McCann Gets Promoted

Coach Bob Toledo promoted Ryan McCann to backup quarterback Monday and, unexpectedly, raised the possibility of opening up competition for the starting job anew in spring practice.

There is no indication the Bruins will remove Cory Paus as the starter for the Nov. 13 game against Washington at the Rose Bowl, after a bye this week. But questions have been raised for the first time about whether Paus is their man for the long term, doubts that come as UCLA continues to labor on offense and McCann impresses in relief.

“Right after the game, I was concerned,” Toledo said of Paus’ play in the loss to Arizona last Saturday night. “But after looking at the film, I feel better about it. I saw him make a couple plays. The first play of the game, he made a great play. He made two other real outstanding plays. It’s not his fault totally, let’s put it that way. And he is a freshman. But I also believe McCann’s got some ability. It may be one of those things where we’ll get through this season and then we’ll open it up in spring and see what happens between those two.”

McCann began the season as fourth string, at the time the biggest loser in the four-man race to replace Cade McNown. He stayed at the bottom of the depth chart until Drew Bennett, the one-time starter, was moved to receiver, which elevated Scott McEwan to backup and McCann to No. 3.

But McCann showed enough against Arizona while connecting on three of six passes for 35 yards, even if two of the completions were screens, that Toledo moved him ahead of McEwan.

“I think his pocket presence, just throwing the ball, has improved,” Toledo said. “He still doesn’t quite know where everybody is. But his ability to throw the ball impressed me. He’s got probably the next-most ability of the quarterbacks [behind Paus] and we need to get him ready to go for the future.”

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Even though the Bruins don’t play for almost two weeks, Ken Kocher, a starting defensive tackle, and Bryan Fletcher, the part-time starter at tight end, are already being called doubtful for Washington because of sprained ankles.