With so many of the starters lost for the remaining games with season-ending injuries, the Oregon coaches have decided to add to its staff in a unique way.
Quarterback Dennis Dixon and wide receiver Brian Paysinger will be undergraduate volunteer assistant coaches for the Ducks’ game at UCLA this week. Primarily, that’s because Oregon is only allowed to have 64 players travel to away games and it doesn’t benefit the Ducks to bring all of the injured players along. But because both Dixon and Paysinger have graduated and are no longer eligible after this season, they’re allowed to serve as assistant coaches and travel with the team.
Oregon coach Mike Bellotti said the Ducks did it before with former quarterback Kellen Clemens after his senior season was ended with a broken ankle against Arizona in 2005.
One injured senior who isn’t serving as an assistant coach is wide receiver Cameron Colvin. That’s because Bellotti is exploring the possibility of Colvin having a medical redshirt this season.
“We can’t do it with the others because they have eligibility left, or are hoping to play this year, or hoping to petition for further eligibility,” Bellotti said. “They’ll help in practice but the biggest thing is that Dennis can help in the game, signaling. We’re down in the numbers that we need a signaler.”
Redshirt freshman Justin Roper, who will have the majority of signaling duties taken over by Dixon, is ready to take snaps if Leaf is unable to play at any point during the game as Roper moves into the backup role.
“I’m ready to step forward and help us win these next three games,” Roper said.
Roper also said he felt “pretty close” to being put in last week’s game because of the concern over the status of Leaf’s ankle.
“I was trying to get myself ready if something happened,” Roper said. “I have to be ready at a moment’s notice.”
To help with that preparation, Roper took snaps with the first team offense on Monday while Leaf was still bothered by his ankle injury.

Other notes

Bellotti expects freshman wide receiver Aaron Pflugrad to play in Saturday’s game after he was hurt in the Arizona game and put in a protective boot afterward.
“The latest report is pretty positive,” Bellotti said. “(The trainers) feel like he’ll be back and available.”
Derrick Jones will also see extended playing time if he’s healthy. Bellotti said freshman Drew Davis may also get the opportunity to start.
“A lot of it depends on practice,” Bellotti said.
Freshman safety Jeffrey Maehl, who took snaps as the slot receiver in practice last week but didn’t see any playing time on the offensive side, again was taking snaps as the third receiver. This time Bellotti’s fairly certain Maehl will play both ways.
Jonathan Stewart, who also suffered an injury against Arizona, was kept out of practice Monday, but Bellotti said Stewart would practice later this week and will be fine before Saturday’s game.
“Jonathan’s fine. He’s sore but he’s fine. He’s been cleared to play,” Bellotti said. “Nobody’s completely healthy.”

Dixon’s the best

When asked where Dixon ranked among Oregon’s best quarterbacks under Bellotti, the coach answered quickly.
“He’s the best,” Bellotti said. “He’s by far the best athlete and he also performed at a higher level this year.”
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