With temperatures hovering around the 80s in Eugene this week, the Oregon football team received a small preview of the heat to come this Saturday in Tempe, Ariz. By the 12:30 p.m. kickoff Saturday, the temperature inside Sun Devil Stadium is expected to be a toasty 100 degrees.
“The temperature is going to be a significant issue,” Oregon coach Mike Bellotti said.
Oregon’s season opener against Stanford came in 93 degree heat. Oregon had its second game at Fresno State on Sept. 9 following a daytime high of 85 degrees. Oregon’s most recent game, its 34-33 thriller over Oklahoma, played out in a relatively cool 70 degrees.
“The nice thing about Eugene is we can get a greater volume of work done year round than places that have 100 plus degree heat or humidity issues or something like that,” Bellotti said. “So I feel good about the conditioning aspect of our football team and I truly believe that we’ll be tested this week.”
In his weekly press conference, Bellotti was asked if he would adjust the game plan to slow the usually up-tempo offense and give the Oregon defense more time to rest.
“No, we just want to score points,” he said.
The Ducks fast paced offense is averaging 37.7 points on 471.3 yards of total offense.
“We can maintain more ball possession,” Bellotti said. “That’s simply by converting more third downs but the bottom line is points.”
The Ducks are 22-of-39 on third down conversions compared to opponents more paltry 16-of-45.
Versatile attack Oregon’s running game, consisting of Jonathan Stewart and Jeremiah Johnson, is averaging 198.3 yards on the ground. Stewart averages 105 yards per game, while Johnson chips in with 51 yards per game.
“I feel like our offensive staff is significantly improved in understanding how we can run the football,” said Bellotti, who also complimented the improvement of the offensive line. “We also, in having Jonathan Stewart healthy, and also proving that he can play when not 100 percent, I think that’s been a tremendous advantage to us.”
Games against Fresno State and Oklahoma have provided Bellotti with a measurement of the running game’s success. A byproduct of Oregon’s success on the ground is that it can help draw more talented running back recruits to Oregon, Bellotti said. If not for Stewart’s lone carry against Fresno State, he could be ranked in the top 10 rushing leaders nationally.
“I expect him to get there eventually and this offense is certainly capable of creating a 1,000 yard ground gainer or two 1,000 yard ground gainers,” Bellotti said.
Replacing Haberly With linebacker Brent Haberly suffering a broken arm in the Oklahoma game, it has created an opening for someone to step in and play alongside linebacker Blair Phillips. Coaches inserted A.J. Tuitele against the Sooners and he had a season high 10 tackles, including a quarterback sack.
Oregon must now determine who can replace Haberly’s senior leadership and performance on the field.
“It’s going to be real hard, just to replace his playmaking, his seniority on the field, and I think we’re just going to have to gather around each other just to play better,” Tuitele said.
Bellotti said that he is looking for Phillips to take on more of the leadership role Haberly held down the last two seasons.
“Brent did the majority in terms of setting the defense, being the quarterback back there, which allowed Blair just to play,” Bellotti said. “Blair’s very capable of calling that, it’s just going to add to what he has to think about now … I’m really pleased with where (Blair’s) at, and he will be asked to do more.”
-Oklahoma aftermath
Bellotti continues to face questions two weeks after Oregon’s 34-33 win over the Oklahoma Sooners.
He is still receiving letters and emails questioning his character and proposing he either replay or forfeit the win. One letter came addressed to Coach Bowerman, a reference to Nike co-founder Bill Bowerman. Bellotti was asked multiple times about the game in his press conference this week – nearly two weeks after the controversy occurred.
Arizona State coach Dirk Koetter said he first realized the magnitude of Oregon’s win when he finally sat down and watched tape of the game. He now knows he’ll face an Oregon team trying to shake off any doubts about its latest victory.
“I didn’t even think of that until it came up when Mike was talking,” Koetter told an Arizona newspaper. “I’m sure if I were in his shoes maybe I’d be thinking about that. I would agree with what Mike said. They just need to get back out there and start playing again for their sake.
“Oregon’s players? It’s not their fault there was a controversy. It’s not the coaches’ fault. What happened, happened. It’s a system error. Their players were just trying to make a comeback. I just watched the film of that game … and I’m sure it was an unbelievable experience to be part of.”
-Injury update
The bye week allowed numerous Oregon players to rehab lingering injuries and get healthy.
Oregon wide receivers Cameron Colvin, Derrick Jones, Garren Strong and James Finley have missed time and running backs Stewart and Johnson are getting back to full health, Bellotti said. All practiced this week.
Defensive end Victor Filipe is questionable on whether or not he can return from a dislocated left elbow he suffered in an August practice. He is wearing a brace over the elbow.
On a negative note, linebacker Jason Turner has a torn anterior cruciate ligament. It’s unknown if he’ll be able to play later this season.
Notes and numbersArizona State has won three of the last four games with Oregon and holds a 16-10 overall advantage in the series. The Ducks broke a streak of three consecutive Arizona State wins last season with a 31-17 come-from-behind victory in Tempe.
Before last season, the last time Oregon won at Arizona State was behind quarterback Joey Harrington, who led the Ducks to a 56-55 victory.
ESPN is televising the contest on ABC. Former Oregon quarterback Dan Fouts is providing the play-by-play with Tim Brant the analyst and Jack Arute on the sideline. Fouts has called all of Oregon’s games this season.
Oregon had an open practice Monday and held closed practices Tuesday through Thursday. Tuesday afternoon, the sounds of piped in crowd noise could be heard outside Autzen Stadium. Saturday’s game will be held in Sun Devil Stadium with a capacity crowd of 73,379.
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