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 Sunday, December 9, 2001
Riding Shotgun with Capt. Comeback
By Todd Harris
Special to ABC Sports Online
Going back in history, every great superhero has had a trusty sidekick. Batman had Robin. Robin Hood had Little John and John Saunders has Terry Bowden. OK, maybe that's a stretch. But so it is with "Captain Comeback", a.k.a. Joey Harrington, and one of his favorite targets, tight end Justin Peelle.
|  | | Eight of Justin Peelle's 24 catches this season have been for a touchdown. |
For opposing defenses, Justin Peelle is a major nuisance. He is not the type of player you constantly need to double cover, but the minute you don't account for him, Joey Heisman dials up his proverbial "Bat-phone", in this case, the "Duck Phone", and SHAZZAM! it's Peelle up the middle for six.
The problem with playing the Ducks this year is they are loaded, and with Harrington holding the keys to a Ferrari-esque offense that has all the bells and whistles. On the outside, you have to stick tight to Keenan Howry and Samie Parker. Cover them and now you need to worry about the dynamic 1-2 punch the Ducks bring on the ground with Maurice Morris and Onterrio Smith. If your defense is still in the game and not on the sideline taking oxygen, then all that is left is to keep Harrington from working his magic. And therein lies the conundrum ... you forgot to account for Peelle.
Here's a secret code word for all you defensive coordinators that have designs on grounding the Ducks offense: Keep your eyes "Peelled". This kid comes complete with near super-human powers. In the weight room, he can hold his own, setting a team record at his position with a 375-pound bench press and a 330-pound power clean.
On the field this year, Justin has given the Ducks offense such balance that Harrington doesn't just have one favorite target, but multiple favorites. Oregon has a long line of great players at tight end with five former Ducks making their way to the NFL, and Peelle could very well be the next.
Peelle and Harrington have worked in concert to the tune of eight touchdowns this season, but more importantly, Peelle has given General Joey another set of trusty hands to call on. And that's better than an extra compartment on your "Bat-utility" belt when there is an all-out blitz bearing down on you.
So reliable is the 6-foot-5, 245-pound senior from Dublin, Calif., that billboards around Eugene have named him, "Clutch". Not much of a superhero name, but it is appropriate.
Seventeen of his 24 receptions this year (and 39 of 53 career catches) have resulted in either a touchdown or a first down. Now you know where the Captain looks when he needs a "clutch" grab.
This Saturday, the Ducks wrap up the regular season with one of the longest-running rivalries in the nation, the 106th playing of the "Civil War". The Oregon State Beavers come to Autzen Stadium in Eugene riding a two-game winning streak and enough frustration from not being bowl eligible yet to power the Batmobile for a week.
The weather calls for, what else … rain. But that will not deter "Captain Comeback" and his trusty sidekick, "Clutch".
Todd Harris spotlights the Pac-10 each week for ABC Sports Online. He will be on the sidelines for Saturday's Oregon State-Oregon game on ABC with Keith Jackson and Tim Brant.
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