Transfer receivers add punch to Cowboy passing attack, a trail by fire for the Ducks

Montana State slot receiver Taco Dowler called the Ducks "the fastest team I've ever played," after losing 59-13 in Autzen Stadium, yet Dowler burned the Ducks for 12 receptions for 107 yards, a long of 24.

"Fastest team I've ever played," Dowler said in the postgame. "It is different. There are levels to this. We came to compete, but they are ridiculously athletic."

Fast or not, the Ducks have to tighten up their coverage scheme on those crossing routes, beginning with better recognition and tracking from the underneath defenders. Dowler gave them fits, even though the score was never in doubt. The Ducks led 31-0 before the Bobcats made a first down.

In Week Two Oklahoma State represents a different challenge, though oddsmakers expect a similar result. The Ducks are a 28.5-point favorite at FanDuel.

As a Power 4 team the Cowboys are bigger in the trenches and a diferent level of physical test, though they give up so much talent to Oregon that Mike Gundy began the week lobbying for schedule reform, insisting that Oregon ought to play teams on its own level financially.

The one area where OSU could test Oregon the most is in the matchup between the Cowboy receivers and the Ducks' young secondary. For starters, the visitors have a quick, pesky slot receiver in Gavin Freeman, a 5-8, 165 transfer from Oklahoma.

Against UT Martin the jitterbug from Oklahoma City caught five passes for 46 yards and a touchdown. He also took a handoff on a counter play for five yards, one of a handful of successful running plays in the team's lackluster opener.

Countering Freeman is crucial, not only to stuff an opponent with limited weapons, but because the shallow-route, possession game is a big part of the offense for future opponents like Penn State and Indiana, who have more dangerous players to run it.

On the outside, the Cowboys have good speed and size at wide receiver, something that might pose a test for a secondary that had a relatively easy time with the boys from Bozeman.

Tall firs: Oklahoma State's wide receiver group

Shamar Rigby 6-3, 190 transfer from Purdue two catches for 50 yards, long of 41

Christian Fitzpatrick 6-4 2 transfer from Michigan State and Marshall

Cam Abshire 6-4, 185 junior from Roanoke, Virginia

Terrill Davis, 6-0, 195, transfer from Central Oklahoma, two catches for 75 yards, long of 41

At Marshall last season Fitzpatrick caught 34 passes for 576 yards and six touchdowns, 16.9 yards per catch. Davis was the explosive threat in game one, hauling in two deep shots.

On Monday Dan Lanning said,
"This will probably be the team that we play that takes the most vertical shots down the field to date that we've seen, and probably in my time here. They're going to push the ball down the field, a lot of quick passing game and a lot of shots down the field."

While Montana State looked to get rid of the ball quickly, Oklahoma State wants to hit home runs. The Ducks had great success defensively last week as they divided snaps between talented young cornerbacks, Brandon Finney, Na'eem Offord, Ify Obidegwu and Sione Laulea, a 6-4 JUCO transfer who redshirted last season.

Veterans Theran Johnson and Jahlil Florence are still working their way back from injuries. It will be interesting to see how the Ducks divide snaps and responsibilities as the season progresses toward conference play and that September 27 showdown with Penn State.

The Nittany Lions shopped the transfer portal for three dangerous receivers, Trebor Pena, Devonte Ross and Kyron Hudson. In their 46-11 win over Nevada last Saturday quarterback Drew Allar completed 22-26 passes (85 percent) for 217 yards and a touchdown. Hudson proved to be the go-to guy with six catches for 89 yards and the TD.

Certainly the Ducks are focused on this game and this opponent, especially after Mike Gundy worked so hard to rile them up. But these are the kind of matchups they're training to win. Football is a game of matchups. No matchups on the field are as critical and potentially costly than the battles between the wide receiver and the secondary.

Pressure is a privilege. This week the pressure is on the Ducks young D-Backs, who have to show they can cover a group of tall, fast wideouts who want to make chunk plays.

Last year's postseason exposed how much Oregon's secondary needed to improve to compete in playoff football.