College Football Matrix: Oregon Football Defense Better Than Arizona Defense
The College Football Matrix is not in awe of how good the Arizona Offense is, but how bad the Wildcats Defense has been this season.
Oregon Football looks to get back to a familiar passing Offense this week with the hopeful return of Quarterback Justin Herbert. In looking at the numbers with Dave Bartoo from College Football Matrix, Herbert will be the X Factor the rest of the season for Oregon.
As it stands, the numbers with Herbert this season are mixed with him missing a big chunk of the season according to Bartoo, “We don’t know exactly what we’re going to get.”
While the Ducks no longer have a Top 20 Offensive Efficiency, the drop has not been a total catastrophe considering what Braxton Burmeister brought to the table. Oregon’s Offensive Efficiency entering the game with Arizona(over the last four weeks) is 107th. That is the bad news. The Oregon Defense is holding at 80th entering this week. Far better then they were last year at this time.
For the Arizona Offense, it has been high flying power football with Khalil Tate running the show. Bartoo and I both agree this is the best Offense Oregon has faces all season, ”Arizona Offense (last 4 weeks) is number 2 in the country in efficiency. They are averaging .512 points per snap. They are destroying people. They are number 3 for the year.”
Dave Bartoo from College Football Matrix on How Oregon Can Manage Arizona
Last 4 weeks, Arizona Offense(2) vs Oregon Offense(107)
While the Arizona Offense is humming, the Defense is not good according to the College Football Matrix. The Ducks have a better Defense entering the game, “On Defense Arizona is 106, Oregon is 80.” The scheme for Oregon this week should be simple, and it could very well keep them in the game. “I am going 100 percent ball control against this Defense. I am throwing the passes short. I think with a veteran Quarterback like Herbert you can control the ball(running).”
It can be broken down even easier, “If Tate doesn’t have the ball in his hands, you can factor him out. Arizona is a super unbalanced team.” Remember, Tate only does what he is asked to do. He is not gun slinging, but throwing the ball consistently 15-20 times per game.
Next: Oregon Football Returns Refreshed, Prepares For Arizona
Oregon hosts the final two regular season games at Autzen Stadium. The Ducks and Wildcats kickoff Saturday at 4 pm Pacific Time on Pac-12 Networks.
Quotes obtained firsthand over the phone with Dave Bartoo