Paus Claws His Way to the Top

After spring and fall football camps, and a bit of hand wringing, UCLA has named Cory Paus as its starting quarterback for the Sept. 2 opener against Alabama.

Coach Bob Toledo announced Monday that Paus had won the starting quarterback job over fellow sophomore Ryan McCann and junior Scott McEwan.

In competition primarily between Paus and McCann, Toledo said Paus had the edge because of a better understanding of the offense.

“I felt we had a fair evaluation,” Toledo said. “Ryan is still learning the offense and has closed the gap, but at this point Cory operates the offense better.

“Our offense takes time to learn. The quarterback can’t just operate the offense, he has to execute it. He must understand what the defense is at the line of scrimmage, know who to throw to and where to throw. He has to get us out of a bad place to a good place.”

Toledo said he told both players of the decision Sunday night after the team meal.

“[Offensive coordinator] Alan [Borges] and I made the decision,” he said, “but all the offensive coaches were involved. We’re 100% in agreement on Cory.”

Although Paus will open the season as the starter, Toledo said that it will be up to the quarterback to keep the job.

“I do not want Cory looking over his shoulder,” Toledo said. “It’s not a case of he makes a mistake or throws an interception and immediately comes out. But he still has to move the team and score points.”

The right-handed Paus started seven games last season after taking over for Drew Bennett, and the season ended for Paus on Nov. 13 when he suffered a fractured left collarbone against Washington.

He completed 95 of 197 passes for 1,336 yards and seven touchdowns, with nine interceptions. He said he felt confident that he would win the starting job going into fall camp.

“I felt like I picked up where I left off from the spring,” he said. “I was throwing the ball better and showed better knowledge of the offense. I know so much more than I did last year. It’s pretty sophisticated; you have to make so many decisions before the ball is snapped.

“Right now, it feels like my team. I didn’t feel that last year.”

McCann, held out of Monday’s morning practice because of a tight back, said he was disappointed, but not disheartened.

He played in the final four games last season, impressively after replacing Paus in a 23-20 victory over Washington but not so impressively in his first starting assignment in the next game, a 17-7 loss to USC. The Bruins finished 4-7.

McCann said he knows how to wait for his turn.

“Last year I was the No. 4 guy and now I’m No. 2,” he said. “I feel I understand the offense well enough to run the team. But Cory has had a good camp. I struggled a bit in the beginning. I guess the gap was too big to close on [Saturday’s intrasquad scrimmage].”

Borges said McCann made the decision more difficult with his excellent showing Saturday. Paus completed seven of 10 passes for 184 yards and a touchdown, but McCann was right there, completing six of nine for 155 yards and two touchdowns, with one interception.

“We felt going into the last scrimmage that Cory had a significant advantage,” Borges said. “At the conclusion of the scrimmage, Ryan had closed the gap quite a bit. They dueled that day. I’m sure the casual observer watching would have thought, ‘Gee, I don’t know who the quarterback is.’

“That’s great news because now we know we can play with either one of them.”

Running back DeShaun Foster said Paus reminds him of former Bruin Cade McNown.

“He can make stuff happen,” Foster said. “McCann is more of a dropback, in-the-pocket guy while Cory will scramble. We’re comfortable with either one, but I like the way [Paus] plays.”

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Starting Point

Cory Paus was named Monday as UCLA’s starting quarterback for the Sept. 2 opener against Alabama. UCLA’s starting quarterbacks for season openers since 1985:

2000 Cory Paus

1999 Drew Bennett

1998 Cade McNown

1997 Cade McNown

1996 Cade McNown

1995 Ryan Fien

1994 Wayne Cook

1993 Wayne Cook

1992 Wayne Cook

1991 Tommy Maddox

1990 Jim Bonds

1989 Bret Johnson

1988 Troy Aikman

1987 Troy Aikman

1986 Matt Stevens

1985 David Norrie

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CORY PAUS IN 1999

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Att. Comp. Pct. Yards Int. TD 197 95 48.2% 1,336 9 7

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