Last week the Oregon running game was held to a season-low 70 rushing yards on 29 carries. Though the team still leads the Pac-10 in rushing with 197.0 yards per game, last week’s game proved that the three-headed running game of Jonathan Stewart, Jeremiah Johnson and Dennis Dixon can be stopped.
Stewart, who had rushed for more than 100 yards in each game he started and averaged 7.9 per carry prior to the Cal game, was held to 25 yards on 18 carries and Johnson did not receive a hand-off during a game for the first time this season.
With the running backs virtually taken out of the game, Dixon ran for a career-high 11 carries and career-best 49 yards. The Ducks face a UCLA team Saturday that ranks first in the conference against the run, surrendering just 50 yards per game.
Once, Twice, Three times an athlete
After emerging as a play-maker at wide receiver last week by catching six passes for 113 yards, Jordan Kent has a decision to make when practice starts for the Oregon men’s basketball team this Saturday. Kent, who runs a 10.41 100m dash, said he will consider foregoing his senior season in basketball and track to attend the NFL combine if the opportunity presents itself.
“Jordan is an excellent athlete. He’s in tremendous shape – he could play 100 plays,” coach Mike Bellotti said. “And he’s getting better as a football player. Every day that he catches a football, runs, is tackled or breaks a tackle, and learns to finish plays, he becomes a better player. He’s like a sponge. He wants to learn, he wants to get better. He’s a tremendous guy to coach.”
Kent said that he will likely make a decision sometime in November, giving him time to sort his options.
Until Kent makes a decision, the basketball team will leave a spot open for him should he decide to return.
“I’m definitely just sticking with football and just taking things a day at a time and then when the season’s over, we’ll look at it and see as far as basketball,” Kent said.
Trick Plays Keep Coaches Guessing
Mike Bellotti has shown that an opposing coach can never take a routine play for granted. Twice this year Bellotti has attempted fake field goals, one of which resulted in a touchdown and the other set up a one-yard score.
With the score tied 24-24 against Fresno State, Bellotti ran a fake field goal option play that resulted in kicker Paul Martinez receiving a pitch from holder Brady Leaf and running into the end zone for a four-yard score.
The touchdown proved to be the deciding score as Oregon won 31-24.
Last week against Cal, Bellotti once again fooled the opposing defense when the special teams lined up for a field goal while trailing 28-3.
This time the Ducks were 26 yards away from the end zone when Leaf threw a 25-yard pass to Dante Rosario.
Though the eventual touchdown only brought the score to 28-10, Bellotti showed that he can always keep coaches on their toes and run a trick play at any time.
Injuries Continue to Cause Concern
Bellotti said that the rate at which injuries are occurring has reached an immediate point of concern. Aside from the four defensive starters the Duck’s lost within the first four games, the team has lost reserve safety and special teams member Jerome Boyd for 4-6 weeks with a torn MCL.
Kicker Paul Martinez is listed as day-to-day after leaving early during the first half against Cal with a sore quad. Wider receiver Cameron Colvin injured his hamstring and is also listed day-to-day.
Wide receivers Derrick Jones and Garren Strong along with safety J.D. Nelson are listed as probable
Defensive end Victor Filipe may see playing time this week for the first time after sustaining an elbow injury before the season-opener.
[email protected]