Duck fans rejoice as Will Stein takes the wraps off the Oregon offense

After two games of looking like they were wading in the sludge of a toxic waste dump, the Oregon offense came alive in New Jersey. It's probably just a coincidence.

There was a sequence in the second quarter when Will Stein called a counter play, a reverse and a flea-flicker on three straight plays, all big gains, all executed perfectly at quick tempo, the last a 21-yard touchdown pass from Dante Moore to Kenyon Sadiq.

On third down, the Ducks pushed the ball downfield, converting 8-11. A toss to Noah Whittington on third and three turned into a 68-yard touchdown, perfectly blocked.

On their next scoring drive Moore found Jeremiah McClellan on the right sideline for 16 yards on third and three, nifty footwork by the redshirt freshman receiver. On third and 10 from the Oregon 36, Moore hit Sadiq for 24 yards up the seam. On third and three, the quarterback scrambled left for 13.

Moore connected with Gary Bryant for 24 as the first quarter ended. The Ducks were making chunk plays and taking shots. Moore threw a 34-yard touchdown strike to Dakorien Moore.

In the week leading up to the game Autzen Zoo wrote:

"Rutgers' defense gives up 9.2 yards per pass attempt. They are porous and undermanned in the secondary, a unit that's given up 22 pass plays of 20 yards or more, worst in the Big Ten.

Oregon's offensive plan at SHI Stadium shouldn't be subtle. The Ducks have matchup advantages all over the field. Dante Moore should hand off to his 6-0, 235 bruising running back Jordon Davison and get his team into favorable down and distances. Wear them down. Impose your will.

Then he should throw it down the seams and up the rails to Dakorien Moore, Malik Benson and Kenyon Sadiq. Test this soft, squishy pass defense. Let his superior athletes cook."

That's precisely what the Ducks did. Stein wasn't careful or tentative or conservative. The Ducks attacked and exploited their matchup advantages. There wasn't the overreliance on screens, or running plays on third and long, or plays short of the sticks.

The Ducks were explosive and decisive, and the executed like a Top Ten team. This same Rutgers team led Washington 13-10 at halftime in Seattle a week ago. Stein and his offense did what they were supposed to do, and the plan was brilliant.

That hasn't always happened this year when Top 25 teams go on the road. Particularly after a wrenching loss, this was about as perfect a response as a team could make. There were a few correctibles, but the energy and focus, team-wide, were a credit to the program and its culture.