It’s Olson vs. Cowan, again

Repetitive stress does not seem to be an issue for UCLA quarterbacks, or so Ben Olson and Patrick Cowan claim.

A Bruins quarterback controversy? Been there, done that. Or in the case of Olson, been there, won that.

Yet, while both shrugged off their competition on the first day of spring practice Thursday, the two will go through this motion again.

“This is really old news to them, and to the team,” Coach Karl Dorrell said. “I think if you polled the team, they’d be happy to have two good quarterbacks who can play.”

Maybe so, but when Dorrell set a soft timeline for a decision to be made by the end of spring practice, it gave Olson-Cowan II more urgency. They have 12 more practices, plus a spring scrimmage, to impress Dorrell and new offensive coordinator Jay Norvell.

“It could help to have the offense used to whoever it is going to be,” Olson said about the benefits of naming a No. 1 quarterback at the end of camp. “But I’m not in the position to make that decision.”

However, he and Cowan are in position to influence that decision, as they were last summer, when Olson claimed the job through his play in practice.

But when Olson suffered a knee injury in the fifth game, it allowed Cowan to step in. He finished the regular season with three consecutive victories, one over USC, to get the Bruins to a bowl game.

“I think I’m more mature now,” Cowan said. “I know what is expected of me and have a better idea what I need to do every day.”

Both are trying to land the job while still trying to absorb Norvell’s system.

“There are a lot of new things,” Olson said. “Some of the stuff is the same, but there is a lot to study.”

The two have been cramming since Norvell was hired.

“You kind of force-feed them, then go back and clean it up later,” Norvell said.

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Besides a new offensive coordinator and new offensive system, Cowan and Olson must also adapt to a new center. Chris Joseph has shifted from guard to center, a position he hasn’t played regularly since the eighth grade.

Joseph nearly switched to that position two years ago, spending three weeks in camp working out at center before moving back to guard.

“This isn’t like playing on the offensive line,” Joseph said. “There is a lot more involved than if you’re a guard or tackle. There’s more footwork, because you’re on the ball, and you have to make the line calls.”

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Defensive lineman Kenneth Lombard (knee), tackle Tony Lee (knee), tight end Ryan Moya (leg) and safety Matt Slater (shoulder) will get limited action in spring practice. Defensive tackle Chase Moline will be held out of contact drills after undergoing back surgery.... Tackle Justin Brown did not participate Thursday because of a university situation, Dorrell said, which could be cleared up next week.... Tackle Brandon Bennett tweaked his knee during practice, but Dorrell said it was not serious.

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chris.foster@latimes.com