Spring Football News & Notes: Hurt QBs Edition

by Nestor on Apr 25, 2008 4:09 AM PDT in Football

Just when we thought the challenge for CRN to rebuild our football program couldn’t get any harder, we get even more bad news from practice. Apparently both Cowan and Olson were injured in a span of 10 mins yesterday at Spaulding as both of them were carried off in a golf cart. Chris Foster from the LAT on how the two quarterbacks got injured:

Cowan was injured while scrambling during a pass play. Moments later, Olson was hurt while handing off on a running play.

A question for any practice watchers who were there yesterday (or has been to few this year): do these quarterbacks get hit during these practices? Because I though the black (or is it dark blue?) jerseys they are wearing means "no contact." It’s sad because from that account itself it sounds like at least Olson got hurt in a non-contact drill.

Here is CRN on yesterday’s bad news:

"Ben said he just planted his foot and something popped," Neuheisel said. "We'll have to do X-rays and MRIs before we know the extent of that injury. Pat aggravated a knee, so we'll see."

Now, UCLA is faced with third-stringer Kevin Craft and fourth-stringer Chris Forcier getting most of the snaps at the spring game.

The length of the spring game, which begins at 7 p.m., will be determined after the severity of the injuries to Cowan and Olson, both fifth-year seniors, is known.

"You always try to look at the bright side," Neuheisel said. "If it were to be that (Cowan and Olson) could not play on Saturday, it would be an excellent opportunity to find out, under fire, (about) the other two kids, and to get them out there and see if we can develop somebody and get some confidence and so forth."

Fifth-stringer Osaar Rasshan, who rarely took a snap in practices lately, would be the third quarterback for the scrimmage.

Wrt to Cowan’s MRI, the LAT report indicates that the Cowan will have an MRI on his knee today. However, Trojan Alum Adam Rose posted on the LAT blog that Cowan’s MRI "came back negative." I have not seen any confirmation of that report anywhere else. But let’s hope Adam is right.

Even if Cowan’s MRI comes out negative, CRN will still most likely to sit him (and Olson) out during Saturday’s scrimmage:

"You'd love for them to play – it's a new offense and it's the fourth quarterback coach. It's a lot of different things," Neuheisel said. "But if they're not physically able then certainly you have to err in the side of caution and make sure they're healthy for the fall."

Speaking of Saturday, more from the LAT on the scrimmage:

Saturday's scrimmage will start at 7 p.m., though Neuheisel said he and his staff have already made some personnel decisions.

"I think we got an idea where we're headed," Neuheisel said. "That doesn't mean that we know exactly what we're going to look like in the fall."

One of those decisions mean training Ekbatani at C to back up Reed (same link as above):

While coaches felt the offensive line improved during spring, there remains a concern at center. So the plan is to train guard Nick Ekbatani at the position, where he could back up starter Micah Reed.

The Bruins have struggled with center snaps throughout training camp.

"They want me to be able to play center, guard and tackle," said Ekbatani, who will be a junior. "I just want to play."

Ekbatani played center on the scout team as a redshirt last season.

Whatever it takes to fix the issue with botched snaps this spring.

Anyway, let’s hope BO and PC heal up soon. Meanwhile, this is a golden opportunity for both Craft and Forcier (and even Rasshan) to make a lasting impression heading into the Fall camp. Good luck to all of them.

GO BRUINS.

UPDATE: wrt to Cowan's MRI we received this email from Adam:

[T]he Cowan MRI in question was performed on Tuesday to address the Monday injury, there are no results yet on the "re-injury" that happened on Thursday. I think there was a mistake on my end with a copy/paste when I was editing, so it could have easily been misread. I just re-worded the parenthetical in my post.

This was also noted by azee in the comments. Thanks to Adam and azee for the clarification. Much appreciated. Let's hope the latest MRI on Cowan has the same results. GO BRUINS. -N

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Cowan injury

I believe the statement "Cowan's MRI came back negative" refers to a previous MRI for the knee injury from a few days ago. Apparently an MRI for the latest injury will take place today (Friday).

by azeee on Apr 25, 2008 5:28 AM PDT reply actions

It Could Be Unfair of Me, But...

...it just seems like Ben O. is so injury-prone that our offense never gets into a rhythm, and maybe Cowan is, too? Even more troublesome, as you've pointed out, Ben's injury may have occured during a non-contact drill.

I realize that football is a contact sport, and that players get injured all the time, but it's so early, it's hard not to get the willies about this.

Love My Bruins

by Bruingirl83 on Apr 25, 2008 7:23 AM PDT reply actions

i suppose

rather selfishly, i've wanted Kevin Craft to be the #1 guy because he's something different, and also because we're both Mt. SAC alums.

by deepdish on Apr 25, 2008 8:00 AM PDT reply actions

I'd love to say I didn't see it coming

but that'd be a lie. These guys can't stay on the field, and they've shown it repeatedly. Let's hope Craft steps up and shows us something, because neither BO or PC can play a full season, and teams rarely win with rotating QB's.

by jjreicher on Apr 25, 2008 8:02 AM PDT reply actions

Ladies and Gentlemen!

UCLA's very own version of Mark Prior and Kerry Wood!

by SmrtGuy82 on Apr 25, 2008 8:18 AM PDT reply actions

Oh hell no!

PLEASE do not make the Bruins into the Cubs. I have suffered enough and now you are laying the double whammy on me.

by tasser10 on Apr 25, 2008 10:46 AM PDT up reply actions

I know this might be controversial,

but, unless BO or PC are clearly superior to Craft or Forcier, I am not sure why you start 5th year seniors in a new system during what is realistically a rebuilding year.

I think if its close, you give the nod to the guy who will playing for you in 2009 and let him get his mistakes out of the way.

"when you've seen how big the world is, how can you make due with this?"

by silverlakebruin on Apr 25, 2008 8:32 AM PDT reply actions

Why punish the players

because the coach got fired? Don't you think CRN and Chow can tell who the best qb is? There has been a qb competition, and it's not decided yet who will start, but Cowan and Olson were the frontrunners. Do you seriously think the coaches would have tabbed them as the top 2 in the depth chart if they weren't? I doubt it. Rebuilding or not, you go with the best guy.

by tasser10 on Apr 25, 2008 10:44 AM PDT up reply actions

I think it depends on how much better they are

If QBs are marginally better in their fifth year than players in their second and third, and you aren't competing for the conference title this year, I think you look at giving the younger guys a shot.

If PC and BO are much better, you go with them. I don't know what the difference is, so I am not questioning the decision per se, but I am wondering if PC or BO were only marginally better, would you go with them, or the player who has more upside in the future and could benefit from the development this year?

"when you've seen how big the world is, how can you make due with this?"

by silverlakebruin on Apr 25, 2008 11:01 AM PDT up reply actions

Well...

Olson was supposed to have upside when he came in...we saw how well that worked out. It's a lot easier to say "x is better than y today" than "y will eventually be better than x". I think whoever starts at QB could very easily be replaced at any point in the season if he's not performing.

by tasser10 on Apr 25, 2008 11:29 AM PDT up reply actions

Olson's injury

I have done the same thing to my foot while playing soccer, except I didn't hear just one pop, I heard four or five. It was one of the most painful things I have ever experienced, and it was completely random. I just pushed off my foot to start running and I heard popcorn. My foot swelled to about double its size, and it took nearly two months to fully heal. I had to walk with a cane...hopefully he didn't tear anything.

by tasser10 on Apr 25, 2008 10:50 AM PDT reply actions

Terrible News for Cowan

http://www.insidesocal.com/ucla/2008/04/olson-cowan-story.html#more

Cowan might be out for the season, B0 out for 8 weeks.

by kidro2001 on Apr 25, 2008 12:50 PM PDT reply actions

This is unreal...

I have never seen anything like this for any team, ever. It's absurd.

It is a horrible thing for these two kids, simply unbelievable. Just when BO pretty much had the starting job all to himself, he goes and gets a freak injury. Is there a trOJan putting stuff in the Gatorade over there? I just can't believe this.

Now we'll have to see if this is a real blow to the team, or a blessing in disguise...it's time for Craft to step up big time. You think he's nervous? Probably checking all his body parts...

by tasser10 on Apr 25, 2008 2:20 PM PDT up reply actions

Olson broke a bone

ESPN is reporting that Olson broke a bone in his foot,and may be out 6-8 weeks, that is the estimate. He may have to have a screw inserted. Cowan could be out longer, if he needs to have reconstructive surgery (though that has yet to be determined.)

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=3368114

by BruinSinceBirth on Apr 25, 2008 3:44 PM PDT reply actions

Ah, it was already posted.

I didn't see that kidro has already posted this info. Apologies.

by BruinSinceBirth on Apr 25, 2008 3:46 PM PDT reply actions

A Blessing in Disguise?

With these two senior QB's seemingly prone to injuries, it's a good thing CRN and Chow opted to get Craft in here along with Forcier. And if anything was to happen (As it obviously has) , then better now than 2 weeks prior to the season starting.

Craft and Forcier have a golden opportunity here to take the handles and run with it. What they make with this only time will tell, let's keep our fingers crossed.

by SlyBruin on Apr 25, 2008 4:01 PM PDT reply actions