The Fish Report: A New Bowl Strategy?

    special guest column by Charles "Fishduck"  Fischer

We all marveled during the season at how the No-Huddle strategy combined with the Spread Offense could be so potent. Teams such as USC that had double or triple the number of four and five star players on their rosters would take a lead on us-only to have it fade and lose by a substantial margin. Talent became less the key variable as the game entered the fourth quarter, while conditioning became trump. Truly we wore teams down, and sometimes the grouping of play packages allowed us to call multiple plays which caught teams lined up incorrectly or sometimes not at all as the play was snapped. It became routine to come from behind and surge strongly past opponents, and we became thrilled with watching the expected game-plan materialize every Saturday.

Yet it did not happen in the National Championship game.

I was surprised at how many television time-outs occurred as well the length of them. Augment that with some cagey time-outs taken by Auburn as our momentum was building, and it became clear in the final quarter that our usual result was not going to happen as we had seen throughout the season. The Rose Bowl also demonstrated that the No-Huddle was a Non-Factor in that game as well with the tons of television breaks. What brought us to the BCS games was not going to sustain us when playing in them. Do we change our strategy for the Bowl games and perhaps rethink how we use our players?

To run the No-Huddle offense, it is preferable to have lighter, faster linemen who can move in space and can hold up under the extreme fatigue-inducing continuous play. It makes sense that 285 to 290 lb Offensive Linemen can carry out this strategy easier than 310 lb. earthmovers, hence our recruiting and training has emphasized this lighter, fitter offensive lineman profile. Yet when we take on other BCS teams-it becomes apparent that our lighter Offensive Linemen have tough sledding in the trenches against high quality Defensive Linemen, and the objective for their light weight, (the fatigue factor) becomes useless against the ongoing stream of time-outs. Thus our aim of the trim lineman is negated by television, and our running game is stymied by BCS Defensive Linemen against our lighter O-Line. Now what?

We can’t change to the earthmover profile for our O-Line, as then we lose a major component of our offense for the regular season. Yet the reality is that in the Bowl-the opponent’s line is not getting worn down-WE ARE. Our lightweight speedy O-Linemen are losing the LOS battle for the running game, which is crucial for Oregon. Instead of changing styles of Offensive Linemen-can we ADD another line? A Bruiser Offensive Line? Call one O-Line the Green team, and the other the Black team. (No one wants to be the “yellow” team)

Sounds wacky, but stay with me on this. Chip Kelly has done a TON of wacky things that have worked wonderfully, such as the rapid practices, the blaring music at practices, and the stunning use of twenty five players on defense this year! He surprised everyone including us Oregon fans with this unorthodox strategy, yet it worked with all the underclassmen playing on defense and created one of the top teams in America for creating turnovers. Offensive linemen NEED to work together, to have that chemistry together. We can’t just shuffle new fellows in the game and out and expect great results. What if we had ANOTHER O-Line, that was beefier, and came in during the regular season for every third drive or so, (or short ones) and developed their chemistry. Thus in the Bowl game they are battle-ready, and have the size to take on the extraordinary Defensive Tackles that we see in BCS games.

Yeah, it’s different. But everything Chip does is different. We have a ton of talented new Offensive Linemen coming out of redshirt, and others joining us this fall. We have not got the depth yet, but the talent is rising on the Offensive Line. Is this the time to begin to build on this strategy so that in a year or so we are able to implement BOTH STRATEGIES? Oh baby-how much fun would THAT be to watch! We watch the Green group sprinting from the old LOS to the new; then the Black Group is blasting legendary holes for our speed burners to jet through. Holy Crap-we love it!

Am I off my rocker on this?

Geez we love to ponder our Ducks!

FishDuck

Charles Fischer fishduck83@gmail.com

P.S. I was looking to do some instructional videos during the offseason, but my partner on the project is swamped with work. If you can work for free, and would like to get your talents and name out there on these videos-then do e-mail me. I need someone who can add the voice-over, the arrows, circles, etc. while I provide all the info. I have found a location to place these videos on the web along with an archive of my reports. (I will continue to post here as before) Some of you offered your help in the past, but alas I accidently deleted hundreds of e-mails which contained yours. Your location being in Oregon is crucial, and being in Eugene is preferable. For six years the Oregon offense has not been understood by the public and we are going to change that!

[Editor's note: Charles "Fishduck" Fischer also publishes his Fish Reports at Duck Sports Authority and Addicted to Quack.  Guest commentary and fan contributions are always welcome at The Duck Stops Here, provided they are thoughtfully and tastefully written.  Fishduck always has a unique and passionate perspective on Duck football.

Not sure I agree with this one, however.  While Fish is absolutely right that bowl games negate Oregon's advantage in tempo, and elite teams with big, physical lines provide a special challenge to the Duck's athletic front, I don't think a team can remake itself for a bowl game.  This year's recruiting class suggests another, less radical solution:  Oregon is recruiting athletic linemen who also have the potential to be bigger and stronger.  They'll bridge the gap and get better.


The Ducks lost to Auburn by a field goal with two seconds to play.  They don't need an overhaul.  They just need to do what they do a little better, be four points better in 2011.  Adding a receiver corps that can stretch the field vertically, and developing a deep stable of fast running backs and capable, dual-threat quarterbacks, while continuing to build a swarming, fierce defense with depth and speed, will close the gap.


I can see Coach Kelly installing a power package to take advantage of the skills of Tra Carson and Dontae Williams and the depth at tight end and offensive line, but with due respect to the Fishduck, I can't see Coaches Greatwood and Kelly installing two separate lines.  It's a long season, and hard enough to build one with suitable backups.


But FD has been exactly right before, and his commentary always educates and illuminates.  Really appreciate that he's made it available here.]