The Oregon defense heads to Pullman this weekend on the heels of its worst statistical performance of the season against Boise State. Oregon gave up season-highs in points and passing yards and was burned on play-action passes several times in the game.
“We weren’t reading our keys or trusting our reads,” Oregon junior defensive back Willie Glasper said. “Then a couple guys got away from us.”
Oregon head coach Mike Bellotti agreed with the assessment but was optimistic about the nature of the defensive breakdowns.

“I’m actually excited by the fact that it’s more visual things that we can correct as opposed to physical techniques that you might not be able to correct,” he said.
And while some have speculated the hype surrounding this season’s secondary has tainted the Ducks’ game preparation, Bellotti praised their work ethic before and after their performance against the Broncos.
“Our secondary has great pride in what they do,” he said. “They’ve been working very hard and will work very hard this week to correct those things.”
Washington State features redshirt freshman quarterback Marshall Lobbestael, who came into the Cougars’ last game on Saturday against Portland State in the third quarter and led the Cougars to a 48-9 victory on 9-of-12 passing for 149 yards, with two touchdowns and no interceptions.
“They’re going to spread us out deep and throw the ball,” Glasper said. “We’re going to contain the run but we’ve got to contain the pass too.”
To contain the Washington State air attack, Oregon’s secondary will have to start by locking down senior wide receiver
Brandon Gibson, who leads Cougar receivers with 20 catches for 295 yards and two scores.
“He’s tall, he has speed and he gets in and out of breaks, then in the open field he can make you miss,” Glasper said of Gibson. “He seems to do pretty well, but everyone we face has a good receiver.”
Oregon hopes to have cornerback Walter Thurmond back in the starting lineup this week, after he missed last week’s game with a groin injury. Though the injury is expected to nag Thurmond for the season, Bellotti is hoping the pain will subside enough for Thurmond to play against Washington State.
“It is a pain issue. Hopefully he will feel good enough to play this week … That would be awesome,” Bellotti said. “We missed him, there’s no question.”
But should Thurmond be unavailable, Bellotti said he is confident that backup Talmadge Jackson can fill the role.
“Talmadge was in position on every play,” Bellotti said of the cornerback’s performance as a starter against Boise State. “I’m really pleased. We’ve felt all along that Talmadge Jackson can play.”
Oregon’s defense will be without the services of backup linebacker Eddie Pleasant on Saturday, as he was injured in a car accident Wednesday night in Springfield. Also in the car at the time were sophomore wide receiver Jamere Holland and freshman quarterback Darron Thomas.
Pleasant needed 75 stitches to close a gash in his forehead, while Holland suffered a concussion, according to published reports.
Pleasant was driving at the time of the accident and was cited by Springfield police for reckless driving and speed racing, according to published reports.
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