Autzen Zoo
Fansided

College Football Matrix: Oregon Football Offense Running In Mud

By Justin Phillips

EUGENE, OR - OCTOBER 13: Head coach Mario Cristobal of the Oregon Ducks reacts to an official's call during the first quarter of the game against the Washington Huskies at Autzen Stadium on October 13, 2018 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images)
EUGENE, OR - OCTOBER 13: Head coach Mario Cristobal of the Oregon Ducks reacts to an official's call during the first quarter of the game against the Washington Huskies at Autzen Stadium on October 13, 2018 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

The Oregon Ducks struggles on Defense and Offense are well documented and Dave Bartoo from the College Football Matrix helps explain some of the breakdowns.

Oregon Football returns to Autzen Stadium on Saturday with more questions about inconsistency on Offense for their third road game this season. Three games that included Utah, Arizona, and Washington State have brought Oregon back to earth this season after a solid start and a win over Washington Huskies at home.

With two weekends to go this season, Oregon has a lot left to play for and part of it is remaining out of the shadow of a former coach according to Dave Bartoo from the College Football Matrix, “ Oregon has a lot to play for. Your two games away from having a worse record than last year with the same coaching staff…compared to Willie Taggart..what does that say about Oregon and Mario Cristobal?”

As it stands, it says a lot. Cristobal and the Staff have had their share of injuries to contend with over the last month, especially on Defense, but that is not so much the concern. The team has remained constant most of the season Defensively, but the Oregon Offense over the last month has clearly regressed. Bartoo puts it simply, “This team has gone from a dominating first half offense to an offense that is running in mud. The last four weeks the Ducks are in the bottom 25 in the country.”

More from Autzen Zoo

One fact that really stands out is the Ducks are now a worse scoring team in the first half, and better in the second over the last month. “In a flip of the season, the Ducks are struggling in the first three quarters with the 4th being their best quarter for scoring the last four weeks. (First Quarter: 116 Second Quarter: 101 Third Quarter: 58 Fourth Quarter: 33.)

If you look at year to date numbers it is a little better with Oregon averaging 36th best in the country. The balance between Offense and Defense this season has been anything but. Bartoo believes that Oregon Defensive Coordinator can best do his job when the team sees roughly 70-75 snaps on Defense per game.

Over the last month, the Defense has been on the field a lot. (Too many three and outs by the Oregon Offense, etc.) “The defense Jim Leavitt likes to run – he doesn’t have the personnel he wants to run for that. His Defense strength comes having not too many plays in a game.”

Dave Bartoo on the problem with the Oregon Defense in 2018.

Oregon still has a lot to play for and momentum is important as well as containing the emotions of Senior Day on Saturday. The College Football Matrix as Arizona State winning by a touchdown. Oregon and ASU kickoff at 7:30 pm Pacific Time on Pac-12 Network.

Quotes obtained during interview with Dave Bartoo(College Football Matrix)

Home/Oregon Ducks Football