In what has started to look like a game of musical quarterbacks, the Bruins have been forced to open up a can of worms with injuries to starter Ben Olson and second-stringer Pat Cowan.
After last week’s debacle against Notre Dame, redshirt sophomore Osaar Rasshan will switch back to quarterback after playing as receiver this season and freshman Chris Forcier will be given a look under center.
There are a lot of decisions to be made by the coaching staff as Olson is out at least three to four weeks with a partially torn lateral collateral ligament in his left knee and Cowan, out with a partial MCL tear, is an unknown in terms of being able to play Oct. 20.
“We’re looking at all of our options,” coach Karl Dorrell said after Tuesday’s 6 a.m. practice. “You know Pat obviously is one of our options, if we can get him healthy. Keep bringing Mac (Bethel-Thompson) along and get him better. We’re using Forcier to get him a chance to get some reps and get him better. We’re giving Osaar some reps in the two, so we’re using every resource we have in trying to use this week to get guys ready to play.”
Saturday’s game saw Bethel-Thompson struggling to move the offense and throwing four picks on 28 pass attempts. If Cowan is not ready to go against Cal, it will be Bethel-Thompson, Rasshan or Forcier who will take the helm. The main concern is whether two weeks of practice is enough time to bring the inexperienced Rasshan and Forcier up to speed.
“They can know a portion of the things we do,” Dorrell said. “I don’t know if two weeks is enough to do everything that we would want to do. But we can do a lot in two weeks. We can get a guy ready to play and do a lot the right things for our offense and play better and improve.”
For Rasshan, his return to quarterback is a personal homecoming as he spent his first two years at UCLA at the position.
“I definitely would like to stay at quarterback,” Rasshan said. “I think that’s the head man’s decision, but I definitely would like to stay at quarterback. I believe ultimately I have to sit down and talk to coach.”
As for feeling rusty after playing receiver since the summer, Rasshan said it was a non-factor.
“I got out yesterday and threw a little with (wide receiver Brandon) Breazell,” he said. “I felt well, I felt like I’d been doing it for a while. It felt like the first day of camp.”
He will be given a chance over the next two weeks to show his ability to direct the offense as Cowan’s injury is the biggest variable. After practice on Monday, in which Cowan did little but throw on the side, he was careful to address his injury and projected return only in vague terms.
“I can’t give you a number (on how well I feel),” Cowan said. “I couldn’t give you a number. But it’s a better number than it was yesterday, which is good.”
Will he be ready to face Cal?
“Possibly,” Cowan said. “I’m not going to give you a straight answer. I’m not really sure yet. I’ve been getting better every day.”
CARTER INJURED: Linebacker Reggie Carter had arthroscopic knee surgery yesterday. Carter had played through the pain of his torn meniscus for the past few weeks.
The surgery removed a piece of cartilage from Carter’s knee. As of today he is still possible for the game on Oct. 20 against Cal.
At practice, Dorrell praised Carter’s determination.
“I think he would play with his leg broken off if it was up to him,” Dorrell said. “I know his rehab is going to be a lot quicker than most people because he’s a tough kid.”
Carter has 29 tackles this season and he is second on the team with four tackles for loss.