The ninth-ranked@@http://espn.go.com/college-football/team/_/id/2483/oregon-ducks@@ Oregon Ducks were in shorts and shoulder pads inside the Moshofsky Center@@http://www.goducks.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=30555@@ Monday morning for their first practice of the week leading up to Saturday’s game against Colorado in Boulder.
Oregon’s biggest question mark entering week eight remains the state of junior quarterback Darron Thomas’@@directory@@ left knee, which he injured on the Ducks’ first possession of the third quarter@@not sure how to check@@ against Arizona State. Details are still vague about the extent of Thomas’ injury, though he was seen leaving practice without a protective brace (likely removed before he exited practice to avoid being seen by reporters).
If the second-year starter is unable to play on Saturday, Oregon coach Chip Kelly remains confident in backup Bryan Bennett@@directory@@ and third-string true freshman Marcus Mariota@@directory@@.
“With those two guys, they’re very similar,” Kelly said of Bennett and Thomas. “We’re recruiting guys that can fit for what we’re doing. So you don’t get in that situation when someone gets hurt or goes down that you’ve got to change what you’re doing drastically.”
On a positive note, Oregon faces a young, struggling Colorado squad that hasn’t won at home in 2011. With that in mind, there seems to be no rush to get Thomas or fellow junior LaMichael James@@directory@@ back this week unless either is 100 percent. And really — based on the performances from Bennett and Kenjon Barner@@directory@@ on Saturday — the Ducks could probably stay unbeaten in Pac-12 play until their Nov. 5 matchup against Washington in Seattle.
Though he watched the entire Arizona State game from the sideline, James still took questions from the media postgame and said he remains eager to return to his teammates.
“I’m just taking it one day at a time,” James said. “If I had to play, I could definitely play. I’m not wearing a brace anymore; I’m just getting my range of motion back.”
Barner has proven a dynamic piece of the Oregon offense during his career, but until Saturday, it was still a bit unclear whether or not he could shoulder all of the load in a conference game. With just one career start to his credit — a five touchdown first-half performance@@pretty sure stats don’t go back that far…could be wrong@@ against New Mexico to open last season while James served a one-game suspension — Barner certainly didn’t disappoint.
With career highs for carries (31) and yards (171)@@http://www.goducks.com/ViewArticle.dbml?&DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=205266631@@, the Riverside, Calif., native ran for his third career 100-yard performance and only seemed to get stronger as the game went on, despite a few minor ankle tweaks that required taping throughout the game.
“I was grateful and blessed to get the opportunity,” Barner said. “I was happy to do that for my team. It was a good feeling to be the number one running back.”
In initial BCS Poll, Oregon sits at No. 10@@http://espn.go.com/college-football/bcs@@
Sporting a 5-1 overall record with a 3-0 rank in Pac-12 play@@http://espn.go.com/college-football/team/_/id/2483/oregon-ducks@@, the Ducks are one of two one-loss teams ranked in the initial BCS Poll, with Arkansas (5-1) coming in at No. 9@@http://espn.go.com/college-football/bcs@@. The Ducks moved up one spot to No. 8 @@http://espn.go.com/college-football/rankings@@in the USA Today Coaches Poll after beating then-No. 18 Arizona State over the weekend.
Oregon stayed at No. 9 in the Harris Poll@@http://espn.go.com/college-football/rankings/_/poll/5@@, which also makes up one-third of the BCS formula along with the coaches poll and computer rankings. In the latter poll, the Ducks came in at No. 12, likely because of their weak preseason schedule (aside from playing top-ranked LSU).
Locking down Autzen Stadium
It came as no surprise when Autzen Stadium announcer Don Essig@@http://blog.oregonlive.com/behindducksbeat/2010/12/can_you_imagine_the_uproar_in.html all over google@@ told the 60,055@@http://www.goducks.com/ViewArticle.dbml?&DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=205266631@@ fans in attendance Saturday that they’d just set a new Autzen and State of Oregon record for most people to watch a football game.
Oregon sold out Autzen for the 78th consecutive contest, with the last non-sellout coming Sept. 18, 1999 against Nevada. With their 20th home win in a row, the Ducks are now just three games shy of the school record set between 1997 and 2001.
The reigning Pac-12 champions will have the opportunity to tie, and possibly surpass that milestone this season. Oregon will host Washington State on Oct. 29, USC on Nov. 19, and Oregon State on Nov. 26@@on schedule@@. Should things fall the Ducks’ way the remainder of the season, they’ll likely have a shot at hosting the first Pac-12 championship game on Dec. 2, a contest that Arizona State could easily represent the South Division in.