Bruins can still detect that faint scent of roses

Looking back at UCLA’s 16-0 win over No. 9 Oregon:

Rewind

As expected: Oregon was not expected to be the same offensive whirlwind that it was when quarterback and Heisman Trophy candidate Dennis Dixon was in charge. But the Ducks couldn’t even muster even a gentle breeze offensively using three quarterbacks.

It was easy for UCLA to put the game on the shoulder of its defense and that produced turnovers that led to points.

“We were going to attack, attack, attack, and it was fun,” free safety Dennis Keyes said.

Unexpected: The Bruins went for it on fourth-and-one near midfield. Kai Forbath was allowed to attempt a 54-yard field goal. Ben Olson, still with a gimpy knee, was brought off the bench in the third quarter with UCLA leading.

The Bruins came up short on fourth down. Forbath made the kick for a 3-0 lead. Olson guided a safe-and-sane offensive plan in the second half.

Stepped up: Chris Markey, hobbled by injuries all season, churned out 91 yards rushing in 30 carries. “I didn’t even realize he carried 30 times,” Coach Karl Dorrell said.

Stepped back: Osaar Rasshan was easily corralled by the Oregon defense. He missed on all seven passes and was not effective as a runner.

Coach’s quote: Asked who would play at quarterback this week, Dorrell said, “It’s hard to say right now. We want to make sure whoever playing is really healthy.” That could result in a tag-team effort from Olson, Rasshan and Patrick Cowan, who is trying to come back from a collapsed lung. Dorrell said he would practice this week.

“It is very possible [more than one could play], that’s very possible,” Dorrell said.

“It is important for us to put together a plan for us to be productive and not to restrict any thinking.”

Injuries: Strong safety Chris Horton suffered a concussion, but is expected to play, Dorrell said. Korey Bosworth hyper-extended his left elbow, but is also expected to play. Defensive tackle Jess Ward is questionable because of knee problems.

Looking ahead to the Bruins’ game at USC (Saturday, 1:30, Channel 7, Coliseum):

Fast forward

First look: The Bruins are poised to have a history-making season . . . no team has ever reached the Rose Bowl with five losses.

Still, everything comes up rosy if the Bruins beat USC on Saturday afternoon and Arizona State loses to Arizona that evening.

Topic of the week: There are lots of questions.

There are the quarterbacks. Rasshan is healthy. Olson is not. Cowan hasn’t played in three weeks. Someone will have to take snaps Saturday.

Olson did complete four passes and said afterward he hoped to start this week, though he added, “that’s not my call.” But this seems like an all-hands-on-deck moment, much like Oregon’s situation at quarterback Saturday. What the quarterbacks think of this is unknown, as they are being muzzled except for a brief media scrum after practice Tuesday.

There is the coach. Did Dorrell do enough by getting the Bruins bowl eligible? Athletic Director Dan Guerrero won’t say. Merely getting bowl eligible wasn’t enough to save Bob Toledo’s job in 2001.

Yet the main question this week this week will be: Was last season a fluke?

Answers may vary depending on whether you see cardinal . . . uh, red . . . when thinking about the 2006 game or get blue pondering a possible payback.

In Westwood, they can wax poetic about the 13-9 victory being the start of another wild mood swing in this series -- UCLA won eight straight from 1991 to 1998, while USC won seven consecutive from 1999 to 2005.

Around Exposition Park, the thought can be: Even a blind squirrel finds a nut sometimes.

--

chris.foster@latimes.com

--

Season log (6-5)

Sept. 1: Stanford (3-8, 2-6); won 45-17.

Sept. 8: Brigham Young (9-2); won, 27-17.

Sept. 15: at Utah (8-4); lost, 44-6.

Sept. 22: Washington (4-8, 2-7);

won, 44-31.

Sept. 29: at Oregon State (7-4, 5-3),

won, 40-14.

Oct. 6: Notre Dame (3-9); lost, 20-6.

Oct. 20: California (6-5, 3-5); won, 30-21.

Oct. 27: at Washington State (5-7, 3-6); lost, 27-7.

Nov. 3: at Arizona (5-6, 4-4); lost, 34-27.

Nov. 10: Arizona State (9-2, 6-2);

lost, 24-20.

Nov. 24: Oregon (8-3, 5-3); won, 16-0; Bruins prove you don’t need an offense to win in the Pac-10. Ducks show you do.

Dec. 1: at USC (9-2, 6-2); 13-9, 13-9, 13-9, 13-9, 13-9 -- think that will come up over at Heritage Hall this week?