In a column last week, I said that the Oregon offense would be better served to lean on Jonathan Stewart than hope an unproven sophomore, no matter how talented Andre Crenshaw is, could fill the void in the offense left by the injury to Jeremiah Johnson.
This elicited some e-mail responses from Emerald readers, who felt that the tired athlete is more prone to injury and that Stewart’s success this season comes from being fresh.
I understand these concerns. Sure, Stewart has never been tested as “The Guy” before, but I think it’s safe to say he passed his first test against Washington.
(I hate to say “I told you so”, but after his 251-yard rushing performance and the way it set up the whole offense, including Crenshaw, to move the ball against the Huskies – I told you so.)
Does this mean I think that Stewart should carry the ball 32 times against USC this Saturday? Absolutely not. The USC defense is bigger, faster and much stronger against the run than Washington, which featured the worst rated rushing defense in the Pacific-10 Conference.
And yes, I had that stat in front of me when I wrote my column last week.
This week new wrinkles will need to be implemented in the offense for the Ducks to move the ball; after last Saturday the Trojans have more than enough footage of the triple option. Maybe this is the week we see the return of the wide receiver sweep, or tight end Ed Dickson getting a few carries on the option or otherwise.
There’s no way this Duck team can be as one-dimensional as it was last week and win the game. Some new forms of misdirection are needed, and Dennis Dixon needs to hit his receivers early and often to keep the Trojan defense honest. If they can stack the box, nobody’s going anywhere.
And just to soothe readers who are concerned about Stewart’s durability, I didn’t write that he can handle the load just because he said he feels like he’s in great shape. I’ve seen it with my own eyes.
I covered the Oregon Classic weightlifting competition last spring and watched Stewart go lift for lift with Brandon Ziegler, who is a weight class heavier than Stewart and a much more experienced lifter.
Stewart came just short of besting Ziegler for heaviest lift of the day. He had his weight class wrapped up already, but went on competing with Ziegler anyway.
This proved to me two things. One: Stewart is strong – incredibly strong – and has put in the weight room work necessary to shoulder whatever load coaches put on him. Two: He is a natural competitor, even off the football field, making him ideally suited to be entrusted with the fate of this football team.
And I have one last thought for those who get a little squeamish at the thought of risking an injury to Stewart by giving him more carries: Are you really suggesting the Ducks save him for next year?
This season, as I have said in this column repeatedly, has the chance to be a historic one for the Ducks. Stewart can’t be saved for next season because the Ducks are in prime position to challenge for a Pac-10 title, or even a national championship. That can’t be expected to happen every year.
This has to be Stewart’s time because this is the Ducks’ time.
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