Opening Duck victory marked by crisp execution, imposing depth and fabulous freshmen

It's just one game, and it was a blowout against an FCS opponent, but what a marvelous contrast to last year's stumbling opening win over Idaho.

It was clear Dan Lanning and the coaching staff, particularly offensive line coach A'lique Terry, challenged the Ducks to execute at a high level and play with focus. It showed. They had just three penalties all day, one by the offensive line, a holding call in the third quarter with Oregon already leading 38-6.

That made it 3rd and 14. Dante Moore responded by connecting with Jay Harris on a route out of the backfield, which Harris turned into a 50-yard gain rumbling down the middle.

The team had no turnovers, just the three penalties and didn't give up a sack. Only one play lost yardage, the kneel-down at the end of the game. It was as dominating and nearly perfect as an opening game can be, a huge contrast to the shoot-themselves-in-the-foot start of a year ago.

“This next opponent will have had more time to prepare for us,” Lanning said. “We’ve got to be ready for that. It’s one day at a time. How can we be the best version of ourselves today?”

Fabulous Freshmen Play Big Role

"If you're good enough, you're old enough," Lanning has often said, but in the past it seemed like lip service: Oregon only played one freshman in the opener a year ago. On Saturday twelve saw the field, and a handful in big roles.

Dakorien Moore caught three passes for 26 yards, zoomed 17 yards on an end-around, and made his play of the game blocking on a 14-yard touchdown by Gary Bryant Jr. He showed his elusiveness too. On a third and 6 play in the second half he took a short pass from Dante Moore on an out route, juked the defender and worked his way up the sideline for a first down.

Thunder back Jordon Davison proved tough to bring down, bulling his way into the end zone for three touchdowns. At 6-0, 236 he has intriguing power and could emerge as a short-yardage weapon, while true freshman Dierre Hill display his explosiveness with a 28-yard kickoff return that set up a touchdown in the two-minute drill just before half, then bowled over a defender near the goal line.

Ra'Shaad Samples called the two freshmen Thunder and Lightning, but the lightning back has some thunder too. He ran for 48 yards on five carries, getting loose for a 28-yard burst in the second half.

On defense, younger players stood out and asserted themselves. Peyton Woodyard, Brandon Finney, Ify Obidegwu, Kingston Lopa and Na'eem Offord starred in the secondary. Odidegwu and redshirt sophomore Daylen Austin had pass breakups, and the unit limited MSU to 198 yards passing, most of that on crossing routes to Taco Dowler.

Who'll stop the run? Asked and answered

It was the run defense that was truly outstanding. The Bobcats rushed for 295 yards a game last season in their 15-1 run in the FCS, but the Ducks held them to 46 yards on 27 carries, 1.7 yards a carry. That's a commitment to stopping the run.

Leading that effort was redshirt junior A'Mauri Washington, 6-3, 330 junior nose tackle. Washington blew up the MSU interior line, stacking up running plays on third and two and fourth and one.

Teitum Tuioti, Blake Purchase, and Jerry Mixon were tough inside, too, and edge rusher Matayo Uiagalelei got his quota of two sacks, on pace for 32 this season.

The concerns before the season were how Dante Moore would handle being QB-1 and whether the Oregon offensive line would gel and execute early in the year. Those concerns have been addressed.

The secondary looks improved, but the middle defense has to come up with a better answer for those crossing routes. Bear Alexander posted a couple of tackles, but the other headline transfer
acquisition, running back Makhi Hughes, didn't appear in the game until just before half, limited to one carry for two yards, one pass reception for four yards.

It's uncertain whether his reduced role was about a ding in practice, load management or familiarity with the playbook, but the Ducks didn't need him Saturday. In all 12 running backs carried the ball 39 times for 253 yards, 6.7 a carry, led by Noah Whittington and Hill. Luke Moga bolted for a 25-yard keeper, and Whittington cut right off a block by Alex Harkey on the opening play of the game for 35 yards.

Harkey drove his man 15 yards off the line of scrimmage. The offensive line did a superb job, way ahead of last year in their development. That was the most encouraging sign, though it's a bit of a concern seeing Emmanuel Pregnon rolled up on in the first half. He returned to the sideline with his helmet on, so maybe he's okay. Kawika Rogers and Dave Iuili did a good job in his absence.

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