Avoiding a Stumble and Finishing the Job

The biggest advantage of the approach the Ducks take to each opponent is that there is no danger of overlooking anybody and no need to panic when they face a critical game. Getting ready for Washington is no different than practicing for New Mexico or Alabama. Chip Kelly, the staff and the players apply the same relentless enthusiasm and disciplined preparation. It's the ideal recipe for continued improvement and reaching your potential,

Washington presents specific challenges. They're down right now after a 41-0 pummeling at home by Stanford, 3-5 on the year, 2-3 in conference, with wins over Syracuse, Oregon State and USC. It's instructive to note they've beat three winning teams, including USC on the road, and if they can get Jake Locker, Chris Polk and Jermaine Kearse going at the same time they can score with most anybody.

The Ducks are not just anybody, but they still have to avoid turnovers and big plays, and eliminate those errors in punt and kick coverage from last week. Washington isn't the goal anyway. They're preparing against a vision, and by beating the Huskies they are preparing properly for Arizona, Oregon State and a bowl. You only get better by practicing well and playing hard.

Locker is wounded and battered, and his senior season hasn't gone as planned, but a win over Oregon would salve his assorted hurts. For the season he's thrown for 1678 yards and 14 touchdowns while running for 253 yards. His draft stock has plummeted, and leading an upset win over the Ducks in Autzen would give him a boost, as well as something to be remembered for.

He has some weapons around him. Chris Polk is a hard runner, a 5-11, 214 sophomore who rushed for 100 yards three times this season after tallying over 1100 in 2009. For the season he has 136 carries for 653 yards, a 4.8-yard average. Jermaine Kearse is third in the conference in receptions with 45 for 723 yards and 10 touchdowns.

On defense, the Huskies are led by senior linebacker Mason Foster, 3rd in the nation and first in the conference with 100 tackles. He had 18 on Saturday against Stanford. As a team UDub has struggled on defense, 114th in the country against the run, yielding 212 yards a game, 89th against the pass.

The equalizers in a game like this are emotion and turnovers. For the season, Oregon is tops in the country in turnover margin at +1.63. The Huskies rank 69th, -.13. To keep Washington from thinking they have a chance on Saturday, the Ducks have to begin by continuing to take care of the ball. Their kick and punt returners in particular have to handle it carefully. They've put too many balls on the ground this year.

Beating Washington is a matter of maintaining the execution and focus. These Ducks have given every indication they will do exactly that.

Meanwhile, the conference and national races are taking shape. #15 Arizona has a crucial showdown at #13 Stanford this weekend in a battle of 7-1 teams, both 4-1 in conference play. The league's other team with one conference loss, 3-1 Oregon State, travels to UCLA. #3 TCU travels to #5 Utah, and #6 Alabama goes to Baton Rouge to face #10 LSU.

Oregon's next opponent, California, lost quarterback Kevin Riley to a season-ending knee injury. Junior Brock Mansion, with 31 career passes, takes over.

But Washington comes first. The Dawgs are down, and it's a perfect opportunity to keep them that way.