As the quarterback competition between Pat Cowan and Ben Olson progressed over the past few weeks, everyone assumed one of them would be taking the starting snaps at Saturday’s Spring Game at the Rose Bowl.
Now they might not be so sure.
The two quarterbacks were carted off the field together during Thursday’s practice and their availability for Saturday’s 7 p.m. scrimmage is not known.
Ben Olson left the field after planting his right foot and hearing something pop. Cowan aggravated his left knee, the same knee which came up negative in an MRI on Tuesday.
“You always try to look at the bright side,” coach Rick Neuheisel said. “If it were to be that they could not play on Saturday, it would be an excellent opportunity to find out under fire (about) the other three kids (quarterbacks Kevin Craft, Chris Forcier and Osaar Rasshan). The two seniors certainly have had a lot of playing time. So you’ve got to always look at the bright side.”
If serious, the injuries could hamper Cowan’s and Olson’s progress in learning the new playbook since much of the learning curve happens on the field.
“We’d love for them to play (on Saturday),” Neuheisel said. “It’s a new offense and it’s their fourth quarterback coach (at UCLA). It’s a lot of different things. But if they’re not physically able to, then certainly we have to err on the side of caution to make sure that they’re healthy for the fall.”
In their place, Craft and Forcier took the remaining snaps in scrimmage play. Rasshan did not receive any reps.
If neither Olson nor Cowan can play on Saturday, Craft looks to be the starter as he is currently ahead of Forcier on the depth chart.
Neuheisel will release an updated depth chart after the scrimmage.
D-LINE TALKING A BIG GAME: Defensive tackle Brian Price said it pretty succinctly after Thursday’s practice ““ “No line, no shine.”
That might as well be the motto for the defensive line so far this spring. As possibly the only unit on the field with little competition for the starting jobs, they are widely viewed as currently the best unit on the team. Heading into Saturday’s anticipated showdown against the offensive line, defensive tackle Brigham Harwell has no qualms about letting the trash talking start early.
“D-line. We the best,” Harwell said. “Me and Price ““ we hold down the middle. Everyone knows the strength of the team is the interior guys, me and Price.
“It’s going to be a show (on Saturday). Me and Price, we have something coming for them. It’s going to be a great time. … But at the end of the day, we’re all friends. It’s all good.”
As for what else fans can expect?
“Straight hard-nosed football,” Price said. “It doesn’t get any better than that.”