UCLA head coach Karl Dorrell doesn’t see the point in
“what if” questions when it comes to his football
team’s budding quarterback controversy. What if Matt Moore
had decisively driven down the field when Dorrell gave him a chance
to play in the second quarter of the Bruins’ come-from-behind
24-21 victory this past Saturday in Tucson? What if he had led the
Bruins to touchdowns instead of throwing an interception and
fumbling the ball? Would he have been kept in the game?
“Those are what-if questions,” Dorrell said, smiling.
Dorrell named sophomore Drew Olson the starter for this
week’s game against Cal, citing Olson’s steady
improvement. Nevertheless, Dorrell did say the coaching staff would
continue to work with Moore, who appears to be completely recovered
physically from the deep bruise he incurred during the game against
Colorado. “I don’t know about Drew and Matt splitting
time,” Dorrell said. “Matt did good things in the game,
but Drew will start.” Dorrell said Moore could be inserted
into a situation during this Saturday’s game that is
“set up for him,” much like he was in the game against
Arizona, where he was four of eight for 41 yards on his two series.
Olson has improved in the Bruins’ last three games ““
all UCLA victories ““ completing 66 percent of his passes. The
quarterback controversy is something with which the Piedmont-native
is willing and able to deal. “I don’t really think
about it,” Olson said. “It might go on the whole
season. If it does or if it doesn’t, it will not affect how
we play.” Despite Olson and Moore competing for the same job,
Olson said both quarterbacks are able to deal with the situation
with senses of humor. “There is no ego involved,” Olson
said. “Matt and I have been good friends throughout this, and
we laugh about it. One of us is going to play, and the other one
pretty much won’t. We will deal with it.”
PAGE DOUBTFUL: It is doubtful sophomore strong
safety Jarrad Page, who is still sore, will play this week,
according to Dorrell. “As a safety he has to be able to
tackle,” Dorrell said. “If he can’t tackle, he
can’t play, although he is probably a lot better than last
week.” When Page could not play against the Wildcats, senior
Kevin Brant started in his place, and he will start again this week
if Page is still unable to compete. “Kevin played well for
his first start,” Dorrell said. “He didn’t miss
any coverage calls, and if he starts again, he will be more
comfortable with a week’s play under his belt.”
WARE TO PLAY: Junior cornerback Matt Ware will
probably play against Cal after leaving Saturday’s game
against Arizona with a sprained ankle. After UCLA team doctors
looked at Ware’s ankle, no further tests were performed, and
the swelling in his ankle decreased from Sunday to Monday.