Time Is Limited in Battle for Spots

In the old days of college football, when teams seemed to practice twice a day for weeks, coaches had more than enough practice time to decide quarterback battles before a season opener.

But in today’s NCAA world of restricted fall camps, coaches do not have that luxury, which only adds to the competition for the No. 1 job at UCLA.

“We’re all pretty aware that you have to have a period of time when the competition is open,” offensive coordinator Tom Cable said about the Bruins’ camp that consists of 22 practices, which began Monday at Spaulding Field. “You have this week and the next; then you have to start getting to your decision so you can obviously get that guy in the huddle all of the time with that first team.”

On Monday, two-year returning senior starter Drew Olson along with redshirt freshman Patrick Cowan split time working primarily with the first unit, while senior David Koral and redshirt freshman Ben Olson mainly practiced with the second unit.

Today, the pairs will switch.

“I think that it’s good with the way we’re doing it because every quarterback wants an equal chance to play,” said Koral, who worked with the Bruins’ No. 1 offense exclusively during spring practice when Drew Olson was sidelined following knee surgery. “I feel that I will get plenty of reps, enough opportunities to show what I can do.

“It’s like second nature for me now. When they call a play in the playbook, I know it. That’s a big difference from last year when I used to call a play and didn’t even know where guys lined up.”

Coach Karl Dorrell was pleased with the play of his quarterbacks Monday and said he doesn’t expect the competition to drag on before he selects a starter for the season opener Sept. 3 at San Diego State.

“We don’t want it to be too long in camp before we make that type of decision,” the third-year coach said. “I’m really not in favor of announcing the starter a week before the game.

“All of them looked pretty good and all of them had a mistake or two today ... right now, it’s still as tight as it’s ever been.”

After a sluggish start with a few high throws, Drew Olson was sharper later in practice when the Bruins executed team drills. Wearing a brace on his left knee, Olson moved around well and did not show any effects from his injury.

“I was eager to get back out there,” said Olson, fifth in UCLA’s career passing with 5,443 yards after throwing for 2,565 yards and 20 touchdowns last season.

“No complaints with [my knee]. I really didn’t feel any different than I did before the injury.”

After struggling for much of spring practice after a two-year Mormon mission, Ben Olson (no relation to Drew) looked like a more confident quarterback Monday. Showing some of the skills that made him a top recruit out of Thousand Oaks High in 2001, Olson said he felt more comfortable running the Bruins’ West Coast attack.

“I had a little first-day jitters, but once I settled down and broke in the new balls, I started to feel better,” said Ben Olson, a redshirt in the 2002 season at Brigham Young before going on his mission to Canada. “Everything is different for me now. My knowledge of the offense, I’m stronger physically. It’s just a totally different game for me than it was during the spring.”

For Cowan, who has not played since his senior season at Pico Rivera St. John Bosco High in 2003, he’s just happy to be getting a chance to compete with the first team.

“Last year, I kind of just experienced things and now I’m out there,” said Cowan, whose older brother, Joe, is listed as UCLA’s starting flanker. “It feels good to have practice started up again. It’s pretty cool.”

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Senior defensive end Kyle Morgan was not at practice and will not be with the team for a few days because of the death of his brother, Dorrell said.... Sophomore safety Chris Horton, who had surgery on his right foot after last season, did not participate in any team drills and has not been cleared by team doctors to practice full-time.... Sophomore linebacker Bruce Davis also was limited after having arthroscopic knee surgery last month and sophomore running back Chris Markey didn’t practice because of a sore hamstring.