Oregon/Colorado Preview

Trip to Gearhart
Originally uploaded by pete4ducks.

I will admit it I have seen about 5 minutes of CU this year and can name hardly any of their players. From all the stats and results of this year, not to mention the point spread, I have no reason to think Oregon will have any problems winning this game. So for non-gambling Oregon fans what are the things to look for in this almost assured to be a blow-out game? Health. Can Oregon survive this game without an injury to a key player? The Ducks have been not as lucky this year as they were in 2010 with avoiding the injury bug. All Duck fans have to hope that no one goes down against CU and if they do it is not for any long period of time. Second biggest question is QB play. I think it is safe to say that DT will be starting but could we see Bryan Bennett after halftime or even earlier? Hopefully Oregon can get up 21 or 28 by half and let BB get some throwing time which he hasn’t had much time to showcase. Third can Oregon break 300 yards rushing again? I think the chances are quite good and I think that Kenjon Barner will get over 200 yards as LMJ sits another game. I’d like to see Tra Carson get some more carries this week and facing a less than stellar defense missing its top linebacker I think the chances are good. Final score Oregon 58 Colorado 22.

Oregon/ASU Review

Fresh Hop Fest at Oaks Park.
Originally uploaded by pete4ducks.

A bit late yes but just wanted to write a bit about the Oregon/ASU game. I was lucky enough to be able to go to the game which was the first one I have attended since Nevada. The Sun Devils came to play and are a team who plays much like a classic Dennis Erickson squad. Hard hitting aggressive defense and an offense that likes to get vertical. In addition like many Dennis Erickson teams of the past the Sun Devils sometimes play out of control and this leads to stupid penalties (see Burfict, Vontaze). For the second time in two weeks Oregon fans had a throw up in your mouth moment when Darron Thomas grabbed his knee and exited the game. In came Bryan Bennett for his first meaningful playing time and to the delight of all Duck fans Bennett led Oregon to back to back td drives and put the game away. I am not sure we learned much about Bennett’s ability to throw the ball but I think it is pretty clear that is more of a running threat than Darron Thomas is. I don’t think ASU had any idea he was so quick and Bennett made them pay when they didn’t spy him. Oregon put up over 300 yards on the ground which was a pretty impressive performance against what was considered the Pac 12’s top defense. Had it not been for a pointless clipping penalty by Lavisier Tuinei, Kenjon Barner would have put up 200 yards rushing which would have meant four straight games an Oregon running back put up that figure or better. Kenjon proved that he can put up a 30 carry game, run between the tackles and still showed the flashes of his breakaway speed. We had a Cliff Harris spotting as well who might have made the key play of the game with his pick and long return of a Brock (6 foot 8!) Osweiler. Helmet stickers to Kenjon Barner and Mark Asper. Oregon by the way has now won 15 consecutive conference games it would take another 13 to break USC’s remarkable run in the previous decade. This week Oregon is off to Boulder in a game I expect Oregon to give players like Bryan Bennett, Tra Carson and Rashuan Vaughn some meaningful playing time. The game might not be as large a blowout as one may expect (giving 34 points on the road to a conference foe is pretty absurd) but Oregon should easily win.