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Duck lightning strikes early and often: UO 53 WSU 7
The Duck football team came out in their lightning yellow uniforms for the first time this year and the result was 40 first-half points beginning with Jeremiah Johnson’s 42-yard touchdown burst on Oregon’s first offensive play from scrimmage. It was a gorgeous sun-drenched autumn day in Eugene and it was quite an entertaining display on the gridiron that the sell-out crowd was privileged to witness. The Ducks dominated in every department: The offense, defense and special teams seemed to show no ill effects from the bye week. There had to be great satisfaction in beating a team that helped spoil a promising season for Oregon last year in Pullman and totally thrashed the Ducks in their last appearance in Autzen Stadium in 2003.Win tarnished by two injuries Cameron Colvin must be thinking (as the saying goes), “If it wasn’t for bad luck, I’d have no luck at all!” My heart goes out for the senior wide receiver who had been establishing himself as a “go to” target for Dennis Dixon and was just bouncing back from the unfortunate last play of the Cal game. His Duck football career, barring a miracle, is over, and he most likely will, despite his great talent, not be looking at an NFL career. Colvin has overcome adversity before and we hope and pray he can again. At this writing, we don’t know how severe the knee injury is for Jeremiah Johnson. He is such a great runner and play-maker, he will be difficult to replace. Offensive coordinator Chip Kelly has great confidence in Andre Crenshaw and this will be Crenshaw’s opportunity to continue the great one-two punch the Ducks have had with Jonathan Stewart and Johnson at running back. Cal loss to Beavers a bummer Even though Cal was playing without their starting quarterback, Nate Longshore, they were heavily favored to win (14 points) and could have secured No. 1 in the nation status after LSU’s loss to Rich Brooks’ Kentucky team. This would have been good for the Pac-10 and the Ducks. I can’t help it.. I NEVER, EVER want to see OSU win. In the words of OSU (Oklahoma State) coach, Mike Gundy, “It makes me want to puke!” Hey, DBs, turn around and look for the ball! It isn’t just Oregon defensive backs that do this, but it’s very frustrating to witness. They guard the receiver to the point that they don’t turn their heads around ever so slightly while running full speed and knock down or intercept the football that is coming right at them. A wide receiver has to do that precise thing and CATCH the football. A cornerback or safety can be a success by just deflecting the ball. But to see a receiver catch a pass that is underthrown with a defensive back having no clue where the ball is at, is just unacceptable. With all the repetitions in practice it should be second nature for the defensive back to recognize when the ball is headed for the receiver he is covering and then tilt that head, see the ball and swipe it away. This is especially true of balls thrown along a sideline or in the end zone. College football is different than the NFL in that you are allowed to “faceguard” the receiver as long as you don’t make contact. But wouldn’t it be much better to practice locating the ball and getting a hand on it? Larry Thompson's "Seeing The Forest" column is refreshed every Sunday on DuckUniverse.com. | 
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