Olson to Start Against Arizona

Whether Drew Olson has played well enough to retain the job or Matt Moore’s injured left knee still hasn’t healed enough for him to reclaim it is difficult to determine, but Olson will be UCLA’s starting quarterback when the Bruins play at Arizona on Saturday.

After Moore suffered a severe bone bruise in the Sept. 6 season-opening loss at Colorado, Coach Karl Dorrell said that, “in general, I don’t think a guy loses his job because of injury.�

But Moore returned to practice last week, proclaiming he was back to full strength, and did not start in Saturday’s 46-16 victory over Washington, a game in which the gradually improving Olson completed 16 of 24 passes for 258 yards.

And now that Olson has shown a firmer grasp of the Bruin offense and has gained confidence while helping UCLA to two straight victories, Dorrell seems reluctant to pull the sophomore in favor of Moore, who won the job out of fall camp.

“Nothing has changed,� Dorrell said Monday of the quarterback situation. “My assumption is Drew will start, and we’re still getting Matt ready to play.... We want to make sure [Moore] is fully healthy. That was a four- to six-week injury. I want to make sure if and when he’s ready to play, we do what’s best for the team. I don’t want to rush it, especially with the way Drew is playing.�

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Sophomore center Mike McCloskey underwent surgery Sunday in which a metal plate and seven screws were inserted into his fractured left ankle. McCloskey will sit out the rest of the regular season but has an outside chance of returning if the Bruins play in a bowl game.

“It’s a real big loss,� Olson said. “He’s a real good center and a solid offensive lineman. As a quarterback, it’s a big deal when you feel comfortable with your center, and I felt real comfortable with him. I’ll have to get real comfortable with [replacement center] Robert Chai because he’s the man now.�

Dorrell was very satisfied with the play of Chai, the freshman from Newport Harbor High who entered Saturday’s game after McCloskey’s second-quarter injury.

“He did an admirable job,� Dorrell said. “I didn’t notice any difference in the line. If anything, they might have played better. We’re very fortunate to have that kind of player backing up.�

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Since allowing Oklahoma’s Antonio Perkins to return seven punts for an NCAA-record 277 yards and three touchdowns in a 59-24 loss to the Sooners on Sept. 20, UCLA has punted 12 times in two games. Only five of those punts have been returned for a total of 13 yards.

Punter Chris Kluwe, who has a 43.1-yard average, has done a better job kicking toward the sideline and has been getting excellent hang time, giving “gunners� such as Joe Cowan and Mil’Von James enough time to get to the return man as the ball arrives.

“Kluwe understands that when we want a directional kick, he kicks it in the direction we want it to go,� Dorrell said, “and we’re getting better coverage.�

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Bruin strong safety Jarrad Page, who returned an interception 24 yards for a touchdown Saturday, is doubtful for the Arizona game because of a bruised right shoulder.... UCLA’s Oct. 18 game against California in the Rose Bowl will begin at 12:30 p.m. and be televised by ABC.