Wednesday, November 02, 2005

Contra Costa Times: Oregon's backup QB is no slouch

Bellotti, Tedford praise San Leandro's Dixon, who will make first start

Cal football notes

Oregon coach Mike Bellotti wasn't about to make anyone think he doubted his new quarterback, Dennis Dixon, going into Saturday's game against Cal in Eugene, Ore. Bellotti was asked what made Dixon, the former San Leandro High star, a good pick to run his spread offense. "Dennis is 6-foot-4, 190 pounds and he runs very well," Bellotti said. "He has the quickest release of any quarterback we have on the team. He sees the field well. He is willing to take chances and allow his receivers to make plays." Dixon (15-for-20 for 130 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions) will have to be pretty good since he is facing No. 23 Cal. Oregon's regular starting quarterback, Kellen Clemens, broke his left ankle in the 15th-ranked Ducks' win over Arizona on Oct. 22. Cal coach Jeff Tedford said Dixon, a sophomore who has played sparingly in five games this season, will do just fine. "It's not like he has been sitting on the sideline all year," Tedford said. "He is well-equipped to run that offense. The key difference will be experience. But he is very elusive and very athletic. He has tremendous moves."

Change of pace

With some of his former assistants, such as Tedford and Arizona State's Dirk Koetter, coaching elsewhere in the Pac-10, Bellotti said it was time to change his offense. So Bellotti hired former BYU head coach Gary Crowton, and went to the spread offense. So far this season, the Ducks have averaged 35.4 points and 464.8 yards. "We're still installing it, to be honest," Bellotti said. "The first couple of years, you go through some growing pains."

In the dark

Tedford said he never did find out why Oregon's lights went out in Cal's last trip to Eugene in 2003. Ahead 17-7 in the fourth quarter, the Bears wound up losing 21-17 after a 23-minute delay so the stadium lights could be turned back on. "It was a freak deal," Tedford said. "That wasn't why we weren't successful." Tedford said his team was ready to play once the lights went back on. "We took our team into the locker room and I remember that we got booed for doing it. But we talked to them and regrouped. If it happened again, I would do the same thing." Lights won't be an issue Saturday. The game begins at 12:30 p.m. at Autzen Stadium.

Slip and slide

Tedford said the Eugene forecast calls for rain, so the Bears will be practicing with a wet ball this week. "We will have the footballs in trash cans full of water," Tedford said. "We will let our quarterbacks throw them, our center snap them, our running backs handle them. The main thing is that it's imperative to play snap to whistle and keep your head on a swivel because you never know when the ball is going to slip out."

Injury report

Cal's biggest worry going into Saturday's game is the status of defensive tackle Brandon Mebane, who has a sprained ankle and might not be able to play. Tedford said that even if Mebane can take some snaps, that he probably won't be a major factor. Bellotti said he has been very impressed with Mebane and noted that he is a major part of the Bears' defensive success this season. Tedford said wide receivers Robert Jordan (collarbone) and DeSean Jackson (shoulder) both will play, along with offensive tackle Ryan O'Callaghan, who has recovered from a concussion. Cal sophomore wide receiver Noah Smith, out since the opener with a broken leg, has recovered and will be available. However, Tedford said Smith has yet to get himself into football shape and therefore might be used sparingly.

End run

Talking about Oregon's nice facilities, Tedford noted that he expected to Cal to step up to the plate soon. Plans for the stadium are expected to be released next week before the USC game. That release should stimulate the fund-raising effort. Initial estimates have the Memorial Stadium renovation complete in time for the 2009 season.

 

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