After standing on the sideline for the better part of seven
weeks, Matt Moore will again lead the Bruins this week against
Arizona State.
UCLA head coach Karl Dorrell announced Monday that Moore will
start as quarterback Saturday for the first time since the
season-opener.
“I am excited, obviously. I just have to go out there and
do my job.” Moore said. “I’m just happy to be
back in the saddle, and we need to keep things the way they have
been going.”
Moore replaces fellow sophomore Drew Olson, who took on the
starting job after Moore sustained a deep bone bruise in the first
quarter of the Bruins’ loss at Colorado.
“The time felt right to make a decision,” Dorrell
said. “He is back to 100 percent physically and mentally.
Given a full week to prepare, Matt will do a good job for
us.”
While Olson completed 66 percent of his passes in victories over
San Diego State, Washington and Arizona, he was just 9-of-20
against Cal and was sacked six times for a loss of 67 yards.
Dorrell said Olson’s play against Cal was not a “big
part of the decision,” although his performance was taken
into account.
“I wanted to make sure Matt was OK. I wanted to make sure
he was comfortable with his brace,” Dorrell said.
“He’s had three full weeks of practice. I think Matt
does his best when he gets the opportunity to assume the reps of a
starter.”
Moore has a stronger arm, and at 6-foot-4 he also has better
downfield vision than the 6-foot-2 Olson.
Dorrell said that Moore did not play against Cal because the
Bruins never had a comfortable lead and because, contrary to what
Moore himself had been saying, Dorrell felt the quarterback was not
completely ready.
“Coach Dorrell just told me that he now thinks I am
healthy,” Moore said. “I thought I was ready to go last
week, but that is why Dorrell is the coach and he makes those
decisions. This is a decision that he decided to make right
now.”
Dorrell’s decision comes with UCLA riding a four-game
winning streak with Olson at the helm.
Olson could not be reached for comment.
Dorrell told both quarterbacks the news separately Monday
morning. He said that Olson handled the situation like any
competitor would.
“No one likes to take news like that with a smile,”
Dorrell said. “He is eager to prove he can get the job done.
He wasn’t exactly happy, but he wants to do what is best for
the team.”
Dorrell told both quarterbacks this decision “probably
isn’t the last time for anything,” given the closeness
of the competition between Moore and Olson.
That comment hung in the air; after weathering the quarterback
debate, it seems Dorrell is prepared for more controversy along the
way.