Kenjon Barner, David Paulson and Spencer Paysinger are banged up and not practicing. There's depth at linebacker so Paysinger can be replaced, even though his senior leadership will be missed in the first conference game on the road, but Paulson and Barner are big weapons with a big dropoff with those two not at full-go.
Fortunately they're young, and young bodies recover quickly. I play volleyball at a family picnic on the weekend and I hurt till Thursday. If Paulson can't go Malachi Lewis starts, with a couple of walk-ons behind him. Curtis White has a shoulder, and Brandon Williams still has a cast on his hand. It's feeling like one of those Old West movies with a horizon full of Indians. The other guys are dressed better for the heat, and there's more of them.
Cliff Harris is sure-handed and elusive returning kicks, but Barner's an X factor in the offense. Arizona State will sell out to stop LaMichael James, and if Barner were practicing, Kelly and Helfrich would have a whole 'nother set of options for punishing that strategy. Not having Barner puts more pressure on Darron Thomas, and leaves the Ducks with much less firepower in the running game. Alston and Reed are capable, but they don't have the burst and playmaking ability of a burner like Barner. Oregon's 1-2 punch is down to a punch and a half.
It may be on the defense to win this one. Not completely, but it would reduce the towel-chewing, pillow-throwing factor if the UO defense picked this week to be stifling and assertive and turn the ball around the other way about four times. A couple of picks and sacks to shake Threet's apparent confidence would be just what the Alliotti ordered. Brandon Bair keeps batting down passes; this would be the perfect weekend for one of those bat-downs to fall into the waiting arms of Eddie Pleasant.
Oregon is a solid favorite in this game, but Duck fans will breathe a lot easier if the fourth quarter rolls around and 1) the Ducks' offensive line has found a solution to the ASU front seven, 2) Threet's receivers are not having a party downfield and 3) Oregon leads by two touchdowns. There's every reason to expect things will develop this way. I'll just feel a lot better when they do. Nothing is guaranteed in the PAC-10. It takes a championship effort every week to be champion.
Agreed. I think if Barner is not near 100%, this is going to be a tough game for us. Very tough. It may be a full out defensive battle.
ReplyDeleteYeah, these injuries aren't coming at a great time. Hopefully we have the depth to overcome ASU in the heat. Good stuff !!!
ReplyDeleteGo Ducks 58--
ReplyDeleteIt's weird that two positions of strength depth and talent are now question marks, running back and tight end. With Barner and James healthy, with Paulson, Williams and White healthy, the Ducks are loaded here, and have too many weapons and options for ASU. Now it's Malachi Lewis, Clint Sager, Remene Alston and Andres Reed, a great equalizer for our inhospitable hosts. The Ducks can still win but it isn't as easy.
BP--
I agree, it very well could be a tough game, and a defensive battle. We'll find out how good Oregon's defense is, and how resilient the Ducks are as a team.
Dale