| Oregon vs. ASU Game Analysis |
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| Saturday, 03 November 2007 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The game plan on both sides of the ball was effective and successful. By Dietrich Moore
Well, well, well…today’s game between the Oregon Ducks and the Arizona State Sun Devils proved to be a match-up that presented both teams with an opportunity to move one step closer to the national title game with a win. Today’s match-up was one where two high scoring prolific offenses took the field in what would appear to amount to be a back and forth game. For the second week in a row the Oregon offense had a similar philosophy of attack. The Oregon offense came out and picked up where they left off last weekend scoring on their first two drives. The ASU defense came out playing man coverage, which is what you have to do more often than not against a versatile spread team like the Ducks. The Oregon offense approached the game with the “element of surprise” mentality as they came out throwing the ball early in the game rather than leaning on Stewart early on. Chip Kelly and the offensive staff did a great job keeping the ASU defense on their heels with that element of surprise approach. ASU’s defensive calls showed the expectation of Oregon running with Stewart early the game but the Duck “O” came out throwing the ball early to soften up the ASU defense which kept them on their heels. It is difficult for a defensive coordinator to make calls if the opposing offenses’ attack isn’t what he anticipates especially early on in the game. The Oregon offense had yet another productive day as Dixon did a great job in his decisions making in the passing and running option game. I heard a uniformed “gasp” among the 59,000 plus crowd when Dixon limped off the field early in the fourth quarter. Dixon appeared to be okay a few plays later after he was checked out by the trainers. I observed Dixon jumping up and down on the sidelines wearing neoprene knee brace. Brady Leaf came in for Dixon and finished the fourth quarter in place of Dixon. Leaf did an efficient job running time off the clock completing a couple passes and managing the offense effectively to allow the clock to run and become ASU’s enemy. All in all the Oregon offense was clicking on all cylinders once again! The Oregon defense was the difference in the game holding ASU to its lowest point total of the season at 23 points. The Duck defense did not blitz Rudy Carpenter early in the game. In fact, the first time the Oregon defense blitzed the ASU offense was early in the second quarter. I have mentioned in previous columns that blitzing an efficient passing team could prove to be dangerous. The Ducks decided not to take that chance early in the game with an experienced and efficient quarterback like Carpenter at the helm.
The Oregon defense blitzed Carpenter for the first time in the second quarter which forced ASU to kick a field goal with 8:17 remaining. As I have said before, I don’t think it is exclusively dangerous to blitz an efficient passing team, which means, as a defensive coordinator, picking and choosing the times and situations you want to blitz are a necessity. I agree with the Oregon defensive philosophy for this game of playing static man defense early to gage how the opposing offense is going to attack. I liked the call to blitz on third-and-9 in the second quarter which forced ASU to kick their second field goal of the game.
The Oregon defense came out in the second half and blitzed Carpenter more so than in the first half. The game adjustment proved to be affective as Carpenter appeared to not be as comfortable in the pocket relative to the first half. My hat goes off to the Oregon staff for yet another game plan that proved to be one the opposing team could not handle. Just know this…it is the job of the coaches to come up with game plans each week to put the players in positions to make plays. The other side of that coin is it is up to the players to make the plays they are in position to make. It is now Week 9 and the Oregon Ducks have been consistently been making the plays needed to win each week. The Oregon Ducks have definitely propelled themselves into first place in the league while getting a step closer to the national title game. The next few weeks should be the determining factor! Next week the Ducks are at Arizona who has showed some offensive power the past few weeks. Tune in for next week’s game and watch the Ducks continue their magical season!
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