In two games this season, the statistics of Oregon’s spread offense have pleased Oregon coach Mike Bellotti.
The Ducks are averaging 39.5 points per game and 456.5 yards per game, including a much improved ground game that averages 218.5 yards per game.
But among those large numbers exists a much smaller statistic that is also to Bellotti’s liking – zero sacks allowed. Though it’s early in the season, only four other teams have been able to accomplish that. Those teams are South Florida, Tennessee, Utah and UTEP.
Oregon’s starting line consists of sophomore Max Unger, junior Josh Tschirgi, senior Enoka Lucas, senior Palauni Ma Sun and junior Geoff Schwartz. The group has started together each of Oregon’s last 12 games.
Oregon’s offensive line surrendered 20 sacks last season, a dramatic improvement from 41 the year before.
Martinez, Nelson recognized
It was quite a week for Oregon kicker Paul Martinez. He scored his first ever touchdown on a four-yard fake field goal option against Fresno State that proved to be the game-winner, and he connected on a 38-yard field goal to help Oregon to a 31-24 victory.
For his efforts, Martinez was named Pacific-10 Conference Special Teams Player of the Week – his fourth such honor of his career, which ties him with Joey Harrington for second most conference player of the week awards in school history.
With one more, Martinez will tie quarterback Bill Musgrave, who earned a school-record five during his career from 1987-90.
The senior from Danville, Calif., has connected on 3 of 4 field goals this season. His only miss came when a 36-yard attempt was blocked at Fresno State. For his career, Martinez is 22 of 28 on field goals with his longest being a 51-yarder against Houston last season. He led the nation in field goals made per game last season with a 2.11 per-game average.
Senior free safety J.D. Nelson also received honors as the Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Week after recording 13 tackles against Fresno State.
Nelson is a Bronko Nagurski candidate for the best defensive player in the country and has become known as one of the most crushing hitters in the country. He laid out two different Fresno State players – quarterback Tom Brandstater and wide receiver Paul Williams. Both players were slow to get off the ground.
“I’m just going out there trying to play my game,” Nelson said. “I guess I just find myself in the right spot at the right time.”
Nelson put the exclamation point on the victory against the Bulldogs by sacking Brandstater on fourth and seven, giving Oregon the ball and chance to run the clock.
Nelson has 15 total tackles this season, and this is his first ever Pac-10 player of the week honor.
A Familiar Name
Oregon’s starting defensive tackle Jeremy Gibbs certainly is no stranger to the Oklahoma football program. Gibbs, a junior transfer, played at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M in Miami, Okla., a three-hour drive northeast from the Oklahoma campus in Norman.
Following a successful two years with Northeastern Oklahoma A&M, Gibbs became a highly sought after recruit and originally committed to the Sooners in July before deciding to back out and attend Oregon instead.
The Ducks caught Gibbs’ attention primarily when Haloti Ngata opted for the NFL Draft following the Holiday Bowl, giving Gibbs the chance to compete for immediate playing time.
“Right now I am a soft commitment to OU,” Gibbs told Sooners’ Illustrated in July before later choosing Oregon. “I just feel I need to look around to make sure that Oklahoma is the right place for me. I committed very early to OU. I still like OU and I will probably end up at OU, but I committed so early that I feel I need to check out a few other schools.”
Gibbs has six total tackles in two games, including a sack, a forced fumble and a blocked field goal attempt in his first career game against Stanford.
Pope Earns Scholarship
Backup strong safety and former walk-on Jon Pope will be awarded a scholarship when school resumes, Bellotti announced last week.
Pope, a senior, has been a standout so far primarily on special teams, recording seven tackles and catching the eye of the coaching staff.
“Jon Pope is an athlete, he’s courageous, he’s tough,” Bellotti said. “He’s a one-man wrecking crew right now on special teams and nobody’s found a way to slow him down.”
Pope, despite being what Bellotti called “the strongest player in the history of our program,” has seen limited playing time in his career until this season, when he made a statement in the opening game against Stanford. Pope blindsided Cardinal quarterback Trent Edwards on a scramble and made another big hit on a kickoff.
“This year, he’s making a significant impact on special teams and will probably play more on defense,” Bellotti said. “I have great respect for Jon both as an athlete and a person, and I’m very proud and pleased to offer him a scholarship because he’s earned it.”
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