Olson Has Early Lead to Start at Quarterback

The UCLA depth chart handed out at Coach Karl Dorrell’s first news conference Monday read, “Drew Olson OR Matt Moore” at quarterback.

But it’s as coaches tell players about press clippings: Don’t believe everything in print.

In reality, there is no “OR” about it.

Olson is No. 1 going into training camp, which begins Wednesday at Spaulding Field.

Moore is No. 2, although he will be given ample opportunity over the next two weeks to prove that he at least deserves to share the position.

Sources who have observed both quarterbacks during the spring and summer say the 6-foot-2, 216-pound Olson, 20, has a firmer grasp of Dorrell’s offensive system, is more mature and carries himself with a distinct swagger.

Moore is taller and throws a better long pass, but he is young for a sophomore, having turned 19 on Aug. 9, and has had trouble adding weight to his 6-foot-4, 185-pound frame.

He could make an impression in the fall, however, because Dorrell said that only about 25% of the offense was introduced during the spring. Among new plays added in the fall will be longer pass routes that could give Moore a chance to shine.

Dorrell wants to avoid a quarterback controversy and said he hoped to name a starter after a scrimmage Aug. 23. And although the coach won’t say so -- probably because he believes a competitive atmosphere is best for both players -- it is Olson’s job to lose until then.

“Hopefully a week of training camp will make it clear,” Dorrell said. “If there is no clear-cut winner by then, we’ll extend that.”

The quarterback battle began last season and probably won’t end in training camp.

Both players are sophomores. Both gained opportunities last season because of injuries, first to senior starter Cory Paus, then to Olson.

Both had moments ranging from electrifying to embarrassing. Olson started the last five games, and the Bruins won three, including the Las Vegas Bowl. Moore started against Stanford and led UCLA to a victory.

Their statistics were similar. Olson completed 51% of 104 passes for 702 yards with four interceptions and three touchdowns. Moore threw no interceptions, completing 53.2% of 62 passes for 412 yards and two touchdowns.

But Olson began to distance himself from Moore during spring practice. He appeared to have learned Dorrell’s offense faster and outplayed Moore during the spring scrimmage.

Summer weight training and unsupervised seven-on-seven workouts enhanced the standing of Olson, who has gained 28 pounds since last season.

An ideal scenario would be for Moore to redshirt, giving him another year to mature and gain upper-body strength. That was the plan last year, but injuries to Paus and Olson forced Moore into the lineup against Stanford.

However, sophomore John Sciarra is the only other quarterback on the roster, making it highly unlikely that Moore can sit out the season.

Regardless of who wins the job, Dorrell will bring all the quarterbacks along slowly.

“I’m hoping our other skill position players can carry the load so the quarterback doesn’t feel like all the pressure is on him,” he said. “Because we have two very young players, we are going to spoon-feed them until they are ready for more.”

Evaluating which quarterback is making greater progress in practice once training camp is over might be difficult because Dorrell is closing practice to the media as well as to the public.

Reporters will be allowed to watch the first half-hour or so of practice, then must leave Spaulding Field. The policy is a departure from even the most strict measures employed by previous coach Bob Toledo, who closed practiced to the public the last two seasons but allowed the media to attend.

“This is a philosophical decision I made that I think will benefit my goal in terms of trying to harness and keep control of a football program,” Dorrell said. “It was best for me to make that decision earlier than to do it as a reaction to something.”

The policy is even more restrictive than that of Denver Bronco Coach Mike Shanahan, a renowned control freak. Dorrell was Bronco receiver coach the last three years. The Broncos allow members of the media to observe practice, although there is an unwritten rule that anything that goes on is not reported.

Two of Dorrell’s assistants, Jon Embree and Eric Bieniemy, were hired from Colorado, a program that does not allow reporters to watch practice.

“This is a mechanism I can control,” Dorrell said. “It’s not a popular decision, but it’s not my job to be popular. It’s my job to produce. It’s my job to put a product on the field that people are going to be excited about.”