Grading the Ducks, Washington State at Oregon

With the ten-point quizzes out of the way, the Ducks take their midterms in November.

photo left: Three weeks running Bryan Bennett has provided the spark in an Oregon win with his mobility, poise and playmaking verve. With a big game in a hostile stadium, will an experienced but banged-up Darron Thomas solidify his hold on the Ducks' starting quarterback job? (photo by Jim Rider, presswire.com)

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Is this the next great Oregon running back?

This Oregon prep sensation and national talent as a track and field sprinter may become the heir to the tradition established by J-Stew, LMJ and DAT.

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With a great recruiting visit, Randy Uzoma could be the Fishduck catch of the day

Randy Uzoma, smart, fast and talented, could be a perfect fit in the Oregon offense of the future (photo courtesy conagaparkhs.org).

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Keys to the game, Washington State at Oregon

One day, Oregon will lose again in Autzen Stadium. But it won't happen tomorrow.

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Life without Cliff means young dbs get the isolation camera

Meanwhile, as the coaches sort out the police report and Cliff Harris' future, the Ducks have a game to win to get to 7-1 and the crux of their season.


It's a great test for the young secondary with the Washington State Cougars having the 10th-best passing attack in the NCAA, averaging 313 yards per game. Jeff Tuel's doubtful with myriad injuries (leg and collarbone) so senior Marshall Lobbestael again takes over at quarterback. The Cougar offense hasn't stalled under Lobbestael; he's thrown for over 1700 yards, with 15 touchdown and just 5 interceptions, a very healthy ratio. He's been sacked 14 times but stays cool in the pocket, completing 64% of his passes.

photo left: Troy Hill, Terrance Mitchell and Ifo Ekpre-Olomu will have a opportunity to grow up in a hurry facing Marquess Wilson and a capable Wazzu passing attack. (espnnorthwest.com photo)

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Cliff Harris' Oregon career at the crossroads, and this time we hope he lets someone else drive

Until June 16th of this year, Duck fans counted on Cliff Harris to be one of the strengths of Oregon's drive for another successful season. Even then, everybody hoped Cliffy would go back to being Cliffy, the dynamic, wonderfully gifted athlete with the flair for the memorable quote or the highlight film moment.


As a sophomore he set a school record with four punt returns for touchdown. He led the team and the conference in interceptions and pass breakups, returning a pick of Tennessee's Matt Simms for a back-breaking 76-yard touchdown. When the Oregon offense couldn't get anything going against the Cal strategy of crash the zone read, fake injuries and hold receivers, Kash elevated the entire team with a 64-yard punt return for a score. He picked Andrew Luck twice. He blanketed the Trojans and baited Matt Barkley into an interception.

Photo right: Cliff Harris, brilliant, electric, enigmatic, and a colossal screw-up, soars for a pass breakup against Tennessee last season. Can he harness his ability and find the maturity to succeed, as a player and a person? (photo courtesy footballsfuture.com)

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Grading the Ducks: Oregon at Colorado

Beating Colorado was never the issue. The only question was by how much and how well. The Ducks needed a game where they got out of Boulder without falling between a rock and a hard place: no injuries, good focus, using their deep and continuing to develop as a team. A 45-2 win accomplished all of those goals.


Chip Kelly's team was lightning efficient, striking for four quick touchdowns on their first four possessions. Bryan Bennett never blinked. He took to the opening assignment like it was another week at Crespi High, prepared for the situation, in command, with adept feet and vision and a passing arm that found its rhythm as the game went on. Misfiring early on a couple of long throws, before walk-on Dustin Haines took over Bennett tossed pretty strikes to David Paulson, for a 31-yard touchdown, and a 31-yard catch-and-run to Lavasier Tuinei that hit LT in stride running down to the one, falling short of the end zone by one skinny buttcheek, laying out over a defender with maximum effort.

Photo left: this Bleacher Report file photo from 2009 illustrates what great defense should look like, and the Webfoots displayed plenty of the same kind of swarming intensity in Colorado. Can they dial it up again for Washington State?

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