DUCK NOTES: QB Masoli won't sweat it playing close to home

And the sophomore has been exerting leadership

By Jason Vondersmith

The Portland Tribune, Oct 31, 2008, Updated Oct 30, 2009

CHRIS WILSON / PORTLAND TRIBUNE

Oregon defensive end Kenny Rowe, hitting ASU quarterback Rudy Carpenter, and the rest of the defense will have its hands full with Cal.

THE GAME: Oregon (6-2, 4-1 Pac-10) vs. California (5-2, 3-1)

WHEN, WHERE: 12:30 p.m. Saturday, Memorial Stadium, Berkeley, Calif.

RADIO, TV: KXL (750 AM) and KXTG (95.5 FM), KATU (2)

• What, quarterback Jeremiah Masoli, nervous?

Uh, no. Masoli might be working on his game management, decision-making and throwing, but he doesn't worry about being nervous, especially when returning to his San Francisco Bay Area homeland to play the Cal Bears. He prepped at Serra High of San Mateo, Calif., for three years and then played at City College of San Francisco for one season.

"Not at all," he says, answering the anticipated nervousness question. "I love playing before family and friends.

"I learned about being nervous last year (at CCSF). I try to stay cool-headed like Joe Montana. I try not to get out of my head or play outside of myself."

Last year, he threw three picks in a CCSF game – his only three picks of the season – and had a long talk with his father after the game. "I was rattled," he says. "Dad gave me a lecture and advice. I calmed down and never let anything affect me."

Coach Mike Bellotti has talked with players from the Bay Area about playing near their homes, and emphasizing to not come out too jacked up. It happened two years ago at Cal, when Bay Area guys (including QB Dennis Dixon) struggled in the Ducks' 45-24 loss.

• Masoli says Cal's 3-4 defense will be a challenge to beat, but "we have a great running game, and we'll try to utilize it. They have some great linebackers, so we might look to open it up. Coach (Chip) Kelly has great things for us, and we'll use different blocking schemes for the offensive line."

Masoli has carried the ball 32 times for 255 yards and two scores the past two games, while LeGarrette Blount had 15 carries for 169 yards and four scores. Bellotti says a power running game often works against the 3-4 defense; so, could Blount get more work Saturday?

"I hope he takes some of my rushing yards," Masoli jokes. "I get tired by the end of the game."

The 6-2, 240-pound Blount estimates that 85 percent of his carries have come between the tackles – power running, per se – and he likes the idea of many carries against the Bears.

"It's what I bring to the game," he says. "I don't try to run around anybody; anybody else with 235 or 240 pounds behind them, they wouldn't try to run past anybody.

"I'm looking forward to getting the ball as much as possible. The 3-4 is a defense that wouldn't help too much stopping our offense. We have so much going for us at once. We'll see what happens. I think our run game will be good this game, better than last game." The Ducks had 304 yards rushing at ASU, and average 278.8 per game (fifth in the country).

But Cal held UCLA to 16 rushing yards last week and four of its first seven opponents to 100 or less. Overall, the Bears are giving up 301.4 yards per game, its lowest average since 1994, and they have 15 interceptions, five more than all of last season.

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