UCLA's backup quarterbacks tap into experience

Kevin Craft and Chris Forcier, the main competitors for the starting job, can tap into their recent history.

Craft was the third-string quarterback at San Diego State in 2006. Then Kevin O'Connell and Darren Mougey were injured and Craft played in nine games, starting five.

Forcier has yet to run a play in a college game, but spent most of last fall as UCLA's scout team quarterback, competing against -- and running from -- the Bruins defense.

Both benefited from their experiences.

Like Bruins coaches, San Diego State Coach Chuck Long saw Craft's antsy nature on the field.

"When you first watch him, you think he's wild," Long said. "As he gets more comfortable in the system he starts to settle and get in a groove. He was third string but he kept pushing and pushing, staying ready. Five weeks into the season, he was our starter."

Forcier has already been tested against a top collegiate defense -- his own.

As the scout quarterback, he was chased around by Bruce Davis, Christian Taylor and other front-line players.

"On Tuesdays last season we were getting after the scout team pretty good," defensive coordinator DeWayne Walker said. "That gave Chris a taste of game speed."

Walker's assessment?

"He's a dangerous runner," Walker said. "He can move the pocket. He's good enough to flick the ball around and find guys. Any time you have a quarterback who can move it around, that's a problem for you as a defense."

Spotlight dance

Today marked another morning spent under the microscope for Craft and Forcier, with camera crews managing to find their way to Spaulding Field to dissect the competition.

But it was action, not talk, that had some impact. Both ran red-zone drills throughout the morning, with Craft coming off a littler sharper than he has been in recent days.

Part of the reason, Coach Rick Neuheisel said, is that Craft is able to see down the field, while Forcier is more likely to improvise.

"It's hard, because his instincts are to go out be a playmaker, like going out on a fastbreak rather running set offense," Neuheisel said. "He has to get his eyes down the field. His eyes are still too much looking at the blocking. I think Craft is further along in that regard."

Medical chart

Linebacker Reggie Carter sat out practice this morning with a slight concussion. Carter, who runs the defense as middle linebacker, was injured tackling tailback Kahlil Bell. Redshirt freshman Steve Sloan filled in at middle linebacker with the first team. . . . Bell sat out practice, but is expected to be in pads this afternoon. Still recovering from knee surgery, Bell is being rested by Neuheisel for one of the practices when the Bruins have two in a day. . . . Linebacker Joshua Edwards was in shoulder pads a day after X-rays showed the stress fracture in his foot has healed. Edwards participated only in individual workouts. . . . Defensive tackle Brian Price was back in full contact drills after sitting out two days because of dizziness.

chris.foster@latimes.com