How many touchdowns will Oregon have by the defense and special teams return this year?
Cliff Harris has three long touchdown returns, two returning punts and the pick six, Barner with an 80-yard punt return.
Scary thought: they play Portland State this week.
Most telling stat: Tennessee 2-of-15 on third down conversions. Oregon defense had no penalties and allowed just three first downs in the second half. Okay that’s three stats, but still.
LaMichael James has started 13 games in his Oregon career, and run for over 100 yards in ten of them.
Encouraging to see how well Thomas spreads the ball around, and that he finds the tight end over the middle. Remember Ed Dickson on the milk carton in games 1-3 of last season? Utilizing the tight end properly exploits key gaps in the defense and opens up the whole passing game, and Paulson is so tough and reliable over the middle.
Thomas doesn’t look afraid out there, doesn’t look overwhelmed. He looks like he’s playing football. He’s confident. He’s made good decisions and taken care of the ball. But, he’s young, and he will have a game where he throws three picks. I hope his teammates are ready to pick him up when that happens.
Great night for the kickers. Beard 2-2 FG 6-6 XP. Jackson Rice 4 punts 41.8, all inside the 20. I love that he punts so strategically, seldom wastes a kick. It drives me crazy when a punter gets off a 52-yard boomer from midfield. Yeah, you kicked a pretty punt, but you haven’t helped your team. Rice is the thinking man’s punter, the perfect punter for Chip Kelly. With Beard getting the ball deep on kickoffs, and Rice punting so well, they make the defense more effective.
Ken Woody had some sharp criticism for the linebackers, and I’m sure it’s merited. Poole is a good back but 165 is a lot of yards, and there are several backs of that caliber in the PAC-10, three or four at USC alone. Vereen, Grigsby, Rodgers, and Polk will make life miserable for Duck fans if these guys don’t fill gaps and adjust to formations better. I read Woody’s posts the second they go up at the R-G, and I’m sure a lot of Ducks do also. He sees the game with a coach’s eyes, and we’re lucky to get that kind of insight spelled out in such a clear, distinct fashion.
I had no doubt at any time we would win. TN started the game playing on raw emotion, but not skill. There's a difference. The emotional play is usually sustainable for a short period of time before talent and depth take over. And so it did.
ReplyDeleteJames is one tough runner. He reminds me of Jeramiah Johnson- fast and strong.
The receivers are still dropping passes I think are catchable, but it's a work in progress.
Despite the fumble, I think special teams get an A grade. We contained very well on kick offs and scored one TD.
All in all it was a great game. I'm proud to be a Duck fan.
BP--
ReplyDeleteAgree with you that raw emotion only gets you started in a football game. Very difficult to sustain. 45 unaswered points was an apt testimony to depth and talent.
LMJ is very tough, something casual observers overlook.
The passing game is coming along really well. Love that DT is using so many different receivers. Fishduck has another great post on scout.com about the downfield passing game and its potential.
Jackson Rice, PAC-10 player of the week, and Beard had a very solid debut.
Lots of reasons to be proud, especially their poise and resilience.
Thanks for your comments.
Dale