This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
A week after saying "a nerve isn't firing" in his star quarterback's throwing shoulder, UCLA coach Jim Mora undercut his earlier assessment by stating his lack of credentials.
"I'm not a doctor," he said. "I don't have a medical degree."
Mora was second-guessing his own words after multiple reports surfaced that Josh Rosen, the Bruins' sophomore starter who has been touted as a future first-round NFL Draft pick, would miss the season with the shoulder injury that has forced him to sit the last two weeks.
On Tuesday, during a conference call, Mora countered the reports, saying Rosen doesn't have nerve damage in the shoulder, and that he could return this season.
"Josh is a tough son of a gun," he said. "I would put nothing past Josh with regards to what his future looks like this year."
Rosen's warmups before recent games have suggested otherwise: Cameras have caught him suiting up for games against Washington State and Utah, but throwing weakly despite totaling over 1,900 yards this season. UCLA is coming off a bye, but the last two starts have gone to senior walk-on Mike Fafaul, who notably threw for 464 yards and five touchdowns (but also four picks) against the Utes.
Mora said Fafaul will gain more poise with experience, but he has also been impressed with his quarterback's diligence. In all likelihood, Fafaul will be counted on to start at Colorado this weekend to try to pull the Bruins out of a three-game slump against the Pac-12 South Division leader.
"If you want to be a great quarterback, you have to be committed," Mora said. "Mike, that's who he is. That's why he's playing at a high level without much experience at all."
Petersen on penalties
Among Washington's four penalties on Saturday against Utah, three came on defense with the Utes facing third down, and all three were followed by Utah touchdowns later in the drives.
Despite UW's 31-24 win at Rice-Eccles Stadium, coach Chris Petersen let his players hear about those mistakes, he said Tuesday.
"Oh yeah, those penalties are public enemy No. 1" said Petersen. "We weren't playing with poise. That's not who we are."
Hearing the brunt of it was Azeem Victor, who despite leading the team with 16 tackles to be the Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week, was credited with an unsportsmanlike conduct flag on third and goal, and a facemask as well ("those things happen," Petersen said of the facemask). Psalm Wooching kept a Utah drive alive with a late hit on Troy Williams.
But the fact that the Huskies helped Utah keep a close game didn't diminish Petersen's respect for the Utes. Commenting on Utah's rise in the AP poll despite a loss, he said that reflected opinions of Utah rather than how the media view his own team.
"Well, I think everybody has a lot of respect for Utah and that program," he said. "We expected a hard-fought game. We were lucky enough to make a play to win it. We had two good teams going at it."
Arizona State hoping to heal
Think Utah has injury problems?
If there's a team that could be more relieved than the Utes to have a bye, it could be Arizona State, which plays Utah next Thursday. Coach Todd Graham said the rash of injuries, which has claimed 10 starters and has forced the team to play its fourth-string quarterback this year, has confounded him. He said this offseason, his staff will take a hard look at its training methods.
"We haven't done anything different," he said. "I've never encountered anything like it. You've got to do your research."
ASU entered the season as one of the Pac-12's most experienced teams in terms of returning starters. But injuries at defensive back, receiver, offensive line and most recently starting freshman Dillon Sterling-Cole at quarterback have decimated the depth chart. After a 5-1 start, ASU has lost its last three games and slid down to fourth in the South.
Twitter: @kylegoon —
Pac-12 power rankings
1 • Washington (8-0, 5-0)
Huskies survive first major test.
2 • Colorado (6-2, 4-1)
With three of its final four at home, Buffs are well poised to break through in the South.
3 • Utah (7-2, 4-2)
Utes came close to knocking off an unbeaten, but still looking for passing consistency.
4 • USC (5-3, 4-2)
Sam Darnold and Ronald Jones were a deadly combination against weary Cal D.
5 • Washington State (6-2, 5-0)
The offense is looking dangerous, but Cougars keep playing tight games.
6 • Stanford (5-3, 3-3)
With McCaffrey back, a QB change and a healthy offensive line, Cardinal trending up.
7 • Arizona State (5-4, 2-4)
The Sun Devils need the bye as badly as anyone with injuries all over the team.
8 • California (4-4, 2-3)
Bears get to return home, but defense is a bad match-up for UW's Myles Gaskin.
9 • UCLA (3-5, 1-4)
The kinks on offense need to be worked out soon, or Bruins might not go bowling.
10 • Oregon (3-5, 1-4)
Better than the Sun Devils last weekend, but Mark Helfrich has a lot of ground to make up.
11 • Oregon State (2-6, 1-4)
No opportunity for a "moral victory" vs. Washington State after Beavers blew a 21-0 lead.
12 • Arizona (2-6, 0-5)
Negative: 5 pass completions against Stanford. Positive: It's almost basketball season.