Sometimes there’s a man ““ I won’t say a hero, because what’s a hero ““ but sometimes there’s a man who ““ well, he’s the man for his time and place. He fits right in there. And that’s Pat Cowan in Los Angeles.
On a third down play in the middle of a UCLA drive Saturday, the quarterbacking Cowan watched the designed play fall apart. He responded by awkwardly (but functionally) pitching the ball forward for a completion to get the first down.
He found a way to make the play work and keep the chains moving. It wasn’t graceful or elegant, but he made it happen.
"He plays with heart, and I love the way he plays,” wide receiver Brandon Breazell said. “He gives his all."
Ben Olson does not make that play.
Add to that the fact that these guys love playing for Cowan. He’s more enthusiastic, he thinks better on his feet, and the difference in the offense is very noticeable with him on the field.
“Pat just brings some different stuff to the table compared to Ben,” tight end Logan Paulsen said. “He’s a little more enthusiastic in the huddle and a little more athletic. He brings a little more energy to the offense.”
I don’t know if anyone would have said this before the start of the season, but this is a better offense with Cowan on the field.
And that is why the right knee sprain he sustained in the second half is so costly.
Cowan had not won the starting role with his performance; that would be going a little bit too far. But he had certainly woken up what would have been an interesting quarterback controversy for the coaching staff.
Dorrell and his gang will not be so lucky to have that problem.
It is unclear how long Cowan will be out, but he could miss a substantial amount of time, which could have a substantial impact on the Bruins’ season.
Granted, a week ago this was Ben Olson’s team, in the top 25, heading into the Utah game 2-0 with things going seemingly well enough. And then there was the headache of the Utah game, followed by Olson’s headaches.
And not all of the meltdown at Utah was Olson’s fault. There are a lot of intangibles that make an offense work. However, a big tangible difference is the way that the rest of the offense plays when Cowan is the one leading the huddle.
Just as the Bruins seemed to have responded well to the bad loss, this happens. Dorrell’s sense of urgency after the loss at Utah prompted more aggressive play calling, and Cowan was able to move that offense and put points on the board.
Going 17 of 30 for 147 yards with one touchdown and one interception is not a bad day for a guy in his first game since last season.
A 44-31 win over a Washington team that gave Ohio State some cause for concern when the two teams played earlier in the season said, “Hey, these guys are getting somewhere.”
Well, where they are now is back to the drawing board.
With Big Ben presumably back at the helm of the offense after being cleared to play, Dorrell and offensive coordinator Jay Norvell have some more figuring out to do.
How can this offense match the reinvigorated play of the defense with Olson at the helm?
That question will have to be answered, and quickly, if the Bruins are going to continue their post-Utah turnaround. While Oregon State is not exactly what would be considered the most formidable of Pac-10 opponents, sitting at 2-2 after a 44-32 loss at Arizona State, the Beavers do have an upside. They are 2-0 in Corvallis, Ore., with the first win coming against none other than the same Utah team that shocked the Bruins.
Olson will need to make much better decisions with the football than he did in his last start, and he will need to hope that the aggressive play calling continues into week five.
Most of all, Olson needs to win the battle on the field next week, or as soon as Cowan is healthy there will be yet another quarterback controversy in Westwood.
E-mail Gordon at bgordon@media.ucla.edu if you know entertainment law and think he needs to credit the Coen brothers for this column.