Tales From the Stat Sheet

Three Ducks Who Need a Couple of Quiet Days on the Pond

Three guys who have played tremendous football for the Ducks, but may be hitting the wall. The bye week could rejuvenate them:

Darron Thomas passer rating, by game:

10/9 @WSU W 43-23 205.11

10/21 UCLA W 60-13 186.36

10/30 @USC W 53-32 169.98

11/6 WASH W 53-16 144.58

11/13 @Cal W 15-13 108.00

Thomas fumbles:

first 7 games: 1

last 3 games: 7 (4 lost, one for a touchdown).

Thomas has a long motion. Several of his fumbles have occurred as he takes the ball back, and defensive linemen are probably being coached to look for the strip in film study. His linemen haven't protected him consistently, and he needs to continue to work on improving his pocket awareness and the clock in his head, particularly on quick routes.

Brandon Bair, tackles:

WSU 7

UCLA 8

USC 4

UW 3

Cal 0

tfls in first 7 games: 13

tfls last three games: 0

Bair is getting stymied and stood up inside. No one would question his effort, but he hasn't been as effective in the second half, particularly the last three games.

David Paulson:

first five games: 9 catches for 192 yards, 2 tds

last three games: 4 catches for 49 yards, 0 tds (no catches versus Cal)

Paulson is getting lost a bit. He's not quite to the Ed Dickson milk carton status, but with Thomas getting a lot of pressure in the passing game, those square outs, hitches and hooks to the tight end might help Oregon to build a little more rhythm in the passing game.

When the Oregon offense "turtles," Thomas looks increasingly to Jeff Maehl. The offense is far more potent when he is using the whole field and a variety of receivers. Best new development: the dumpoff passes to the backs. Barner and James had 2 each in the Cal game, for a couple of first downs, and getting the ball to them in the open field is relatively safe, simple and always has the potential for a big play. It's way better than a sack or a fumble.

A New Dimension

LaMichael James out of the backfield

1st five games: 1 catch 9 yards (includes 1 DNP)

Last five games: 9 catches 144 yards, 1 TD

A Young Player Who's Quietly Coming On

Taylor Hart has a sack in his last two games

It All Counts: The All-Purpose 1,000 Yard Club Candidates

Lamichael James 1569

Jeff Maehl 829

Josh Huff 794

Clff Harris 770

Kenjon Barner 755

These five Ducks could all reach 1000 all-purpose yards. James is likely to reach 2000. Harris might do so without taking a single offensive snap. He's the highest scoring defensive player in the nation, accounting for five tds in 10 games. His 4 punt returns for touchdown tied DeSean Jackson's PAC-10 record. Opponents may start angling the ball away from him, but that is a recipe for shanks and blocks. It's an extra, awkward step to angle a punt out of bounds, a little slower delivery.

James and Harris are tied for 20th in the nation with 10 plays of 30 yards or more this season. Harris has 5 punt returns of more than 60 yards, and 10 of more than 20

.

Big game in the trenches award:

versus Cal, Zac Clark, 5 tackles, including a tackle for loss and a forced fumble.

The Thinking Man's Punter:

Jackson Rice is quietly putting together a season where he has been a defensive weapon. Some of the best college football stats available are at College Football Stats:

season average: 43.1 total punts: 35

punts over 50 yards: 8

inside the 20: 17

touchbacks: 2

I can’t find a stat for his punts inside the ten, but I would love to know what it is.

The Two-Point Advantage

Oregon Two point conversions: 5-5

opponents: 1-2

The two-point play gets in opponents’ heads and changes their strategy, forces them into decisions they don’t want to make. Add a field goal and it takes a touchdown to beat you. Add a touchdown and it’s a two-score game. It creates extra urgency and pressure, and it’s a huge motivator for the kids who contribute on special teams.