New Quarterback for UCLA In 08: Olson Out For 8 Weeks
Looks like Neuheisel and Chow have some new (and dramatic) information to work with.
Hot off Dohn's blog:
UCLA quarterback Ben Olson will miss at least eight weeks after breaking the fifth metatarsal in his right foot during a non-contact drill Saturday.
It is the same injury Olson (Thousand Oaks) suffered in the spring.
Just terrible news and you have to feel for Olson and his family. Best of luck to him.
Now this becomes a huge opportunity for Craft, Forcier, Prince or any one of other QBs who can step up.Tracy Pierson from Bruin Report Online posted some comments from Neuheisel following morning's practice which included the following takes on his QBs (free article while I was writing this post):
On Kevin Craft and Chris Forcier: "I thought that they played really well today. Both gave up an interception in these two-minute drills, which is great by our defense because they were kind of both off of tip balls. We’re going to have to win the turnover game if we’re going to be a successful football team, so that was excellent to see the defense play like that. But I thought both those kids did a nice job. And Osaar Rasshan is coming along. With the prospect of Ben maybe not being available, you can see some heightened intensity by all these young kids. At the quarterback position, everybody’s understanding that. ‘Holy cow, this could really happen where I can be in there.’ When that happens, it’s amazing how the light turns on and people start really focusing. I watched Pete Carroll last night on television talking about all their quarterbacks getting their chance because their guy is dinged a little bit, and exactly the same thing is happening here. It shouldn’t take that to happen but it’s amazing what that does." On mobility of quarterback: "Well, you’d love the guy to be able to make plays with his legs. And the truth of the matter is all of the other guys (can make plays). Ben would have probably been fifth or sixth of the six guys in terms of ability in getting out of the way of people. Ben had all the experience and certainly is a gifted player, but these kids can all move. The key is not to move before you have to and not to get jittery and all that stuff. So, we’ll just have to wait and see whose got the most presence if it comes to that. We’ll have to see how Ben is."
I have to say I am intrigued about the idea of Forcier. Obviously you have to take this with a grain of salt since I have not seen either QBs play. But I have always loved mobile QBs. UCLA hasn't had a QB with wheels since number 18 left Westwood. Moore could have been one but he wasn't patient enough. Now Craft is older and has JUCO experience. But the idea of a mobile QB in Chris Forcier is very interesting to me.
Would love to hear impressions from observers who have been at practice in recent days.
GO BRUINS.
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Maybe it just ain't in the cards
8 weeks to wait for the guy’s last season? Move on to the future. Cannon for an arm, attached to a flat boulder. With the line in the kind of iffy shape it was in, this was destined to happen some time this year. Get Forcier or Craft in there and get ‘em ready.
The Mad Bruin
by lostnacfgop on
Aug 10, 2008 5:44 PM PDT
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Prince looked good at practice, too,
we’ll be ok. Too bad for Ben. He was looking good and working hard. C-Force did have some good throws when I was in practice, so did Oshaar Rashaan. Crissman is good, too. We’ll be ok at qb. Chow just needs to find the guy now who will run his offense and move the 1st down marker, nothing special.
by bruin95 on
Aug 10, 2008 8:34 PM PDT
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That's really too bad about Olson.
It’s too bad for the fans, too. I would like to have seen what he could do with a real coach and a real OC, but it’s just not going to happen. Eight weeks is a long time to be out.
A lot of us on the sideline were critical of Olson. I’m ashamed to say that I am one who was critical of him because of something totally out of his control, namely, the nature of his skeletal make-up. It’s one thing to say that a guy doesn’t have the right physical gifts or the right set of quarterbackian synapses between his ears. I don’t think anyone ever doubted that part of Olson’s game. It’s a shame that he won’t have the opportunity to prove us wrong.
But who knows. Maybe he’ll get his chance. I remember a guy named John Barnes who wasn’t supposed to play at all his senior year and he had a pretty memorable game when it really counted. Wouldn’t it be something if that happened again with Ben at the controls. Stranger things have happened.
by Fox 71 on
Aug 10, 2008 9:18 PM PDT
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critiquing injuries
it’s taboo, or mean-spirited or unfair or whatever you want to say, to penalize a player for being injured or injury-prone. but when you’re running a football team, you need to be realistic. purely from the perspective of seeking long- and short-term success for this football program, i don’t see how you can reach any conclusion but this: it’s time to move on from BO. it’s not meant as an insult to him, and i put no blame on his character for the fact that he’s been injured. if we believe in our young guys, it seems like this is the perfect year to get them some experience. olson has been so on-and-off the field, i can’t imagine that he’ll be able to get himself in top football shape mentally and physically this season.
obviously this injury is bad for BO, but honestly i think it’s good for UCLA football. maybe someone like CF will step in and step up. it’s these type of moments that make all the difference.
by jjreicher on
Aug 10, 2008 9:37 PM PDT
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Argh.
If our O is basically going to be made up of youngsters this year anyway, we might as well give one of our young QBs as much experience as possible with an eye on next year.
But boy… nobody needed this. Bummer for Ben.
by bruinchick on
Aug 10, 2008 10:14 PM PDT
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Seriously...
Ben Olsen is one of the nices guys you’ll ever meet. But the fact is that he never lived up to the expectation eveyone had for him. His release was too slow, He didnt move in the pocket and he would only eye one reciever on some plays. Kevin Craft has an arm, Forcier has some speed. Chow has a hard decision ahead of him because he likes to mold his offense around the players he has. As for Ben I really do wish him a speedy recovery.
by Bru-in style on
Aug 11, 2008 11:31 AM PDT
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Also..
As was said..all the other QB’s have wheels. Forcier is in fact the fastest along with Rashaan, but lets be honest, Rashaan couldnt really complete a pass during spring except for 1 good throw. I would like the team to have Craft because I think once game time comes around, He’ll just shine. He seems to be a Saturday kinda player. I mean, didnt he break a record or something? But This is a rebuilding year anyways so I mean its all open again for next year.
by Bru-in style on
Aug 11, 2008 11:40 AM PDT
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