Portland Tribune: Ducks try to ease pain of QB loss

By JASON VONDERSMITH

The Oregon Ducks are bowl bound, but where are they going and what shape will they be in?  Their worst fear has come true; quarterback Kellen Clemens is injured and done for the year.  Sophomores Dennis Dixon and Brady Leaf cannot bring to the offense what Clemens brought — the complete package of runner, passer, leader and focal point of the spread offense. Both Dixon and Leaf have limitations, and much inexperience.

“Kellen is the highest-rated player on this football team, a national guy, that’s a difficult loss,” says coach Mike Bellotti, who lost his senior in last weekend’s 28-21 win over Arizona. “But our playmakers are across the board. Our team has confidence we can win in different ways — offense, defense and special teams.”  The athletic Dixon will be the starter — “we know Dennis has something special,” Bellotti says — and get about 70 percent of the reps with the No. 1 offense in practice as the 14th-ranked Ducks (7-1, 4-1 Pac-10) prepare to play California on Nov. 5. But Leaf also will figure into the game plan.   Offensive coordinator Gary Crowton says Dixon has moderate command of the system.  “I think he understands the playbook, and every game we’ve been in I feel he has been prepared,” Crowton says. “Plus, he gives you another dimension: When things break down, he can run.”   Crowton expects Cal, Washington State and Oregon State to do what they can to rattle Dixon and Leaf.

“They’re young quarterbacks, and teams usually blitz young guys,” he says. “Dennis will be good against the blitz because he’s fast, and Brady is very intelligent.”  Clemens, who will be out three months with his fractured left ankle, says more practice for Dixon and Leaf will help their timing with the receivers. “We have a lot of faith in both of those guys,” Crowton says.  But there are issues to consider.   Is the slight Dixon, 6-4 and 190 pounds, tough enough to take hits all game? He also tends to lock on receivers and not survey the entire field.  Bellotti calls Leaf “a rhythmic player, and I have no doubt he can run this offense,” but can he move in the pocket well enough to hit receivers on the mark and run the option effectively? “I run option plays in practice; I don’t see why we can’t run it in the game,” the 6-5, 225-pound Leaf says.  Bellotti says the offense will not change, and the Ducks will not rely more on the run.   “We have to hand-tailor game plans to their strengths,” he says of the two remaining QBs. “I think they’re both capable of winning football games.”

Oregon Ducks

Next: California, 12:30 p.m. Nov. 5, Autzen Stadium … Oregon (7-1 overall, 4-1 in the Pac-10) has a bye this week.

Clemens done: Quarterback Kellen Clemens was scheduled to have surgery Monday, with doctors putting a pin in his left ankle to stabilize bones during healing. Clemens also suffered ligament damage in last week’s 28-21 win at Arizona.   He hopes to hobble on crutches to classes by Wednesday and attend team meetings and practices.   “I’d like to make a run at the professional level,” he says. “I want to play football again, I want to keep the dream alive.”   Clemens came up two touchdown passes and 51 yards in total offense shy of Oregon’s all-time records. He threw for 61 TDs and had 8,090 total yards.   He also finished third in all-time passing yardage with 7,555 yards, and his 61 percent completion percentage ranks first.

Fantastic Phinisee: Coach Mike Bellotti has called Justin Phinisee “a great punt returner … one of the best in the nation.”   Phinisee showed sprinter’s speed in returning a punt 69 yards for a score against Arizona. Standout Arizona punter Danny Baugher outkicked the coverage, and Phinisee used good blocks and cut through the teeth of the Wildcat coverage.   “He’s a very courageous player to take it right up the middle,” Bellotti says of Phinisee, who is third in the Pac-10 in punt-return average (13.1). “We’re primarily a middle return team … and you have to be fearless. ‘Blind faith’ is what coach (Jim) Radcliffe would say.”

What running game?: The Ducks ran for only 67 yards on 32 attempts against Arizona, the Pac-10’s second-worst defensive team against the rush. With Clemens out, the Ducks might have to lean more on Terrence Whitehead and the other backs, although Bellotti says screen plays and shovel passes effectively work as runs in the spread offense. “We may spread it out even more than we have,” Bellotti says.

Kicking situation: Matt Evensen missed three field-goal attempts against Arizona. Paul Martinez has sat out two games with a quadriceps injury in his kicking leg. Bellotti expects him to take back the job this week. Sounds like an order.

What a player: Bellotti marveled at how Haloti Ngata blocked an Arizona punt and then pursued Baugher, after the punter recovered the ball and tried to rush for a first down. Ngata made the tackle.   That’s seven blocked kicks and counting for Ngata.   “He gets a head start and he’s a powerful human being,” Bellotti says.

Notes: Linebacker Anthony Trucks is tied for the Pac-10 lead in sacks with eight and ranks second in tackles for loss with 11. … Receiver Demetrius Williams is third in yardage per game (111.9) and tied for third in catches (46). “Gigantic playmaker for us,” Bellotti says. Williams needs 265 yards to tie Samie Parker (2,761) as the Ducks’ all-time receiving yardage leader. … No catches vs. Arizona: James Finley, Tim Day and Dante Rosario. … Devan Long needs 4.5 sacks to tie Ernest Jones (29.5) and 1.5 tackles for loss to tie Kevin Mitchell and Saul Patu (44) atop UO’s all-time list. … Either David Douglas grad Kyle Bennett or receiver Garren Strong might be tabbed the No. 3 quarterback. “In this offense, we can put a running back back there or a wide receiver back there,” Bellotti says.