Oregon loss to Indiana a day of painful contrasts

This Oregon team has talent, but flaws, and a tough, disciplined Indiana team exploited every one of them.

It was painful to see Indiana come in with a sound plan and execute it perfectly. It was shocking to see the Oregon staff make few adjustments as their players kept repeating the same mistakes and their playcalls fell flat.

It was glaring to see Indiana linebackers Aiden Fisher and Rolijah Holiday combine for 26 tackles and 2.5 sacks as Oregon's linebackers were slow to the ball, washed out on running plays and a complete nonfactor against the crisp outs, slants and hitches quarterback Fernando Mendoza used to march down the field on three touchdown drives.

The Ducks took few shots. They lost in the trenches on both sides of the ball. The playcalling was timid and tepid and the pass rush got home exactly once, a powerful bullrush by A'Mauri Washington.

Oregon's touted edge rushers had limited impact on this game. Two fourth quarter interceptions destroyed any chance for a comeback win, though freshman cornerback Brandon Finney briefly brought Autzen Stadium back to life with a brilliant interception of his own, returned for a 35-yard touchdown to tie the game at 20-20.

Indiana answered by marching 75 yards in 12 plays, and the game was effectively over.

The Hoosiers won in the trenches on both sides of the ball, and Oregon's game plan was too cute and unfocused. Curiously, the Ducks ran 10 times on first down, for 70 yards, most of it on strong, straight-ahead runs by true freshman Jordon Davison, who powered through the middle of the IU defense for 59 yards on eight carries, including a 24 yard run.

The Ducks keep monkeying around with a five-back rotation at RB, and it hasn't allowed any of their ball carriers to establish a rhythm or assert themselves. They've squandered a dazzling array of playmakers-- Kenyon Sadiq didn't have a touch in the first half, and he was targeted four times all day.

Outside the 44-yard bomb to Malik Benson in the first quarter, Dante Moore seemed reluctant to throw the ball downfield and had trouble finding receivers. His other long pass plays covered 18 yards, neither qualifying as an explosive play-- the Ducks had just two all day.

It's always a temptation to wallow in strong drink after a loss, to overreact and go deep into the woods of recrimination and blame. The Ducks had a bad day and a well-coached Indiana team had a very good one.

There's still room for a good season, even a playoff berth, but no reasonable observer could project this squad as championship contenders. They lack resolve and technique in the trenches. Oregon's edge rushers were completely neutralized. The missed blocks would stretch from Autzen to Philomath.

The Ducks have an opportunity in front of them to regroup, to pummel Rutgers and Wisconsin and get back into the conversations, though November looks daunting now. The run of Iowa, Minnesota, USC and Washington seems like a road to the Alamo Bowl or worse, unless they find a much better formula for strong opponents.

Duck fans fell victim to the hype, and after a bye week, it feels a bit like the Oregon players did too. Somehow everyone believed that this was "That Team Out West." With the Trojans and the Huskies both 5-1, that title is in jeopardy now.