Malik Benson drops major hint about Oregon's playoff chances

When Mr. November starts talking about the prospects for the Ducks making a run in the College Football Playoff, fans and playoff committee members should listen.

At the interview table following Oregon's 26-14 win over Washington Saturday Malik Benson said, "Getting some rest is gonna be good for my guys. But it's gonna be scary once we get all of our guys back."

Note Benson used the phrase, "when we get all of our guys back (Emphasis added.)" Players are pumped with adrenaline after a big win, but he didn't stutter when he said it. That's clearly his expectation.

By contrast, Dan Lanning has been careful and evasive when addressing the same subject. Coaches like talking about injuries even less than Jennifer Aniston likes talking about her flair.

If (emphasis again added) anything like this happens, look out out for the Ducks in the playoffs. Dante Moore getting back three explosive receivers like Evan Stewart, Gary Bryant Jr. and Dakorien Moore, added to Benson and Jeremiah McClellan, who have been fabulous in a testing November stretch drive, would dial this offense up to 11.

Injury toll challenges Oregon's strength in numbers, yet they rose

Oregon beat USC and Washington back-to-back while missing six scholarship receivers. Against the Trojans, they had to rely on three reserve offensive linemen, yet they ran the football for 179 yards and didn't suffer a sack.

A'lique Terry's superb group gamely took the field for the whole contest against the Huskies, who crashed safeties and cornerbacks, selling out to stop the run. They held the Webfoot's powerful running game to 106 yards, 2.5 a carry, but Dante Moore and the depleted receiver group hit six chunk passing plays good for 211 yards, including the 64-yard backbreaker to Benson in the fourth quarter.

The line kept Moore clean to make big plays. He had time to manipulate the coverage and make reads. In this 11-1 season, they've given up just 14 sacks all year, third in the Big Ten.

This time around the postseason schedule sets up perfectly for the Ducks with three precious weeks to reset and heal before hosting a home playoff game, which could be AP No. 21 Tulane from the Group of Five.

Just getting the offensive line healthy would be huge, but if Benson's optimistic, offhand comment proves to be true, there's an incredible array of firepower to ignite a playoff run. The Ducks would be able to spread the field, attack at all levels and burn defenses with big plays.

Suddenly Benson and McClellan have to be guarded by an opponent's No. 3 and No. 4 defensive backs. That's scary indeed.