Preview: Oregon @ California - Saturday, November 1st
By #1 Sports
Oregon (6-2, 4-1 PAC 10) pounded Arizona State 54-20 last trip out, doing what they do best – running the ball with authority – but also saw improvement in the passing game led by JUCO-transfer quarterback, 5’11” 214 sophomore QB Jeremiah Masoli. A series of serious injuries at the position gave the former City College of San Francisco standout a shot and his wheels (56 for 391 yards and 2 TD rushing) plus his improving ability to get the ball downfield (68 of 122 for 726 yards, 6 TD, 2 INT) have kept the starting role his, even though 6’5” 204 sophomore QB Justin Roper (44 of 80 for 570 yards, 3 TD, 4 INT) is back from a knee injury. At Arizona State, Masoli even earned PAC 10 Offensive Player of the Week honors partly due to his 17 completions in 26 attempts for 147 yards and a score before handing the reigns to Roper for the fourth quarter. Offensive Coordinator Chip Kelly’s teams have racked 600+ yards in a game 6 separate times since coming on at the beginning of 2007 and he could be happier with the added option of attacking through the air again. With all the injuries at the trigger, Kelly has employed all of his top receivers plus 6’5” 243 junior TE ED Dickson (23 catches for 310 yards and TD) in the rushing game just to get these athletes touches and as the ability to get vertical improves we expect 6’5” 242 senior WR Jaison Williams (25 for 331 and 3 TD), 6’1” 175 sophomore WR Jeff Maehl (28 for 263 and 2 TD), and 6’0” 171 senior WR Terence Scott (29 for 383 and 3 TD) to balance out this offense at make the Ducks even more dangerous than the 41.5 points and 479.9 yards per game they average heading into this week. Of course, when you talk Oregon football, you still have to address their simply dominating ground attack. Four seniors man a line that busts holes for a 5th in the nation 278.8 yards per game rushing at 6.0 yards per attempt and 30 touchdowns. The Ducks have bested the 300+ yards rushing mark in 5 of their 8 games this season led by the tandem of 5’10” 200 speedy senior RB Jeremiah Johnson (98 for 573 yards and 9 TD) and 6’2” 229 bruising junior RB LeGarrette Blount (90 for 650 and 12 TD). Past late seasons have been short-circuited by Duck injuries at the quarterback position…this one may be helped by them.
Head Coach Mike Belotti’s (112-53 in 14th season at Oregon) defense is especially tough up front with just 2.8 yards allowed per rush and 28 sacks to their credit. 6’5” 300 senior DT Ra’Shon Harris (28 T, 5 TFL, S) and 6’4” 290 senior DT Cole Linehan (12 T, S) are a load to move in the middle and these ends bring the pain in high doses. 6’4” 272 junior LDE Will Tukuafu has racked 12 ½ tackles for loss including 6 sacks so far while 6’2” 248 senior RDE Nick Reed has piled up 11 ½ tackles for loss and 8 sacks. Starting linebackers Jerome Boyd (43 T, 4 TFL, 2 S), Casey Mathews (29 T, 5 ½ TFL, S), and Spencer Paysinger (50 T, 4 ½ TFL, 2 S) are smallish and speedy to clean up the loose change from sideline to sideline while Oregon’s defensive backfield is physical and fights well for the ball. Junior Corners 6’0” 205 Jarius Byrd (50 T, 4 INT) and 6’0” 180 Walter Thurmond III (36 T, 2 INT) each possesses the size needed to compete against a conference stacked with big receivers plus sophomore nickel back Talmadge Jackson III (22 T, I) provides the depth needed against the multiple sets of the PAC 10. 5’11” 201 FS TJ Ward (51 T, I) has been solid in run support while 6’0” 210 senior SS Patrick Chung (50 T, 5 ½ TFL, 2 S) can do it all. Chung is not only a ferocious hitter but has been invaluable on special teams where his athletic ability has churned out 28.4 yards per kick return. Speaking of special teams, Oregon’s have bested most they have faced. A kick return advantage of 4.2 yards per and a punt return advantage of 11.0 yards per is dynamite while senior K Matt Evenson (11 of 16 field goals) was named Conference Special Teams Player of the Week after nailing a 52-yarder against the Sun Devils.
California (5-2, 3-1 PAC 10) was expected to be an explosive crew this season behind the 1-2 punch of QB Nate Longshore and RB Jahvid Best. The Bears certainly are explosive at 37.9 points and 409.7 yards per game but what wasn’t expected is that much of it would be accomplished with this pair on the sidelines. First of all, Coach Jeff Tedford’s (55-28 in 7th season at Cal) defense has been superb against the run with just 95.7 yards allowed per game at 2.6 yards per carry. Often forced into a one-dimensional passing game, opponents have been the victim of 20 sacks and 15 interceptions – including 4 last week and a pair of pick-sixes in a 41-20 win over UCLA at Memorial Field in which the Bruins were held to just 16 yards. In all, California has scored 80 points off 19 forced turnovers through 7 games. Secondly, QB Nate Longshore (54 of 91 for 631 yards, 7 TD, 4 INT) has for now lost his starting job to 6’2” 224 sophomore QB Kevin Riley (80 of 150 for 985 yards, 9 TD, 2 INT). Frankly, we’ve always thought the senior Longshore was a top arm and – unlike most Golden Bear fans – should have kept the job but Coach Tedford deserves his reputation for grooming quarterbacks so we will give him the nod he has earned. Each has played in 6 games so far and will each likely see some time this week against Oregon. Thirdly, tailbacks 5’10” 192 freshman Shane Vereen (80 for 494 yards and 2 TD rushing, 17 for 111 receiving) and 5’10” 198 sophomore Tracy Slocum (16 for 89 and TD) have been carrying the load on the ground the last few weeks as 5’10” 193 sophomore star RB Jahvid Best has been working his way back from and elbow injury. Best saw significant action for the first time in a few weeks against UCLA, piling up 115 rush yards on 17 carries with a score in addition to Vereen’s 14 carries for 99 yards – a dynamite sign for Cal backers. Best not only has managed 643 yards on 92 carries 6 TD rushing despite missing time, he has added 19 grabs for 194 yards through the air plus averages 31.6 yards per kick return. Without a doubt, a legitimate NFL candidate. Receivers Sean Young (15 for 171 and TD), Nyan Boeteng (16 for 268 and 3 TD), and Michael Calvin (8 for 103) have been underused while 6’4” 245 junior TE Cameron Morrah (20 for 259 and 6 TD) has been the favorite target. Regardless of who is at the trigger, the Bears must get the ball downfield more often but will the massive 6’6” 330 freshman LT Mitchell Schwartz be able to get his hands on blazing Nick Reed to provide the time? The Pro scouts will be watching that match up very closely.
As mentioned, California’s defense has produced plenty of big plays in 2008 but it may be the alignment that gives Oregon the most trouble. The Bears primarily run a 3-4 system, becoming more common in the college ranks but yet to be seen by this week’s opponents. 6’4” 290 sophomore LDE Cameron Jordan (20 T, 4 ½ TFL, 2 S, INT), 6’2” 298 sophomore NT Derrick Hill (17 T, TFL), and 6’3” 290 junior RDE Tyson Alualu (29 T, 5 ½ TFL, 4 S) are as stout and stingy as they come, setting up backers Follett (38 T, 8 ½ TFL, 4 S), Williams (35 T, 4 1/2 TFL, S), Felder (48 T, 5 TFL, INT), and Young (27 T) to lay the leather with a running start. Maybe the most compelling front 7 player doesn’t even hold starting job. PAC 10 Defensive Player of the Week 6’3” 229 sophomore Mike Mohamed (45 T, 3 ½ TFL, S, INT) routinely plays all four linebacker positions during a single game, never missing a beat and managing to rank second on the squad in tackles including 9 against UCLA with a sack and a pick returned 19 yards for a score! Behind a front of this caliber, the defensive backfield has been able to take chances that have paid off repeatedly with no less than 7 players making interceptions. 5’9” 184 junior RCB Syd’Quan Thompson (36 T, 2 ½ TFL, 2 S, 3 INT) is one of the best small corners in the nation plus has ripped the opposition for 12.4 yards per punt return including a touchdown. 6’0” 181 sophomore LCB Darian Hagan (31 T, 2 TFL, INT) is solid but will need plenty of help this week against the huge Faison Williams if Syd’Quan’s height matches him with Scott or Maehl. Junior safeties 6’1” 192 Brett Johnson (24 T, 2 INT) and 6’1” 192 Marcus Ezeff (30 T, TFL, 2 INT) must read pass/run flawlessly this week and simply must avoid poor decision making.
FREE SELECTION: Each of these crews has been through plenty of adversity this campaign already and should be congratulated for their success to this point. Rather than overall ability, it will be the individual match ups that will hand the Golden Bears their first loss this season in Strawberry Canyon. Take Oregon +3.