SF Chronicle: Oregon has new look to show Tedford

CAL NOTEBOOK

Bruce Adams, Chronicle Staff Writer

Former Oregon resident Jeff Tedford might not recognize the place when he takes his Cal Bears to Eugene to play the Oregon Ducks on Saturday.

That's because the Ducks have a new look on offense.  "It's changed tremendously," Tedford said.  The basic old Oregon offense -- with modifications over the years -- is still being run at Cal and at Arizona State. Both Tedford and the Sun Devils' Dirk Koetter were offensive coordinators in Eugene before taking their respective head coaching positions.  This year, Oregon coach Mike Bellotti brought in new offensive coordinator Gary Crowton, who was most recently head coach at BYU.  He has installed a new system which often has the quarterback in the shotgun formation, receivers spread across the field and a playbook heavy on spread-option plays, the so-called Utah Offense.

It was a system that made the most of senior quarterback Kellen Clemens, who leads the conference in total offense with 329.2 yards a game. Clemens, however, was lost the season with a broken leg in the Ducks' 28-21 win at Arizona Oct. 22. He will be replaced by sophomore Dennis Dixon.  "He's very athletic ... and can move," Tedford said. "He can run and he has a very good arm."  Tedford said Cal (6-2, 3-2 Pac-10) will vary the looks on defense, including using a three-man front, against Oregon (7-1, 4-1), depending on down and distance.  Injury update: Tedford said the four regulars who are part of the seemingly endless string of injuries this year could all play Saturday.  Tedford said offensive tackle Ryan O'Callaghan (concussion) was feeling better Monday, although he was held out of contact drills.  Receivers Robert Jordan (collarbone) and DeSean Jackson (shoulder) were both practicing Monday, although Jordan was held out of contact.  Tedford said defensive tackle Brandon Mebane was also active at practice. He also said that Mebane's injury, initially described as an ankle sprain, involved his Achilles tendon.  While Tedford said he going into the week assuming all would be available, he said he wouldn't know for certain until Thursday.  

Another TV game: Cal's game against No. 1 USC Nov. 12 at Memorial Stadium will be broadcast on ABC, with kickoff set for 12:30 p.m.  Ten of Cal's 11 regular season games will have been televised, concluding with the Big Game at Stanford at 4 p.m. Nov. 19 on ABC.