Bruins Push Paus--Again

Did the absence of Cory Paus mean the difference between victory and defeat in UCLA’s sloppy 29-10 loss at Oregon on Saturday?

Bruin Coach Bob Toledo all but said so Monday, announcing Paus would replace Ryan McCann at quarterback.

“They want to win,” McCann said. “They didn’t think I could be the guy to step in there and win.”

Paus, who suffered a separated right shoulder on the season’s first play against Alabama Sept. 2, was not expected to return until the Bruins played California Oct. 14, allowing him to take advantage of next week’s bye to round back into shape.

But, when doctors cleared Paus to return this week, Toledo immediately handed him his starting job back. Toledo denied he was making a panic move or rushing Paus back, but he did not dispute the urgency of avoiding an 0-2 start in the Pacific 10 Conference.

“We can’t afford to lose too many Pac-10 games,” he said.

McCann and the Bruins won their first three games, including victories over Alabama and Michigan, and rose to No. 6 in the Associated Press poll. But national championship dreams evaporated Saturday at Oregon, when the Bruins wounded themselves with a blizzard of errors that included dropped balls, repeated penalties, shanked punts, even two players wearing the same number on one play.

No blaming McCann there, although he did miss several receivers in the second half and completed 13 of 33 passes for 152 yards.

But, when asked why the Bruins stubbornly continued to run tailback DeShaun Foster into the teeth of a defense designed to stop him, Toledo pointed out that Paus passed for 332 yards against the Ducks last season “with them running the same defense.”

Would the Bruins throw more passes to the tight ends? “The tight ends have been open,” Toledo said.

Would the Bruins insert some wrinkles? “Our offensive game plan has been cut down to about a third of what we normally do,” Toledo said. “With Cory, we’re able to put some of those things back in.”

Paus beat McCann for the starting job in training camp. After Paus’ injury, Toledo allowed for the possibility that McCann could play well enough to keep the job.

“Ryan McCann has done a nice job. He’s going to play some for us. He struggled a little bit last time,” Toledo said. “He’s gotten better, but I don’t think he’s done anything to take the job away from Cory.”

Had the Bruins won Saturday, offensive coordinator Al Borges said, “it would have been a tougher decision.”

McCann said the decision took him by surprise.

‘It’s like Coach Toledo says, ‘How the quarterback goes, the team goes,’ and we lost,” McCann said. “It’s rough, man. It’s really rough.

“They gave me an opportunity. They did not think I did enough. That’s their choice.”

McCann did not practice Monday because of a slightly pulled hamstring and sore left shoulder but is expected to return today.

Paus threw lightly last week and, after working out Monday, said he feels discomfort in his injured shoulder but fully expects to play Saturday.

“If I didn’t know better, I wouldn’t think he had ever been injured,” Borges said.

The Bruins officially listed McCann as the starting quarterback on the depth chart Monday, but Paus will replace him assuming he completes practice in pads today without complications.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

Casting Call

UCLA is still searching for answers at quarterback:

Cory Paus

Starting quarterback who separated throwing shoulder in first series of first game this season. Has been cleared to play Saturday.

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J.P. Losman

After deciding Bruin quarterback job was too crowded, transferred to Tulane. He has started one game for the Green Wave this season--their only loss.

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Ryan McCann

Backup quarterback thrust into starting role when Paus was injured, his play has been very erratic this season.

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Scott McEwan

Third-string quarterback, replace McCann for a while during Fresno State victory, hasn’t played since.

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Drew Bennett

Fourth-string quarterback who has converted to wide receiver. Bennett played one series at quarterback against Oregon, completing only pass attempt for a touchdown.

Revolving Quarterbacks

UCLA has used our quarterbacks this season. Their passing statistics and those of Tulane quarterback J.P. Losman, who transferred from UCLA last season:

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Name Comp.-Att Yds. TDs Int. McCann 60-120 688 4 2 McEwan 5-10 29 0 0 Bennett 1-1 54 1 0 Paus 0-2 0 0 0 Totals 66-133 771 5 2 Losman 26-48 379 1 0

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UP NEXT

ARIZONA STATE

(3-0, 0-0) at

No. 15 UCLA

(3-1, 0-1)

SATURDAY

Rose Bowl

7:15 p.m., Fox Sports Net