After four UCLA football games, some of the questions facing
this team have been answered to an acceptable degree. But one
aspect of the Bruins still remains something of a question mark,
and he happens to be a part of every single offensive play. So
while the offense has been mostly good, and the defense has been
sort of bad, junior quarterback Drew Olson has been OK. Just OK.
And his numbers reflect that mediocrity. Olson has completed 54
percent of his passes for 740 yards this season, including four
touchdowns and five interceptions. Because of the team’s
incredible rushing game, Olson hasn’t really been responsible
for the three wins. But then again, he wasn’t responsible for
the loss, either. Still, UCLA coach Karl Dorrell isn’t
satisfied. “(Olson’s completion rate) should be a lot
higher,” Dorrell said. “We’re anticipating more
of a 60 to 65 percent completion rate. “But we’ll get
there.” In Saturday’s 33-10 win over San Diego State,
Olson showed both sides of his playmaking ability. He had a slow
first half, punctuated by a poor decision that resulted in an
interception late in the second quarter. He also badly overthrew
6-foot-6-inch tight end Marcedes Lewis, a difficult target to miss.
After finishing the first half 7-of-19 for 68 yards and an
interception, adjustments were made at halftime. The Bruins stopped
trying to throw slants altogether, and Olson got things going,
completing 7-of-10 passes. He threw a magnificent touchdown pass to
Tab Perry in the face of a blitz, a pass Dorrell called an
“NFL ball,” demonstrating that the ability is there. In
fact, in each of the team’s four games, Olson has had a much
better second half. “We just need to get him started the way
he’s been finishing the second half, and we’re working
on that,” Dorrell said. “It’s not an exact
science, but we’re trying to put him into a position where he
feels very, very comfortable with making great decisions.”
Though Olson was happy with the win Saturday, he wasn’t
completely satisfied with his performance. And though San Diego
State runs a complicated defensive scheme featuring a multitude of
blitzes, Olson expects more. “It’s nice to come on
strong (in the second half), but it’s also not something I
want to be doing,” Olson said. “It’s inconsistent
when you’re playing better in the second half.” Olson
wants to play just as well in the first half as he has been playing
in the second, and a large part of that stems from his comfort
level at the beginning of the game. So as this weekend’s
match-up with Arizona approaches, it’s a definite goal.
“That’s one thing the offensive staff is working on,
pretty diligently, to make sure we get a better start out of him in
the future,” Dorrell said. Now with only conference games
remaining, Olson is pretty honest about what needs to happen, and
it starts with him. “Myself and the receivers have to elevate
our passing offense to another level,” he said.
INJURY UPDATE: Junior linebacker Justin London,
who is recovering from a high ankle sprain and didn’t play
against San Diego State, isn’t expected to start against
Arizona on Saturday. Dorrell said that he is hopeful about getting
London back into the fold in practice this week, and he may see
some time against the Wildcats. Defensive tackle Kenneth Lombard is
still sustaining a rotator cuff injury, and his availability will
be determined during the week. Tight end J.J. Hair (rotator cuff),
tailback Maurice Drew (groin), and safety Jarrad Page (thigh
bruise, hand) suffered minor injuries Saturday but will be
available to practice this week and play against the Wildcats.
WHAT TIME IS IT? The game time for the October
16 contest at No. 7 California has been set. Kickoff is at 4 p.m.
at Memorial Stadium in Berkeley. The game will be televised by
TBS.