Friday, October 28, 2005

Portland Tribune: Game Preview

Oregon Ducks

Next: California at Oregon, 12:30 p.m. Nov. 5, Autzen Stadium

TV, radio: KATU (2), KXL (750 AM)

Johnny who? Oregon coach Mike Bellotti took a jab at former Duck QB Johnny DuRocher when talking about UO’s quarterback depth now that Kellen Clemens is on the shelf. “There’s a quarterback that defected from us that probably would have been involved now, but that was his choice,” Bellotti said, referring to DuRocher, who eventually signed with Washington.

More QBs: Dennis Dixon and Brady Leaf are sophomores and should be in the QB mix the next two years. But the Ducks are shopping around for quarterbacks and already have a verbal commitment from Nathan Costa of Hilmar, Calif. Oregon could sign as many as three QBs, including a junior-college player, in February — all of whom could run the spread offense.

He’s No. 3: Kyle Bennett, a freshman walk-on from David Douglas, is third on the depth chart at quarterback behind Dixon and Leaf.

Notes: Bellotti says Clemens has been invited to the Senior Bowl on Jan. 28 in Mobile, Ala. It remains to be seen whether Clemens will be able to participate; his rehabilitation from surgery on a fractured ankle, strained ligaments and a cracked fibula could take three to six months. … One of Bellotti’s favorite sayings these days: The Ducks have “a confidence — not an arrogance.” Like arrogance in past seasons was part of the equation? … Linebacker Brent Haberly, a junior from Cottage Grove, has sure been solid — and he made the winning fumble recovery against Arizona. Said Bellotti on his television show: “He’s not the biggest or fastest, but if you measured heart, he’d be off the charts.” … Are you questioning why Nick Reed didn’t just fall on that loose punt last week at Arizona? “They’re taught to scoop and score,” Bellotti says. “They’ve got to make that attempt.”

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