Poli-Dixon Likes His Chances

With the ninth best pass defense in the nation, Oregon loves to take chances by having its defensive backs play man-to-man. UCLA wide receiver Brian Poli-Dixon is hoping the Ducks try this tactic against him Saturday. If they do, he plans to make them pay.

“They put their corners out on islands without any real help in the middle,” said Poli-Dixon, who has only five catches for 75 yards for the 3-0 Bruins. “It will definitely be a big game for receivers. They have me more involved this week and I’m looking forward to it.”

With running back DeShaun Foster averaging 140.7 yards (ninth in the nation), UCLA Coach Bob Toledo expects Oregon to crowd the line of scrimmage to stop the Bruins’ running game.

“We’re going to face nine-man fronts because that’s what they do,” Toledo said. “They pack the paint and put a lot of guys in there and dare you to throw the football.”

Slowing down Foster has to be a top priority for Oregon and keying on versatile flanker Freddie Mitchell is a close second. That’s why Poli-Dixon is looking for a breakout game against the Ducks and not drop any passes like the one he left on the Rose Bowl grass against Michigan last week.

“It’s all about focus. . . . I can’t sit here and guarantee that I don’t drop any more, but I know I’m going to try my hardest not to,” Poli-Dixon said.

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After playing three home games to open the season, UCLA will play its first on the road Saturday at Oregon’s Autzen Stadium, where the Ducks have won 16 games in a row, the longest active streak in the Pacific 10 Conference.

Toledo, however, is not too concerned about the Ducks’ home-field advantage. UCLA is the last team to defeat Oregon at home and has a 10-1 record overall against the Ducks at Autzen Stadium.

“We were 0-5 last year on the road,” Toledo said. “But this is a different football team. . . . We are a better football team. We are 3-0 at this stage of the game, and we have beaten some good competition. We are a confident team, but I just don’t want us to be a cocky team. We just have to realize that we will be playing in a hostile environment, and this is our first road trip.”