, have been doing their part as two of the top tacklers and pass defenders on the team

Collins is second on the team in tackles with 43 and three pass breakups. Mitchell is fourth in tackles with 36 and has a team-leading two interceptions and five breakups. Collins wasn't even a starter until the fourth game of the season.

So with expected improvement this season and the next two years, they should be defensive standouts. And that will happen sooner than later if the pass rush comes around.

"We are pretty young and have to learn on the run, but I think we have a long way to go," Mitchell said. "We have a lot of upside to all of us."