Sunday Takeaway: Oregon Ducks Defense Showed Improvement Against Nebraska
The Oregon Ducks lost key players on Offense, the Defense stepped up, and the Coaching Staff lost the game.
The loss of key players like Running Back Royce Freeman, Wide Receiver Devon Allen and Offensive Lineman Tyrell Crosby did not help the Oregon Ducks on Saturday against Nebraska, but they are not the reason the team now as a ‘1’ in the loss column. Oregon fans need to realize that this team can function on Offense without Freeman.
Oregon has a ton of depth and talent at the Running Back position and it showed against the Cornhuskers. Tony Brooks-James and Kani Benoit accounted for close to 400 yards on the ground the the majority of the scoring. The Offensive Line is gelling and creating holes as well as protecting Quarterback Dakota Prukop – for the most part.
You can even see the Oregon Defense growing up right in front of us as the season progresses. While they did have some boneheaded plays, they stepped up and grew up in key third and fourth down situations to get the ball back for the Oregon Offense.
Entering the game, Oregon was a two point conversion machine, leading the Nation in the category after the first week of the season, but in the end it was not the team, but the Coaching Staff that was responsible for the loss. The Ducks converted on one of five for two points. You don’t even have to know Common Core math to realize that if they would have just kicked the extra point the outcome would have been different.
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Third and fourth down conversions were hard to come by, but it was that way on both sides of the ball. Oregon also racked up over 100 yards in Penalties, some from Player Emotion. Camerion Hunt popped a Defensive Player in the third quarter when both were clearly out of bounds for 15 yards that ended a potential scoring drive.
While the newly installed ‘Freshman’ Offensive Line is still working on Chemistry, the loss should provide valuable experience moving forward. The team played in front of 90,000+ and showed poise. Quarterback Dakota Prukop showed his grit and had close to 100 yards on the ground for the first time this season. He used his legs to extend plays and in big situations turn 4th downs into 1st downs.
After the game it was noted that Troy Dye did not play against Nebraska. Defensive Coordinator Brady Hoke mentioned after the game that it was not because of a suspension. This bears watching moving forward. The Freshman was stellar through the first two games of the season on Defense for Oregon.
Next: Oregon Loses Freeeman To Injury, Game To Nebraska
Oregon returns home to take on Colorado and open Pac-12 Conference play on Saturday.(2:30pm Pacific Time, Pac-12 Networks)