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Ducks open season at home against Houston
By Anne M. Peterson, AP Sports Writer
Saturday, September 01, 2007 | No comments posted.
EUGENE — Houston coach Art Briles insists he’s not keeping a big secret; he simply hasn’t settled on a starting quarterback for today’s game at Oregon.
Sophomore Blake Joseph and redshirt freshman Case Keenum are competing for the job to replace Kevin Kolb.
Briles hinted the starter will be a game-time decision for the Cougars.
“We don’t have any game experience to rely on in making a decision so it’s a situation where possibly both guys can see action Saturday,” the coach said.
Kolb, who was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles, started all 50 games in his career and left with a mass of school records, including career yards (12,964) and completions (964).
The Cougars went 10-4 last season and won the Conference USA championship. On offense they are led by senior running back Anthony Alridge, who moved from receiver last season and rushed for 956 yards on 95 carries to lead the nation at 10.1 yards per carry.
Houston returns eight starters on defense, including linebacker Trent Allen and end Phillip Hunt. Allen had 95 tackles last season, and Hunt had 58 tackles and eight sacks.
One of the few positives from Oregon’s 7-6 finish last season was the running game, which led the Pac-10 for the first time since 1955. Jonathan Stewart and Jeremiah Johnson combined for 1,625 yards and 20 rushing scores last season.
Stewart and Johnson return along with senior quarterbacks Dennis Dixon and Brady Leaf. Again this season, Dixon will start, but Leaf could see significant playing time.
“I think we’re blessed to have two guys who can play,” Oregon coach Mike Bellotti said.
Dixon started 11 games last season, throwing for 2,143 yards and 12 touchdowns. But he also had 14 interceptions. Leaf, who threw for 917 yards and six scores, started the last two games of the season when Dixon struggled.
“They’ve got good players, they’ve got good staff, they’ve got good schemes,” Briles said. “They’re a dominant Pac-10 football team. We know we’re in for a tough game but our guys are starting to be ready to play.”
Oregon’s defense is more of a concern. The Ducks ranked 78th in the country in stopping the run, so they may have trouble with Alridge.
“He’s a very dangerous back, an all-purpose back that can catch and run the ball,” Bellotti said. “He’s got power and quickness.”
The Ducks also face a Houston team that would like nothing better than to see an upset.
“This is not a deal where we are thinking, ‘Hey, we are going to Oregon and it’s going to be this great adventure,’” Briles said. “What we are doing is going up there and fighting hard to represent this university and win the football game. That’s the bottom line.”
The Ducks are 25-1 in non-conference games at Autzen Stadium under coach Bellotti.
The Ducks won their first four games last season, but lost their last four, including an embarrassing 38-8 rout at the hands of Brigham Young in the Las Vegas Bowl. It was their fourth straight loss in a bowl game.
After hosting Houston, the Ducks have a big challenge when they visit No. 5 Michigan in Ann Arbor.
“This whole year is about opportunity and taking advantage of it,” Stewart said. “We need to be hungrier than the other team and I think we lacked that last year.”
Sophomore Blake Joseph and redshirt freshman Case Keenum are competing for the job to replace Kevin Kolb.
Briles hinted the starter will be a game-time decision for the Cougars.
“We don’t have any game experience to rely on in making a decision so it’s a situation where possibly both guys can see action Saturday,” the coach said.
Kolb, who was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles, started all 50 games in his career and left with a mass of school records, including career yards (12,964) and completions (964).
The Cougars went 10-4 last season and won the Conference USA championship. On offense they are led by senior running back Anthony Alridge, who moved from receiver last season and rushed for 956 yards on 95 carries to lead the nation at 10.1 yards per carry.
Houston returns eight starters on defense, including linebacker Trent Allen and end Phillip Hunt. Allen had 95 tackles last season, and Hunt had 58 tackles and eight sacks.
One of the few positives from Oregon’s 7-6 finish last season was the running game, which led the Pac-10 for the first time since 1955. Jonathan Stewart and Jeremiah Johnson combined for 1,625 yards and 20 rushing scores last season.
Stewart and Johnson return along with senior quarterbacks Dennis Dixon and Brady Leaf. Again this season, Dixon will start, but Leaf could see significant playing time.
“I think we’re blessed to have two guys who can play,” Oregon coach Mike Bellotti said.
Dixon started 11 games last season, throwing for 2,143 yards and 12 touchdowns. But he also had 14 interceptions. Leaf, who threw for 917 yards and six scores, started the last two games of the season when Dixon struggled.
“They’ve got good players, they’ve got good staff, they’ve got good schemes,” Briles said. “They’re a dominant Pac-10 football team. We know we’re in for a tough game but our guys are starting to be ready to play.”
Oregon’s defense is more of a concern. The Ducks ranked 78th in the country in stopping the run, so they may have trouble with Alridge.
“He’s a very dangerous back, an all-purpose back that can catch and run the ball,” Bellotti said. “He’s got power and quickness.”
The Ducks also face a Houston team that would like nothing better than to see an upset.
“This is not a deal where we are thinking, ‘Hey, we are going to Oregon and it’s going to be this great adventure,’” Briles said. “What we are doing is going up there and fighting hard to represent this university and win the football game. That’s the bottom line.”
The Ducks are 25-1 in non-conference games at Autzen Stadium under coach Bellotti.
The Ducks won their first four games last season, but lost their last four, including an embarrassing 38-8 rout at the hands of Brigham Young in the Las Vegas Bowl. It was their fourth straight loss in a bowl game.
After hosting Houston, the Ducks have a big challenge when they visit No. 5 Michigan in Ann Arbor.
“This whole year is about opportunity and taking advantage of it,” Stewart said. “We need to be hungrier than the other team and I think we lacked that last year.”
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