For the second week in a row, Oregon had to face a team of Bears.

A week after Oregon's BCS hopes suffered a 21-point mauling by Cal's Golden Bears, the 4-1 UCLA Bruins paid the Ducks a visit this past Saturday.  However, the Los Angeles species of bear proved less ferocious than the Berkeley variety.

As a result, Oregon was able to get both its offense and defense back on track and delivered a solid win at home.

 

Opponent: UCLA

 

Result: Win, 30-20 

 

Location: (H) - Autzen Stadium, Eugene, Oregon 

 

The Good

 

QB Dennis Dixon did a nice job of turning the page after his three-interception meltdown against Cal a week earlier.  He was able to set the tone for the game early by throwing for two 1st quarter scores.  He was also able to scramble effectively and picked up good yardage when UCLA's pass coverage took away his targets.  Though his final numbers were modest (10-for-17, 144 yards, 2 TD's), Dixon once again managed the game well and, most importantly, eliminated the turnovers that crippled the team a week earlier. 

 

RB Jonathan Stewart also had a nice bounce-back game.  After being held to a meager 25 yards on 18 carries against Cal, Stewart exploded against UCLA for 121 yards on 20 carries (a 6.1 per carry average).  Stewart's backup Jeremiah Johnson also got untracked for 66 yards on 12 carries (a 5.5 per carry average) and a score.  In all, the Ducks vaunted rushing attack was back, gaining 256 yards on the ground.  That UCLA entered the game ranked second in the country in run defense made Oregon's effectiveness running the ball even that much more impressive. 

 

Although star WR Jaison Williams was a non-factor for the second week in a row, Brian Paysinger made some big plays in the passing game.  Paysinger caught 4 passes for 105 yards (an impressive 26.3 per catch average) and a score.  WR James Finley also had a nice extra-effort run on a 4-yard shovel pass for a TD. 

 

The defense played well against the Bruins after being embarrassed by Cal, albeit that UCLA was playing with a backup QB (Patrick Cowan) making his first start.  Nonetheless, the Ducks held the Bruins to 216 yards in total offense.  And UCLA's backup QB Cowan was held to 112 yards passing with no TD's and one pick. 

 

Except for a couple of questionable pass interference calls, Oregon's secondary, including inexperienced corners Walter Thurmond III and Willie Glasper, played pretty well and did not allow any big plays.  LB Blair Phillips and DB's Patrick Chung and JD Nelson continue to set the pace for the defense with their intensity and hard-hitting ability. 

 

Young Dexter Manley II is also starting to make some strides as a pass rusher.  He was consistently able to put some heat on the QB for the second time in three weeks. 

 

The Bad 

 

Although the offense was able to move the ball at will in the first half, they were inconsistent in the second half.  Third downs were particularly troublesome, as the Ducks converted just 27% of them into first downs.  As a result, drive after drive in the second half stalled.  After putting up 20 points in the game's first 14 minutes, Oregon was only able to add 10 more in the game's remaining 46 minutes. 

 

After Oregon starting QB Dixon was sidelined briefly in the second half, backup Brady Leaf wasn't particularly sharp.  Although some rustiness is to be expected from a backup QB, Leaf completed just 1-of-5 passes for 4 yards.  Although his 4-yard completion went for a score on the aforementioned shovel pass to James Finley, Leaf also threw an interception after a poor read and even more poorly thrown pass on a deep route intended for Jaison Williams. 

 

Special teams also had some problems.  An extra point attempt was blocked, and backup placekicker Matt Evensen missed badly on a 46-yard field goal attempt.  Jeremiah Johnson also fumbled a late 4th quarter punt in Oregon territory which allowed UCLA to score and close to within 10 points. 

 

Penalties were again a problem.  In all, Oregon was flagged eight times in the game and continued a season-long trend. 

 

Top Duck 

 

Dixon.  After the turnover-filled disaster in Berkeley, Oregon's junior QB showed few signs of any confidence-shaking hangover.  In fact, Dixon answered any questions about his confidence and effectiveness by calmly leading the Ducks to a TD on the game's opening series, capping the drive with a beautifully executed misdirection play that finished with Dixon having to throw back across the field to a wide-open Dante Rosario. 

 

In addition to his modest but coolly efficient passing numbers (59% completion rate, 144 yards, 2 TD's, and no interceptions), Dixon also had a nice game running the ball.  He ended up as Oregon's second-leading rusher for the game, gaining 69 yards on 11 carries (a 6.3 per carry average).  His 34-yard run early in the 3rd quarter helped the Ducks get out of poor field position. 

 

 

 

Summary

 

After the debacle at Cal, this was a nice bounce-back win.

 

Although UCLA is not an elite opponent, they did enter the game with a 4-1 record and a stingy nationally-ranked defense.  En route to gaining over 400 yards in total offense and putting 30 points in the board, the Ducks showed nice resolve in responding to a bad loss a week earlier. 

 

Although they could have displayed a greater amount of killer instinct in the second half, a double-digit home win against a decent conference opponent isn't bad. 

 

However, a road game in Pullman, WA awaits with perhaps the toughest road game conditions in the conference.  And if a team lacks any killer instinct, it is likely to hurt them against a scrappy team like Washington State, especially in the bitter cold of the Palouse. 

 

Next Game 

 

October 21.  At Washington State.