A new Cal defensive scheme to combat Ducks' potent offense works, resulting in four turnovers and only 70 rushing yards
By: Luke Andrews | Sports Editor
BERKELEY, Calif. - When looking at the trends prior to No. 11 Oregon's match-up against No. 16 California, there figured to be substantial offensive fireworks. That came true Saturday, partially. California, which came in averaging 452.2 yards per game for the season and over 43 points in its last four games, did its part with 424 total yards and 45 points. But the big surprise Saturday in Oregon's 45-24 loss, was how the California defense stifled an Oregon offense that came in averaging 497 yards per game including 227.5 on the ground and had yet to be slowed all season. Not much went well for Oregon. The Ducks committed four turnovers, converted just 2 of 10 on third downs, gained 358 yards of total offense including just 70 yards on the ground, and scored 10 points at halftime - seven of which came after a fake field goal gave Oregon a first-and-goal on the Bears' one-yard line.
"You can't go into somebody's house against a very good football team and turn the ball over as much as we did and expect to win," Oregon coach Mike Bellotti said. Cal defensive coordinator and former Oregon assistant Bob Gregory instituted an entirely new defensive game plan Saturday aimed at stopping Oregon's potentially potent spread offense, players said. It worked. "They took away some of our running game and some things that we've been very successful at," Bellotti said. "Am I surprised by how well they played? Yes. It was not what I was anticipating." In fact, one of the few mistakes California's defense made was a roughing the passer penalty on a third-down pass that kept an early fourth-quarter drive alive.
It didn't matter. The Bears' Bernard Hicks intercepted Oregon quarterback Dennis Dixon on the very next play. The Cal defense wasted no time making a statement Saturday. Linebacker Brandon Hampton intercepted Dixon's pass on Oregon's first offensive play, and, from there, Dixon and the offense failed to gain any sort of rhythm. Dixon was sacked twice and intercepted three times.
The Bay Area native entered Saturday having been sacked just once and having thrown just two interceptions. He wasn't the only one who struggled for Oregon. Go-to receiver Jaison Williams had eclipsed 100 yards in each of the last three games but was held to five receptions for 66 yards Saturday, though he did score a late third-quarter touchdown. Running back Jonathan Stewart, who averaged 114.2 yards rushing per game and 7.9 yards per carry, found few holes against Cal's swarming defense. He was limited to 26 yards rushing on 16 attempts in the first half and received just two more carries in the second half, losing one yard off his total, with Oregon reduced to throwing the ball. He finished with 25 total yards - a 1.4 yard per-carry average. "I thought we were ready, we just didn't come to play," Stewart said. "It seemed like they were right on top of our whole game plan." Overall it was a humbling experience for an offensive unit that had encountered few speed bumps so far until Saturday. "Right now our biggest enemy is ourselves," Oregon center Enoka Lucas said. "We can only correct the errors that we had and focus on UCLA." Linebacker Desmond Bishop led the way for the Bears with one interception, one sack, two tackles for losses, and 10 total tackles. California scored 21 points off Oregon turnovers.
California Notes
- Taking a page out of Oregon's book, California unveiled new uniforms Saturday when the Bears took the field with golden-yellow jerseys. Bellotti chose not to comment on the timing of the unveiling for California. It is well publicized that Oregon is a pioneer of sorts when it comes to uniform experimentation. The Ducks current uniforms have 48 different combinations.
- California's Heisman hopeful, running back Marshawn Lynch, went out of the game in the second quarter with an ankle injury and did not return. His status for the Bears' game next week at Washington State was not immediately known. His backup, Justin Forsett, rushed 27 times for 163 yards and one touchdown.
- DeSean Jackson, California's speedy wide receiver and punt returner, caught his eighth touchdown in as many games with a 36 yard reception in the first quarter. He also returned his third career punt return for a touchdown with a wild 65-yard return in the second quarter that put the Bears ahead 28-3. "I usually try not to run side-to-side," Jackson said. "I was just trying to get away. I went to the right, lots of Ducks, to the left, lots of Ducks. It felt good to hit that hole."
- With 45 points Saturday, the Bears have scored more than 40 points in a school-record five consecutive games.
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