Sounds weird to hear an Oregon defensive player breathing a sigh of relief now that he’s able to prepare for a Pacific-10 Conference team’s offense as opposed to a winless team from the Big West.
But that’s the case this week for Duck linebacker David Moretti as he and his teammates get set to do battle with the Arizona Wildcats on Saturday night in Tucson, Ariz.
Oregon did come away with the 38-21 win over Utah State last weekend, but the unique offensive formations the Aggies ran gave the Ducks’ defense the fits.
“Utah State was weird altogether,” Moretti said. “That offense they ran was something that I’ve never seen before and it definitely took me out of my game. It was a little more unconventional than what I’m used to guarding against.”
What the Aggies do is try to confuse the defense by frequently switching up their offensive formations and using multiple-receiver sets that help keep the opposition guessing.
Moretti compared guarding against such a unique offense to one of those neighborhood games played in the cul de sac with a Nerf football.
“You really do have to kind of play street football in a way, with everyone saying, ‘OK, I got him, you got him, and then you just have to make it all work,” Moretti said. “They make you line up in a lot of different basic coverages. You can’t do much as a defender.”
Which is exactly why Moretti is excited about studying up on a Wildcats offense and figuring out the best way to defend Arizona quarterback Jason Johnson and halfback Clarence Farmer.
“Hopefully this weekend, we’ll get back into some more conventional football,” Moretti said. “I’m just glad I don’t have to play Utah State again.”
As for Moretti’s health, the junior transfer from Pleasonton, Calif., said that the broken thumb he suffered in the season-opening win against Wisconsin is almost completely healed.
Moretti missed the Utah game Sept. 8, but has played in the USC and Utah State games with a cast. Against the Trojans, he recorded seven tackles and forced a fumble and against the Aggies, he set a career-high with 13 tackles, including one for a loss of a yard.
“I think the cast could be coming off next week,” Moretti said. “I don’t really even notice it. I did at first, but not anymore.”

Pac-10 beating up

on other conferences
With most non-league games over and done with, the Pac-10 is making a case for being considered one of the strongest conferences. Against non-conference opponents, Pac-10 teams are 18-4 (.818) and are 4-1 in games played versus top-25 teams.
Since Oregon head coach Mike Bellotti took over the program in 1995, the Ducks are 21-4 in nonconference contests.