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--> --> ASU's goal: Try to slow down Oregon EUGENE (AP) - As if preparing for an Oregon offense that's chewing up yards at will wasn't enough to worry about, Arizona State coach Dirk Koetter keeps getting questioned about his defensive game plan. "I know that we have fans that are nervous about our style of defense, and it seems like I'm up here saying this every week," Koetter said this week. "There is nothing wrong with our defensive scheme." The Sun Devils (4-3, 1-3 Pac-10) are in the middle of the conference in total yardage allowed at just under 373 per game, and they're seventh in points allowed at 29.3. That kind of effort won't cut it Saturday night at No. 8 Oregon, however. The Ducks (7-1, 4-1) have quarterback Joey Harrington and rushed for a school-record 446 yards in a 24-17 win at previously unbeaten Washington State last week. "We have tremendous balance," Harrington said. "We've known that ever since fall camp. It's a very talented group, and any aspect can carry us any week. It just happened to be the running game last week." Second-string tailback Onterrio Smith ran for 285 yards, breaking the school mark set by Bobby Moore (now Ahmad Rashad) 30 years ago. "Anyone who's watched him practice knew something like this was bound to happen," Oregon offensive lineman Ryan Schmid said. "He has endless energy and is just an incredible athlete." Starter Maurice Morris had 138 yards before leaving with a sore left hamstring that might keep him out of Saturday night's game. Koetter, in his first season in Tempe, was Oregon coach Mike Bellotti's offensive coordinator for two years before he left for Boise State following the 1997 season. Koetter and assistant Tom Osborne, who worked for Bellotti the last five years, might be able to put to use their knowledge of the Ducks' system, which Bellotti says hasn't changed much in 13 years. "He's taken some things from here that he felt good about," Bellotti said. On defense, the Sun Devils use four linemen, two linebackers and five defensive backs - essentially the same setup Oregon has. "The 4-2-5 will work," Koetter said. "It's working for Virginia Tech. Guess what Oregon plays? The 4-2-5. "Are we playing perfect on defense? No. We're not causing enough turnovers, that's for sure. I refuse to point fingers at individual players. I just won't do that. It's not my style. The buck stops with me. I guess it's on my shoulders as far as who's fault it is." Harrington is due for another big passing show. He had three touchdowns running and passing against Arizona earlier this year, but he had to throw only 26 times and didn't score against the Cougars. He is 21-3 as the Ducks' starter. "He's just a winner. He always gets it done," said Arizona State quarterback Jeff Krohn, the conference's highest-rated quarterback. Krohn passed for 432 yards and five touchdowns against Oregon last year at Sun Devil Stadium, but Harrington passed for 434 yards and six touchdowns. Harrington's two touchdown passes in the last four minutes sent the game to overtime, and the Ducks won 56-55 in the second extra period when Krohn's two-point pass went off the hands of tight end Todd Heap. "Hopefully, it won't be as exciting as last year," Harrington said. Email your... Technical questions & comments to: WebMaster Daily Tidings editorial comments & questions to: Editor Visit our other Oregon Newspapers... | Albany Democrat-Herald | Ashland Daily Tidings | Corvallis Gazette-Times | | Lebanon Express | Newport News-Times | Springfield News | Cottage Grove Sentinel | Ashland Daily Tidings 1661 Siskiyou Blvd. Ashland, OR 97520 Telephone 541-482-3456 © Copyright 2001 Lee Northwest Publishing