BS is a fairly slow primary, played it through to 20 and through to 14. Second time through I had 3 attack powers by level4, tooks hasten at 6 and things were alright.
As for being hit a lot with SR, that happens I'm afraid. The passives really dont give much defence and the toggles aren't really that handy pre DOs possibly even till SO stage. On a darker note AoE's will still hit you very easily up till 34 at least, cause 35 is when you first get the defence for them. SR is somewhat of a slow starter in that regard.
"Well, they found my diary today.
They were appropriately appalled
at the discovery of the eight victims
They're now putting it all together.
Women wrapped in silk
with one leg missing
Eight legs, one body, silk,
spider, brilliant!"
Haven't played BS, but I know SR. Here is how I would have slotted a BS/SR to lvl 9.
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Exported from version 1.5B of CoH Planner
http://joechott.com/coh
Archetype: Scrapper
Primary Powers - Ranged : Broad Sword
Secondary Powers - Support : Super Reflexes
01 : Focused Fighting defbuf(01) defbuf(3) defbuf(7)
01 : Slash dam(01) dam(3) acc(9)
02 : Focused Senses defbuf(02) defbuf(5) defbuf(7)
04 : Slice dam(04) dam(5) acc(9)
06 : Build Up recred(06)
08 : Combat Jumping defbuf(08)
-------------------------------------------
01 : Brawl enhancement(01)
01 : Sprint enhancement(01)
02 : Rest enhancement(02)
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If he took hack instead of slash, then I can why he might be having problems with slow attacks - in which case he should put a recred in hack. He should also use brawl in his attack chain until he has enough attacks to form a chain without it.
Recommendations: get parry at 10 for an extra attack but more importantly for extra def, practised brawler at 12 for status protection and then I assume he will want SJ at 14. 3-slot defences with defbufs - with SR you almost need to slot your secondaries (defences) before your attacks.
And remember a scrapper is not a tank, so if he's getting pounded in a fight he should RUN AWAY!
Hope this helps.
UNION @Flitz 50, Lead Hose 50, Red Rag 50
DEFIANT Rose Bloodthorn 34
VIGILANCE Captain Caledonia 20 - Yeah, I made toons on the French server coz we only had 4 back then (might have to transfer/recreate them on one of the US servers)
..and many more!
Maybe the broadsword is so heavy it slows down the SR 
You can get a passive AoE defence called Lucky which I think it's available at 28 off the top of my head, which does help to a certain degree.
SR may be hard to get use to begin with, but becomes very rewarding later on. Looks especially cool when you see your character dodging 5/6 melee attacks from mobs of similar level.
A friend that I team with plays that build - he's at level 9 and finding it difficult - mainly due to the too slow attack rate, and getting hurt too easily.
2 pretty major drawbacks then!!!
Exactly what powers he has I dont know - I think he has 2 attacks, build up, the basic SR power, and combat jumping. Seeing as I haven't played scappers I don't know how to advise him re: improving the build over the next couple of levels...any suggestions?