Ducks throw on the spread

‘Skill guys’ have a plan to outmaneuver wily Sooners

By Jason Vondersmith

The Portland Tribune, Dec 27, 2005, Updated Oct 30, 2009

Football ain’t rocket science, and anything new on offense will eventually be understood by defenses, which means offenses will continually evolve.

It’s a classic cat-and-mouse game that Oregon’s Mike Bellotti has observed in his 33 years of coaching.

“It trickles down from the NFL,” Bellotti says.

In the Holiday Bowl (5 p.m. Thursday, ESPN), Oklahoma will try to defend an Oregon spread offense that generated the second-most points per game (36.4) and second-most yardage per game (449) in UO history.

Once upon a time, the Sooners played mostly run-oriented teams in the Big 12 Conference. But this year, they have faced the spread offenses of Texas, Texas A&M, Baylor, Kansas State and Texas Tech.

How does the Oregon offense stack up? What makes Oregon’s spread different?

“The personnel,” says UO cornerback Justin Phinisee, an astute observer of most things. “Usually when you have a spread offense, it’s because you don’t have great talent. We have great talent, and we’re using the spread.

“And (offensive coordinator Gary) Crowton mixes it up a lot. I like how our coordinator thinks and works. Unpredictable.”

Adds backup QB Brady Leaf: “Coach Crowton’s head is always turning. He’s got things flying in and out of there.”

Since the season-ending leg injury to Kellen Clemens, Dennis Dixon has started and excelled, exhibiting athleticism and a strong and accurate arm, and Leaf has helped out by executing the offense and hitting key passes. It’s the same offense Clemens ran, with some tweaks for their strengths. It’s an offense that relies on the talent of its receivers and running backs.

The Ducks “have some great skill guys,” Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops says.

“We have so many leaders,” Dixon says, “and we have these rookies stepping up. We have good depth at every position. Everybody brings something different to the game. When their number is called, they respond.”

Dixon gives Oregon the elements of speed and quickness, and the Ducks like to think they have a blueprint for success Ñ Texas’ 45-21 drubbing of the Sooners, with mobile Vince Young at quarterback.

“I’ve been looking at the mobile quarterback and seeing what (the Sooners’) tendencies are, and how they’re reacting to that,” Dixon says.

Going mobile

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