After losing Clemens for the rest of the season, the Ducks are eager to continue their winning ways
By Luke Andrews
The 14th-ranked Oregon Ducks, fresh off their fourth-straight win of the season, now enter the bye week in preparation for California, which visits Autzen Stadium in two weeks. And the timing of Oregon’s bye week could not have been better. The Ducks’ draining 28-21 win against Arizona last Saturday proved costly as senior quarterback Kellen Clemens suffered a broken ankle and will miss the remainder of the season. Backups Dennis Dixon and Brady Leaf are left with big shoes to fill for the final three games of the regular season. “It was unfortunate what happened and how I got in, but Dennis and I have to prepare to keep this team rolling,” Leaf said. “I am extremely excited for this opportunity.”
The extra week of preparation gives Dixon, who will take the majority of snaps in practice, and Leaf the opportunity to grasp Oregon’s spread offense and a chance for Oregon coaches to formulate playbooks catered to the two respective talents. “The nice thing about the timing of this is that we have two weeks to prepare, so we can get a lot more work done,” Oregon head coach Mike Bellotti said. “It’s a lot more this week about the Oregon Ducks and making sure we figure out what parts of the offense we want to focus on for Dennis and Brady.” Dixon, a sophomore from San Leandro, Calif., has played sparingly this season. He’s completed 15 of 20 passes for 130 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions.
Most known for his flair running the ball, Dixon, who broke Oregon’s 40-yard dash record for quarterbacks previously held by Akili Smith, has rushed for 66 yards on seven carries this season and has scored one touchdown — the go-ahead quarterback sneak in the season-opener against Houston. “Dennis is an unbelievable athlete. He can make plays that me and Kellen could never make just on sheer athletic ability,” Leaf said.
A sophomore from Great Falls, Mont., Leaf is the younger brother of Ryan Leaf, a former Washington State standout and second overall selection in the 1998 NFL draft. Brady Leaf made his Oregon debut in the home-opener against Montana, throwing for 25 yards on 2-of-5 passing. In relief duties against the Wildcats on Saturday, Leaf was 5 of 10 for 53 yards and an interception, but completed two key first downs to lead the Ducks to victory. Though Bellotti has named Dixon the starter, he expects both to share time under center. “We’re the same football team,” Bellotti said. “We have some weapons at quarterback, and we have some weapons on offense that are not going to be denied. So I think our attitude is pretty good.” While the circumstances causing their jump to the first team are disappointing, both Dixon and Leaf are eager to accept the challenge of continuing Oregon’s drive to a major bowl game. “It’s unfortunate that it had to happen like that,” Dixon said of Clemens’ injury. “But I’m going to have to go out there and show what I do best. I’m really confident and I’ve got teammates that are going to help me through this.”
Ngata enters record books
Defensive tackle Haloti Ngata, a likely future NFL draft pick, has become the unofficial leader in blocked kicks after blocking a punt attempt by Arizona in the third quarter, his seventh career blocked kick. Though records are incomplete, Ngata surpassed the previously recorded high of six held by Keith Lewis. “It’s mostly about effort. It’s cool, but it’s just what I do,” Ngata said of the unofficial record. “(Blocking kicks) changes the momentum a lot.” Ngata also recorded six tackles against the Wildcats, giving the junior from Salt Lake City 38 total tackles on the season. He also broke up two passes in the game against Arizona.
Injury update
Dixon, following Clemens’ injury, was sidelined with a mild concussion after a collision with Wildcat Darrell Brooks. Dixon, however, passed all tests following the game and is cleared to play in two weeks against California. He practiced both Monday and Tuesday this week.
Linebacker A.J. Tuitele was expected to, but did not make a return to the Oregon lineup against Arizona after a knee injury kept him out of action for consecutive weeks. Tuitele will practice during the two weeks of preparation and Bellotti expects him to play against the Bears. “He has been progressing each week, and he will start practice for real on Monday,” Bellotti said of Tuitele.
Clemens’ surgery on Monday to repair his fractured left ankle was considered a success, according to Dr. Bob Crist, the Ducks’ Team Physician.
Clemens underwent a 90-minute operation that “consisted of inserting a screw toward the top of the ankle to pull the fibula and tibia together, as well as attaching a metal plate to aid the healing process of a spiral fracture in the fibula.” Clemens’ rehabilitation is estimated to extend a minimum of three months and a maximum of six months. A full recovery is expected.
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