Bellotti tackles personnel issues.

Byline: UO FOOTBALL NOTEBOOK By Bob Clark The Register-Guard

The Oregon starting quarterback remains in doubt. So does the right tackle on offense.

Suspended junior cornerback Jackie Bates is expected back for next season. Long-absent receiver Kyle Weatherspoon isn't because he'll probably play against Oregon State, thus ending his redshirt status.

Oh, and Cole Linehan said he's ready to play in Friday's Civil War, which will be his first game since suffering a broken foot on Sept. 30 against Arizona State.

Instead of Oregon coach Mike Bellotti's usual discussion of the upcoming opponent at his weekly news conference, his gathering with the media Tuesday turned into a trip to the transaction wire, when it wasn't focusing on the Oregon depth chart.

In brief, these were the highlights:

`It is a very competitive situation' at quarterback, Bellotti said, between starter Dennis Dixon and backup Brady Leaf.

A decision on the starter won't be made until after Thursday's practice, though Bellotti probably isn't going to announce anything to anybody in advance of Oregon's first offensive play in Reser Stadium.

There is also `a battle' for the starting job at right tackle, where Geoff Schwartz was replaced by Mark Lewis last week. Schwartz had started 21 of Oregon's previous 22 games, missing one because of an ailing back.

`Mark proved he's capable of starting,' Bellotti said. `We have two right tackles now and we can keep them fresh' by rotating them. Bellotti also said that Schwartz is `not totally healthy' because of his back.

Schwartz said Tuesday `I'm fine' and made it clear he wants the starting berth back.

`I'm confident in what I do and my abilities,' he said. `This week I'll try to go out and get my job back. I have to put the best foot forward and play to my abilities.'

Bates, who started the first two games of the season before a broken ankle put him out of action, is expected back for next season, `if he meets the criteria I've set forth,' Bellotti said. Bates was suspended earlier this month for conduct detrimental to the team.

The comment on Bates returning, as a junior again in eligibility, came about following a discussion on Oregon's redshirt freshmen cornerbacks, and in particular the possibility that Jairus Byrd could move back to one of the safety positions next season.

Byrd is comparable to rover Patrick Chung, Bellotti said, because `both could play any position in the secondary. We have some flexibility with those guys returning and Jackie Bates coming back.'

Oregon's only senior in the secondary is free safety J.D. Nelson.

Weatherspoon, who hasn't played yet this season, `probably will' against the Beavers, Bellotti said.

Academic issues kept Weatherspoon from joining the Ducks for practices until late October. Listed as a senior, Weatherspoon could return for next season if he doesn't play Friday or in a bowl game.

`It's an interesting situation,' Bellotti said. `We'll see what happens.'

Linehan, who started at defensive tackle in Oregon's first four games, said he's ready to play again after being cleared by team doctors.

He said the coaches `need to throw me in there and see what happens. I know I can't be in for as many plays (as he was in before the injury) but I'll try to contribute a little bit.'

The short week

Bellotti said the key to playing with less than the normal time between games is proper `recovery' from the previous game. He said he had consulted with other coaches across the country who have had teams play on a Thursday or Friday after a Saturday game.

`They would choose to practice less, rather than fit too much in a short period of time,' Bellotti said. `The mental and physical health of the athlete is the most important thing.'

Tuesday was the only practice this week that the Ducks planned to do any hitting.

The one miss

Oklahoma kicker Garrett Hartley was named Tuesday as one of the three finalists for the Groza Award as the nation's best kicker. With one game left in his regular season, Hartley has made all 39 of his extra points, and 17-of-18 field goal attempts.

The one miss for Hartley? That was a blocked attempt on the last play of the game at Autzen Stadium on Sept. 16, preserving Oregon's 34-33 triumph over the Sooners.