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Erik R. Bishoff | Photographer
Oregon running back Terrence Whitehead jumps over a pile to score one of his three touchdowns in a 28-14 win against Arizona Saturday.
Much-improved Stanford
poses threat to Oregon
Oregon's passing game
needs to succeed to beat
Cardinal on the road
BY JON ROETMAN
SENIOR SPORTS REPORTER
Another week, another important
game for the Oregon football team.
After two much-needed confer
ence wins, the Ducks (3-3 overall, 2-1
Pacific-10 Conference) travel to Stan
ford, Calif., to take on the Cardinal
Saturday at Stanford Stadium.
Oregon makes its first trip to “The
Farm” since 1997, when Stanford
was on the winning end of a 58-49
shootout.
The Cardinal (4-2, 2-1) has been
the biggest surprise of the Pac-10 sea
son, having already equaled its win
total from 2003. Stanford has held its
own in one of the nation’s toughest
conferences, including a near upset
of top-ranked Southern California.
Led by the strong right arm of
quarterback Trent Edwards, the Car
dinal poses a serious threat to derail
the Ducks.
Edwards has rebounded from a
shoulder injury he suffered last sea
son to complete 56 percent of his
passes for 1,390 yards and eight
touchdowns in 2004.
Edwards’ play has grabbed the at
tention of Oregon head coach Mike
Bellotti, who said the sophomore is
one of the most dangerous quarter
backs the Ducks will face this season.
“Stanford is a much improved foot
ball team,” Bellotti said. “I think you
can trace it to the development of Tfent
Edwards. He’s a very accurate passer,
and one of the most mobile quarter
backs I’ve seen this year. I have great
concerns with limiting his mobility
and keeping him in the pocket. ”
Along with his own athletic ability,
Edwards has plenty of weapons
around him. Tight end Alex Smith
leads the Cardinal with 25 receptions.
The 6-foot-5, 255-pounder has been
a solid mid-range target for Edwards,
amassing 286 yards and a score.
Evan Moore produces constant
mismatches on the outside. The 6
foot-7 wide receiver, who is also a
forward on the basketball team, leads
the team with 407 receiving yards
and five touchdowns.
When Smith and Moore are cov
ered, Mark Bradford (6-foot-2) and
Justin McCullum (6-foot-4) have
been dependable targets.
While Oregon cornerbacks Aaron
Gipson (5-foot-9) and Jackie Bates (5
foot-10) have been solid of late, Bel
lotti said the vertically challenged
duo will need to play technically
Courtesy | Stanford Athletic Department
Stanford tight end Alex Smith (81), seen here against BYU, has a team-high 25
receptions. The senior has accrued 286 yards and one touchdown this season.
sound football in order to deal with
Stanford’s towering receivers.
“They’ll be tested because they’re
not the biggest corners in the world,”
Bellotti said. “But they’re very athlet
ic, very quick and playing with great
confidence.”
“It just comes down to playing with
good technique. You have to be in the
correct position, and you have to be
ready when the ball is there. No mat
ter how tall a guy is, at some point
they bring the ball down, and the abil
ity to punch it out or drive through the
extended arm (is important).”
When asked what else his comers
could do to compensate for a lack of
height, Bellotti jokingly said, “wear
elevator shoes (or) put springs on
(their) feet.”
Stanford has also been successful
on the ground with running backs J.R.
Lemon and Kenneth Tolon. While
their running styles differ, both backs
have produced. Lemon leads the team
with 397 yards and six touchdowns in
72 carries. Tolon has added 274 yards
and a score in 62 carries.
“J.R. is more of a power type guy
and Kenneth has more of a ‘wiggle,’”
Stanford head coach Buddy Teevens
said. “They both do a good job of
making cuts, and I think they com
plement one another. It makes it diffi
cult for a defense to prepare for both
of them at the same time. ”
Oregon’s defense is tops in the Pac
10 against the pass (174.5 yards per
game) and sixth against the run
(128.8 ypg), making for some inter
esting matchups.
“They’re a really balanced team,
so you can’t get a very good beat on
what they are trying to do,” Oregon
linebacker Jerry Matson said.
“They’ve turned themselves around
and put their athletes into a position
to make a lot of plays. ”
Offensively, Oregon should attack
Stanford through the air. Quarterback
Kellen Clemens has re-established his
on-field rapport with receiver
Demetrius Williams and tight end Tim
Day, leading to more than 750 passing
yards during the last two weeks.
Stanford’s defense ranks dead-last
in the Pac-10 against the pass, allow
ing 228.3 yards per game. Where the
Cardinal excels, however, is keeping
opponents out of the end zone. Stan
ford has allowed only 16.2 points per
game, good for second-best in the
conference.
If the Ducks can capitalize on their
scoring opportunities, they’ll be in
good shape.
One player who will surely help
Oregon’s chances is running back
Terrence Whitehead. The junior tail
back has rushed for 566 yards and
four touchdowns this season and
has been one of the Ducks’ most po
tent weapons.
Despite suffering a hip injury
against Washington State, Whitehead
has continued to fight for tough yards.
“Terrence has been a warrior,” Bel
lotti said. “He’s carried the ball more
at this stretch of the season than he
has previously. He has done a great
job getting yards after contact.”
jQnmetman@dailyemerald.corn