The offensive line is the drive train of a football team, and for the last two years chief mechanic Steve Greatwood and his charges have provided the torque and thrust to back up a 500-point, 6000-yard warranty for the Oregon Ducks.
The trouble is, both seasons they've broken down in the last lap, and the biggest prize has eluded them. Getting to the Rose Bowl and the National Championship Game was nice, being the Grand Marshall of the Rose Parade is wonderful recognition, but having a parade all your own would have been one step better.
In 2011, the Ducks want the girl, the victory spinout and the quart of milk, all to themselves. To get it, they need a winning performance from the best pit crew in college football, the Oregon offensive line.
A lot has been made of the collapses in the Rose Bowl and NCG. The instant, sheep-bleat analysis is that Oregon, with its emphasis on athleticism in the offensive line, is no match for the size and physicality of elite defensive linemen.
That's been overstated. First, any line and any system has trouble with Nick Fairley and Cameron Heyward. That's why premier defensive linemen like these go so early in the NFL draft, Fairley in the first ten, although rumors are he's slipping, partly due a suspect work ethic. In college, though, supreme natural talents like these dominate, against the spread or the power-I.
The Ducks will get a good measure of their progress in game one against LSU. If they want to beat the biggest dogs, it starts will execution, technique, conditioning and strength training. And their first day of practice together is in ten days.
Losing Nick Rowland to health issues won't help. The redshirt freshman had to give up football for medical reasons, and at 6-5 318 the four-star recruit from the 2010 class could have been a valuable contributor.
The Webfoots did have a tremendous recruiting year on the offensive line, but o-line is the least likely position for a newcomer to contribute immediately. Almost without exception players need a year in the weight room and at the training table. Wide receiver is probably the easiest position for a first-year player to step in and have an immediate impact. The assignments are simpler, and pure athletic ability trumps almost everything else out wide.
Agreed. The offensive line played very well against the Pac 10 competition but getting in against elite and big defensive lines is another story. Stir in the fact that there are so many TV time outs during bowl games (thus limiting the "conditioning effect") it makes for a challenging post season. I think the O line was severely outplayed in the National Championship Game, as I think was expected, but the Ducks had some real opportunities to exploit weaknesses but didn't take advantage. Despite a great game, and coming within a last second field goal, I don't think Darron Thomas made the right decisions on a number of plays. My only criticism of him all season long is that he takes a little longer to make decisions and in the replay they often prove to be the wrong one given the situation. I hope it's something he improves on this year.
ReplyDeleteGD58--
ReplyDeleteGood analysis. The extra timeouts and long preparation time do negate a couple of key Oregon advantages. The hope is that DT, who is a film room rat, will improve his recognition with a year to grow.
Great to hear from you again.
Dale