Ducks wrap up with focus on tackling.

Byline: Rob Moseley The Register-Guard

For the second week in a row, the subject Mike Bellotti tackled in his Sunday conference call with reporters was, well, tackling.

The Oregon football coach counted "a minimum of 10 or more" missed tackles while watching film of Saturday's 34-26 loss to UCLA, "and there were a couple that we had two or three on the same play," he said.

"If you don't tackle, it doesn't matter what run defense you play, it doesn't matter what scheme you call," Bellotti said. "We did not do a good job of tackling, that was the biggest thing."

Poor tackling has now contributed to two straight losses, making the Ducks 5-5 overall and 4-3 in Pac-10 games entering this week's regular-season finale, the Civil War with Oregon State at Reser Stadium in Corvallis at 4 p.m. on Saturday. The Beavers are also 5-5 and 4-3, making Saturday's game a showdown not just for in-state bragging rights but for the Pac-10's fifth and final bowl berth, as well.

The Beavers enter the week fresh off a win over Stanford, but Bellotti thinks momentum will be all square come Saturday.

"We have the exact same record, and the same league record," Bellotti said. "I don't think there will be any difference come game-time or even tomorrow in practice about the enthusiasm and the excitement and the opportunity."

While Oregon hopes to get a few of its injured players back in action today, one thing the Ducks won't be able to do much is address those tackling problems, at least in drills.

Considering the team's injury status and depth at this stage of the season, Bellotti said, such work would be ill-advised.

"It's difficult because the best way to do that is to go live-tackling (in practice)," Bellotti said, adding later: "What I think is the most important thing is to be fresh and rejuvenated and very hungry next week."

Bellotti took exception to some comments made by a couple of his players following Saturday's game. Defensive tackles Robby Valenzuela and Haloti Ngata both expressed surprise at UCLA's run-oriented offense, which was without tailback Maurice Drew - the Pac-10's third-leading rusher - but which still accounted for 227 yards against the Ducks.

"We talked all week long that UCLA was going to run the ball," Bellotti said. "They're the second-best running team in the conference. (The UO linemen) may have decided that because Drew wasn't going to play they weren't going to run the ball, but I don't think we as a staff expected that."

And though he was disappointed with the tackling, Bellotti said, "give some credit to UCLA.

"Their offensive line is very talented, their backs did a nice job, their quarterback did a nice job. I felt like they attacked us very well."

As far as Oregon's offense is concerned, Bellotti's biggest worry entering the Civil War involves the passing game.

Oregon quarterback Kellen Clemens was 15-of-29 for 192 yards and a touchdown Saturday, and he threw two interceptions, one of which was returned for a touchdown.

The Ducks were without two of their most sure-handed receivers, wideout Demetrius Williams and tight end Tim Day, but Bellotti said the reserve receivers weren't the problem.

"I don't think we threw the ball very well," the coach said. "We did not execute the passing game.

"Kellen was not sharp, and I think we had opportunities. We had receivers, running backs and tight ends open, we just couldn't see them due to the protection or could not execute the throws."

Bellotti spent time after the game Saturday and during the day Sunday hosting six recruits, he said, and planned to begin watching film of the Beavers on Sunday night.

The Ducks will try to break the home team's grip on the rivalry, with the host having won every Civil War since Oregon's win in Corvallis in 1996.

Part of that is due to the vastly different turfs used by each team, Bellotti said.

"That part is different," he said.

"And certainly the fan base and the intensity with which the game is played add to the home-field advantage."

OREGON FOOTBALL UPDATE

Injury update: Cornerback Aaron Gipson (sprained ankle) is "furthest away" from being able to play this week, out of all of Oregon's injured players, UO coach Mike Bellotti said Sunday.

"He's sore, but there's not a lot of swelling, and that's good," Bellotti said.

Receiver Demetrius Williams (turf toe) is likely to play, Bellotti said, though tight end Tim Day's status is less certain as he continues to deal with lower leg injuries. Day reaggravated an ankle injury on punt coverage in Saturday's loss to UCLA, Bellotti said.

Quarterback Kellen Clemens had fluid drained from his knee last week, but that doesn't appear to be necessary this week.

"Luckily there's no swelling and his knee feels fine," Bellotti said.

Starter watch: Ryan Gilliam played the second half at cornerback after Gipson was injured late in the first half Saturday, and Bellotti said Gilliam is "in the mix for a starting job" this week.

"I thought he was very solid," Bellotti said. "He got run over the very first time, but then made a couple of other fairly courageous tackles."

Gilliam finished with four tackles, one for loss of yardage.

Next game: Saturday at 4 p.m. against Oregon State in Corvallis. TV: Televised live on FSN.