Olson could be ready for a backup role

For a quarterback who had not practiced full speed with his teammates in a month, sophomore Ben Olson did not look bad in practice Tuesday.

“He didn’t look like he was 100% but I thought he moved around pretty good,” offensive coordinator Jim Svoboda said about Olson, sidelined since Oct. 7 because of a knee injury.

“Getting that trust back in your body. Making those quick movements. For the first time out having the bullets flying around him, I thought he did a nice job,”

Wearing a protective brace, Olson participated in every drill Tuesday and made several nice throws. But Olson said the key for him would be how he felt today.

“I was a little rusty and a little sore,” said Olson, who suffered a torn ligament in his left knee against Arizona. “I couldn’t move quite like I had hoped I would be able to, but it was nice to get back out there and take some snaps.... It will probably be a little sore because I haven’t done that much stuff on it like I did today.”

After practice, Coach Karl Dorrell repeated that Patrick Cowan would get his fifth consecutive start Saturday against Oregon State but added that Olson could be ready in a possible backup role for the game.

“I was impressed with Ben,” Dorrell said. “He didn’t look as rusty as I thought he would be. He looked like he was ready to stand in the pocket and take a few reps, which he did. I was very pleased with that.”

Cowan and Olson worked exclusively with the first- and second-team offenses, while redshirt freshman Osaar Rasshan, the No. 2 quarterback in recent weeks, mainly watched.

“Right now Pat is the guy who we are focused in on and Ben, we’re happy to see practicing again,” Dorrell said.

“We’ll keep moving forward until he’s back at full strength and he’s not there yet.”

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One week it’s Arizona defeating Washington State on the road, and the week before, it’s Oregon State knocking off USC in Corvallis.

That’s how life has gone in the wacky Pacific 10 Conference this year and UCLA hopes to add to the league’s unpredictability with a victory over the Beavers on Saturday at the Rose Bowl.

The Bruins, winless since beating Arizona on Oct. 7, have a great deal of confidence for a team that has lost four games in a row.

“In terms of our team spirit, we know what position we are in or lack thereof in terms of the conference race,” Dorrell said.

“But I’m optimistic because of how their attitude is of getting better.... This team has a great deal of pride and a great deal of character about pushing through and keep getting better.”

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Sophomore John Hale worked out with the first-team defense in place of injured outside linebacker Aaron Whittington (ankle) and is expected to start against Oregon State. “He’s done a nice job when Aaron was out before,” Dorrell said about Hale, who started seven games last season as a freshman.... Starting middle linebacker Christian Taylor did not practice to rest a nagging ankle injury, but he’s expected to play on Saturday. Sophomore Kyle Bosworth worked in place of Taylor with the No. 1 defense on Tuesday.... Linebacker Korey Bosworth, who suffered a concussion and neck injury against Cal last week, practiced but was kept out of full contact drills.... Cornerbacks Rodney Van and Alterraun Verner are listed as co-starters this week opposite Trey Brown.

lonnie.white@latimes.com