Just a short two months ago, Oregon fans collectively held their breath as Vernon Adams Jr. approached his final opportunity to pass a math class that had plagued his summer. Two months later, Adams has faded into the background, as bigger, more urgent issues have arised. As the Ducks approach their game against the Washington State Cougars on Saturday (3 PM, PAC 12 N), the early stages of the season have passed. Conference play will pick up speed, and the Ducks can’t afford another loss; the season is on the line.
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The College Football Playoff is no longer a possibility, and barring a major turnaround, so is another New Year’s Six Game. So now what? Is the Sun Bowl (where the latest projections have the Ducks) something to get excited about? It sounds like a consolation prize, but fair warning to all: Making a Bowl Game alone would be a step in the right direction. With 3 victories, a challenging five game stretch, highlighted by games against Stanford and USC, will follow the WSU game this weekend.
Don’t kid yourself. That 5 game stretch is going to reveal the identity of this program. This is the first time since the Chip Kelly era that the Oregon Ducks will be forced to reveal whether they are legitimately a National Powerhouse. Even in down years, traditional powerhouses such as LSU and USC still find away to grind out 7-9 victories. We will soon learn if Marcus Mariota really was the staple that held the program together.
The talent is there, the potential is there, the chemistry appears to be intact, but there are still red flags. It’s alarming that after a 42 point loss at home to a lower ranked opponent, coaches are using phrases such as “it’s on me,” and “missed assignments.” They’re true statements, yes, but is that really all one can say? One missed assignment on defense doesn’t result into a poor read on offense. An ill-advised pass on offense doesn’t result in a 28 unanswered points allowed on defense.
I continue to stand by Jeff Lockie. Taylor Alie did an exceptional job on the road in his first game at Colorado, but Lockie shows nice variety. Following this season, the position needs to be re-evaluated, no doubt. But in this position, searching for their identity and a spark mid-season, Lockie is the perfect candidate to lead the team the rest of the way. A broken finger on a finger that plays a big part in throws (Adams Jr.) isn’t going to resolve very quickly, so it’s not wise to count on him to be the player that we expected him to be.
The Cougars are going to come into Autzen Stadium and pass the ball 50 + times. It’s concerning given the secondary’s struggles. Oregon hasn’t played well from behind this season, and there isn’t a playmaker on offense who can turn a game around like Mariota. Oregon will have to fight tooth and nail to make sure the Cougars don’t get an offensive rhythm. The Ducks will need to post at least 35 points on offense to win this game. Someone has to step up and take over. Who will it be?
To Be Determined.