Daily Cal: With Clemens Out, Oregon is Spread Thin

By BARRY KELLY

For a change, the injury issues will be on the opposite side of the football field.  After enduring eight weeks of injuries to key players, No. 23 Cal will be rested and relatively healthy when it comes off its bye week to battle No. 15 Oregon on Saturday at 12:30 p.m. in Eugene, Ore.  However, the Ducks, who will also resume play following their week off, will be less stable.  Oregon's offensive centerpiece will be absent against the Bears (6-2, 3-2 in the Pac-10). Ducks quarterback Kellen Clemens broke his left ankle against Arizona on Oct. 22. Sophomore Dennis Dixon is listed as the starter.  Oregon took advantage of its week off to prepare Dixon for the first start of his career by having him face the team's first-string defense in practice, Ducks coach Mike Bellotti said on a conference call Tuesday.  "The first thing we're doing is looking at the reps we give him. We're practicing good versus good as much as we can this week," Bellotti said. "Certainly, the bye couldn't have occurred at a better time."  The loss of Clemens means Oregon will be without the player around whom the Ducks constructed their new spread offense.  In his first season as Oregon's offensive coordinator, Gary Crowton's schemes and formations helped Clemens amass an average of 329.2 total yards per game. Clemens' statistics rank him at No. 1 in the conference and No. 5 in the country in total offense.  Crowton's spread offense allowed Clemens to take advantage of his running ability as well as his passing attack. With the Burns, Ore., native utilizing the full range of his athleticism, the Ducks (7-1, 4-1) won their last four games. Their only loss came against No. 1 USC.  Dixon has the task of sustaining Oregon's winning streak, as he takes over for Clemens, a senior who started 32 consecutive games.  "He's well equipped physically to run that offense-throws the ball very well, very athletic, can run with the football, and really, that's kind of what that offense is built around," Cal coach Jeff Tedford said Tuesday at his weekly press conference. "He poses a lot of the same issues that Kellen would pose. I think the only difference is there's a huge experience difference between Kellen and him."  Dixon, a 6-foot-4, 192-pound native of San Leandro, Calif., did not have a chance to do much against the Wildcats-he was knocked out of the game one possession after Clemens went down in the third quarter.

However, Dixon has appeared in six other games this season, completing 15 of his 20 throws for 130 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. The school record-holder in the 40-yard dash for a quarterback (4.51 seconds), he has also rushed 17 times for 66 yards and a touchdown.  "It's not like it's his first time behind center in a game situation. He has played some," Tedford said.  Dixon's transition from backup to starter may be made easier by a duo of talented wide receivers.  Demetrius Williams and Cameron Colvin, a pair of sophomores from De La Salle High School in Concord, Calif., will likely provide Dixon with two explosive targets. Colvin averages 17.2 yards per catch, while Williams is the nation's No. 4 leader in receiving yards with 895 yards.  Dixon will also have two capable tailbacks at his disposal in senior Terrence Whitehead and true freshman Jonathan Steward.  As is typical of spread offenses, the Ducks did not utilize their tailbacks often with Clemens at quarterback. However, their particular scheme will allow them to do so if necessary to help Dixon, Tedford said.  "There's a couple wrinkles in Oregon's offense with three tight ends in the game that you have to be prepared for," Tedford said. "They're not all spread out-they have the ability to put some tight ends in the game and run the ball as well."  Despite losing Clemens, Bellotti said he is confident in his squad's ability to adjust to a new quarterback.

"I expect great things from Dennis," Bellotti said. "I think at some point, we're going to say wow, and it's going to be a good wow."

Cal Football 2005: Cal vs. Oregon

KICKOFF: No. 23 Cal takes on No. 15 Oregon tomorrow at 12:30 p.m. at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore.

TV: ABC

RADIO: KGO 810 AM

THE OPPONENT: The Ducks (7-1) topped Arizona, 28-21, two weeks ago in Tucson, Ariz.

SERIES: The Bears lead 36-29-2. In 2004, Cal edged Oregon, 28-27, at Memorial Stadium.