Coach Bellotti Talks with the Media
The Ducks return after an off-week last weekend ready to get back into action against Washington this weekend. The Ducks travel to Husky Stadium, Saturday, Nov. 8 for a 12:30 p.m. kickoff.
Although there is no live TV coverage, the game will be broadcast tape delay by Fox Sports NW on Sunday evening at 7:00 p.m. (the normal time for Washington rebroadcasts) and Monday evening at 7:30 p.m. (the normal time for Oregon rebroadcasts).
Read up on what's new with the Ducks from head coach Mike Bellotti in recent comments to the media.
Regarding the week off
"The primary emphasis was on ourselves. Basically we wanted to get healthy. We tried to give the wounded guys some time off and let some of their bumps and bruises heal a little bit. We worked with some of the young kids, gave them a little coaching and were able to evaluate them a little more.
Evaluation of Washington
"I think Washington is probably the best team in the conference, playing at the top of their game. I thought they were going into the season, and I think they've played to that level and everyone's expectations. They have a good defense that I think has improved over the course of the season. They have an offense which has gone away a little bit from the running game with Rashaan Shehee out, but they have developed some really scary, quick-strike receivers in (Jerome) Pathon and (Fred) Coleman. Brock Huard is a great quarterback and Marques Tuiasosopo has done a very good job coming off the bench. For us, it's a great challenge to go in there and play a top-10 ranked team in the nation."
This week's key
"There is no question we must hold up at the line of scrimmage and I don't know that we can do what Nebraska did. Certainly the game starts at the line of scrimmage. With the Huskies, you have to avoid negative plays. If you can run the ball efficiently and effectively, keep out of long yardage situations where they can come after you, you control your own fate. Conversely, you've got to stop their running game, you've got to make them one dimensional, you have to get them into long yardage situations. If they're allowed to run, they have the play-action game that comes off of it and with their receivers, it's scary. If you put too many people at the line of scrimmage to stop the running game, they're one-on-one and they're very adept at beating you that way."
"Regarding things to counter Washington's dominance Washington has good team speed and they keep a lot of people at the line of scrimmage. The quarterback's athleticism or escapism can really be a big factor in the game. But I think we have a back in Saladin McCullough that's capable of running the football and that's the key. He needs to have the type of day that keeps the defense honest. Akili (Smith) and Jason (Maas) both throw the ball well enough. If we can keep it within normal downs where they have to play the run as well, we can throw the ball effectively against them."
"I was very encouraged with some things that happened at USC. Our defense in the second half the last two games has not allowed a touchdown. I hope it's a turning point in our season. And our offense played very well when they had their backs to the wall. We now have to play a whole game that way, we can't wait until the second half."
Regarding November success
"There's a certain urgency of which games count for real in November. You can talk a lot about the early part of the season but it's how you finish, not how you start. We've been a great finishing team the past three years. But we obviously have a more difficult task going to Seattle, playing a team that's playing for the Rose Bowl and nationally ranked. But as I've told our players many times, these are opportunities and we don't want to pass another one up."
Oregon's dual quarterback status
"At this point, the quarterback situation has not changed. They both have played excellently at times and deserve to be on the field. I was impressed with Akili's play against USC but I don't think Jason was supported very well by our football team. He got poor protection and was victimized by dropped passes, which did not allow a clear indication of his performance. Akili did step things up and whether it was a sense of urgency because we were behind or the play calling, I was still impressed with what he did and how he moved the team."
Role of special teams
"We put a special emphasis on special teams every week. We believe it is one area where we can outplay people, hopefully outcoach and outhustle people, but that's just not this week. We have to do that every week to be successful. For the most part this year, that's been the case with us. I've been very pleased. We do have some things in our kicking game that we need to address. I'm not completely happy with our field goal and PAT kicking, that's something that's going to bear a lot of scrutiny this week. Josh Bidwell has done an excellent job punting and I think our kickoff coverage team has played their tails off."
