Now that conference play is starting, true freshman quarterback
Drew Olson should make sure his yellow baseball cap fits well.
He’ll be wearing it a lot on the sidelines.
When the Bruins (3-1) open Pac-10 play against Oregon State
(4-1, 0-1 Pac-10) this Saturday, Olson’s playing time as Cory
Paus’ backup will diminish significantly from the
non-conference “preseason.”
“Cory will play if the game is in question at all,”
UCLA head coach Bob Toledo said.
Until this week, Olson saw a few series in each contest except
Colorado, and those snaps came while the game was still on the
line. During the loss to Colorado, fans began chanting “Drew!
Drew!” although Paus was having a solid game and Olson had
completed only two career passes.
Like any freshman, Olson has made mistakes, like when he dropped
the ball on an incomplete pass that could have been ruled a fumble
at Oklahoma State. But he has been admired for his poise under
pressure: Neither that play nor any sack has shaken his confidence.
In last week’s 43-7 rout of San Diego State, Olson completed
two of three passes for 21 yards and, more importantly, directed
the offense in multiple drives.
“I could have been better but that is part of the process
as a freshman. I made a lot of mistakes I can learn from,”
Olson said.
Olson is still seeing approximately the same number of reps in
practice, in case anything should happen to Paus.
For Paus, Pac-10 play could not come soon enough.
“These games have a little more meaning to them,”
said Paus, who helped engineer a 38-7 victory over Oregon State
last year. He finished 12-of-24 for 216 yards after a rough
start.
“I am happy where I am at in my own groove,” he
said. That translates to eighth in the Pac-10 with 206 yards per
game and a 54.7 completion percentage.
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Junior defensive tackle Rodney Leisle is probable after
experiencing a stress reaction in his foot last week.
“I’m just trying to get ready for the game. I plan
to play, I don’t know if the trainers do,” Leisle
said.
The All-America candidate has a pre-stress fracture that doctors
told him could break if he runs on it.
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Ricky Manning Jr. recovered a fumbled interception in last
year’s Oregon State game. This year, he will no doubt be
compared to his Beaver counterpart, Dennis Weathersby, a senior
corner considered one of the best in the country.
“Even though Dennis and Ricky are different sizes, they
accomplish the same things,” Oregon State coach Dennis
Erickson said. “UCLA plays Ricky man-to-man because they
think he can take a guy out of a game. We feel the same way about
Dennis.”
Manning helped limit Aztec receiver J.R. Tolver to 30 yards last
week after Tolver averaged 179.2 going into the game. “I
found myself. Rather than being amped up, I was just more focused,
probably because of the loss (to Colorado) and the
errors.”
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Sophomore safety/corner Matt Ware will play at corner the
majority of the time on Saturday against Oregon State, although
that will vary from week to week. The UCLA defense currently ranks
seventh in the Pac-10 overall.
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A light is going on inside Junior Taylor. Now that the freshman
wide receiver’s head is no longer spinning from all the new
information he was inundated with in spring practice, he is able to
use his speed and blow by people in practice.
“Junior Taylor is really starting to come on,”
Toledo said. “He’s looking more natural catching and
he’s starting to understand the offense more.”
Taylor had a 59-yard reverse for a touchdown against Colorado
State and has three catches for 45 yards.
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The Bruins did not lack energy Tuesday, engaging in a few
rumbles, all in the name of male bonding.
“There were a few little scuffles. As long as it
doesn’t disrupt practice, I don’t mind,” Toledo
said.
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Offensive tackle Mike Saffer remains doubtful for the Oregon
State game after suffering a broken rib last week. It will be
determined Friday if the senior will make the travel roster.