ESPN College Football

Any doubts that Oregon's new spread offense would be a good change for senior quarterback Kellen Clemens should be gone by now. He's completed 65 percent of his passes and tossed 12 touchdown passes with just one interception. End of argument. "We're more productive than we've been for a long time," coach Mike Bellotti said. "It's really given him a chance to blossom as a quarterback." Clemens completed 22 of 29 passes for 393 yards and three touchdowns -- he also had his first interception in 162 passes -- in an easy win over Stanford. He also passed Chris Miller for third place on the school's all-time total offense list (7,114 yards).

The Ducks piled up 585 yards of total offense and Clemens connected with 11 different receivers, though his top target remains Demetrius Williams, who caught six passes for 168 yards. So the offense is working, which is a reason that new coordinator Gary Crowton moved from the field to the press box. With Clemens and his cohorts more comfortable with the spread-option scheme, Crowton doesn't need to be on-hand to provide immediate advice or encouragement, and the press box provides a far better view of the action for play-calling purposes, according to Bellotti. It also allowed the Ducks to open up more of their playbook, which likely will be on display against No. 17 Arizona State, a critical matchup of two teams that played with USC for a half on consecutive weekends before being run over. Both are vying for second place in the Pac-10, which could mean a BCS bowl berth.

To continue reading this article you must be an Insider