It’s been awhile since Oregon visited Washington in Seattle. The No. 7 Ducks (5-1 overall, 2-1 Pacific-10 Conference) haven’t traveled to play the Huskies (2-4, 0-3) there since 2003-when they lost 42-10 -and haven’t won there since 1997.
While Oregon’s the favorite to win, the hostile environment filled with Husky fans is something none of these players have experienced.
“We don’t really know what to expect,” center Max Unger said. “It’s going to be nuts.”
Wide receiver Garren Strong had some idea of what to look out for.
“I heard some of their fans are pretty bad,” he said.
It’s also the 100th game of the series between the two teams, but none of those facts or numbers mean much to the Ducks. They’re just looking to win their sixth game of the season, becoming bowl eligible as the try to move up in the standings once the outcome of the UCLA – California game is decided. A win could also help Oregon move higher from the No. 10 spot in the BCS standings.
But again, those are things the Ducks don’t focus on because it’s something to be concerned with once the regular season is over.
“(Offensive line) coach (Steve) Greatwood basically told us to ‘Keep our heads down, keep swinging and then after the 12th game look up,’” Unger said. “We don’t know what’s going to happen and it’s really up to us.
Unger added that while the coaches are telling them to keep focused on the present game, sometimes the guys just can’t help themselves.
“You just have to be smart about it,” Unger said. “You can’t take one win for granted and take next week off. You can’t think you’ve got it all made.”
Of course, none of the Oregon players should believe their season is set when some of the team’s most important players are being lost nearly every game.
After the season-ending injuries to Cameron Colvin and Jeremiah Johnson in the Washington State game, Oregon’s depth will be tested against the Huskies. But it won’t be much different for the receivers stepping in for Colvin. Both Aaron Pflugrad and Derrick Jones have received enough playing time to feel comfortable starting but neither has the amount of experience Colvin or Brian Paysinger had.
Neither of them are as big either. Both Pflugrad (5-foot-10, 172 pounds) and Jones (6-1, 176) are smaller receivers who rely more on their speed than their muscle to get open and catch passes.
“I think you have to be pretty quick playing in the slot (position) because if guys get ahold of me, it’s not very pretty,” Pflugrad said.
That said, Jones still expects to do the same things Paysinger and Colvin did before him. He doesn’t want to be asked less of even if he’s a smaller receiver.
“It’s still going to be the same, just different guys are going to be there,” Jones said. “We still have a lot of great receivers here.”
As far as quarterback Dennis Dixon’s concerned, he isn’t worried about having the offense filled with guys further down on the depth chart. He’s still going to have faith in the players because he knows they’re talented enough to step in.
“He’s seen us in practice so he’ll look for us in the game too,” Jones said. “If we’re open, he’s going to throw us the ball.”
Even Oregon’s leading wide receiver feels like it’s his duty as well to help offset the injuries.
“There are some areas I need to improve in before I can say I’m actually in full stride,” Jaison Williams said.
While the Ducks hope to win without their fallen teammates, Oregon coach Mike Bellotti said keeping spirits up becomes harder with each injury.
“These are not only their teammates but their friends,” Bellotti said. “It’s hard. It takes your breath away and takes a lot of the joy out of a victory.”
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