After the football team’s practice yesterday at Spaulding Field, two of the Bruins’ star players, linebacker Reggie Carter and defensive end Bruce Davis, let a couple of young kids in attendance try on their helmets. The two boys put the helmets on and played around for a bit as the two defenders spoke to the press.
The practice itself was much more serious.
The Bruins (5-5, 4-3 Pac-10) are getting a jump-start on their preparation for No. 2 Oregon (8-1, 5-1 Pac-10). The Ducks’ high-powered offense features a Heisman candidate at quarterback and a running back who averages 126 yards per game.
“Their offense is pretty dynamic,” coach Karl Dorrell said. “They have a great quarterback who makes plays with his feet and his arm and they have one of the best runners if not the best runner in the conference. Not many teams have been able to keep them down.”
The Ducks’ quarterback, Dennis Dixon, has been the focus of the defense’s preparation. Dixon is known for his running ability; he has a rushing touchdown in eight of the team’s nine games.
“You have to account for him on every play no matter what,” linebacker Christian Taylor said. “You have to keep him caged and you have to have guys chasing him down.”
It doesn’t end with Dixon. Oregon’s running back, junior Jonathan Stewart, presents a problem for defenses as well. He exploded against Washington earlier this year for 251 yards and has a season total of 1,142 yards, more than he had in either of his first two years. Stewart isn’t necessarily the fastest runner, but he runs hard and is tough to bring down.
“We’re going to have to play them both, they’re both in the backfield together,” Carter said of the Dixon-Stewart combination. “You just have to read your keys and make sure that everyone (on the defense) is where they’re supposed to be.”
Carter also said that the best way to defend the is to take time to make the right reads, not to play “straight down hill.”
But it’s a fine line for any defense facing a quarterback with Dixon’s mobility. The players can’t be too aggressive, or they’ll be unable to contain the quarterback.
At the same time, they don’t want to be too conservative and let the quarterback have all the time he needs in the pocket.
“You don’t want to sit back on your heels and wait,” Taylor said. “That’s not our style.”
The Ducks are scoring 42.8 points per game this season, and they scored 30 points and beat UCLA last year. But the extra time that the Bruin defense has to prepare could give them a better shot at slowing Oregon down.
“The extra time helps you to get a little more detailed into your game plan, and it also just lets you rest your body,” Carter said. “We’re 10 weeks into the season and I know everyone is a little beat up.”
QB REPORT: The Bruins’ two injured quarterbacks are slowly working their way back to playing shape.
Ben Olson participated in practice yesterday. Dorrell is optimistic that he will be available against Oregon.
Pat Cowan had another set of tests on his collapsed lung Wednesday. But as of last night Dorrell had not spoken to the doctors and he did not set any timetable for Cowan’s return.