It’s early in the week, but the UCLA football team might have found a solution to its quarterback dilemma.
Coach Karl Dorrell announced yesterday that Pat Cowan will practice this week and start at quarterback if he’s healthy on Saturday when the Bruins face No. 9 California at the Rose Bowl.
But the announcement was hardly an emphatic one.
Cowan has played in just one game this year. The redshirt junior missed the Bruins’ past two games with a torn medial collateral ligament in his right knee, and was held out of practice last week so he could focus on rehabilitating.
“We still aren’t for certain about (our quarterback),” Dorrell said. “But we’re hopeful that it will be Pat Cowan.
“We do anticipate Pat having a full week of practice, and if everything goes as planned we will use him as our starter.”
Redshirt junior Ben Olson, who began the year as the Bruins’ starter, will miss the next three weeks after having arthroscopic surgery performed on his left knee.
Without Olson and Cowan, the Bruins worked out three quarterbacks last week: sophomore Osaar Rasshan and freshmen Chris Forcier and McLeod Bethel-Thompson.
Bethel-Thompson will be the Bruins’ No. 2 quarterback against California if Cowan is not healthy enough to make the start.
Dorrell was pleased with the improvements made by Bethel-Thompson, Rasshan and Forcier last week.
“They made a lot of progress because they took all of the snaps and had some opportunities in scrimmage situations,” Dorrell said.
Bethel-Thompson threw the first passes of his career in UCLA’s last game against Notre Dame, going 12-28 with four interceptions as the Bruins lost to the previously winless Irish, 20-6. Bethel-Thompson’s only previous experience consisted of handing the ball off to Bruin running backs in the second half of UCLA’s 44-31 win over Washington.
The Bruins had seven turnovers in the Notre Dame game, making ball control a major concern for the next game when the Bruins host the Golden Bears.
“We have got to take the ball away more (on defense),” linebacker Christian Taylor said. “And our offense has got to control the ball better.”
PAC-10 CRAZINESS: Dorrell and Taylor both remarked on California’s loss to Oregon State last week.
The Golden Bears, who entered the game ranked No. 2 in the nation, lost 31-28. They were in position to attempt a game-tying field goal when freshman quarterback Kevin Riley tried to scramble for the end zone in the game’s closing seconds. He was tackled and time ran out well before Cal could stop the clock.
“Riley played with a lot of heart,” Dorrell said. “He was just trying to make a play.”
Had California pulled out the win, they likely would hold the No. 1 ranking this week.
“It’s been a crazy college football season,” Taylor said. “You can’t take any team for granted, ever.”
INJURY REPORT: The Bruins are a bit nicked up after six games.
Sophomore linebacker Reggie Carter had arthroscopic surgery on his right knee last week. Dorrell said the surgery went very well and that Carter could be available for Saturday’s game.
Kahlil Bell, the Bruins’ leading rusher, sat out practice last week with a sore shoulder but will practice this week and play against California. Bell’s fellow running back, Chris Markey, has a toe injury and is currently listed as day-to-day.
Receivers Marcus Everett and Dominique Johnson each had sprained ankles. Both are expected to play against California.